Live from the David L. Lawrence Convention Center in Pittsburgh, PA...

[Fade in from black. The sounds of "Clubbed to Death" by Rob Dougan cue up as a video montage of Pittsburgh, PA is played. Shots roll through of the three rivers, the steel mills that are still operating, and blue collar workers of all sort putting in their fair share. A man with a deep voice speaks over the vignette.]

V/O: Without effort, there is no reward. Without pain, there is no gain. Tonight, several men make their way towards the highest honor wrestling has to offer… the World Heavyweight Championship. TONIGHT… Pittsburgh, PA gets a dose of EMPIRE… PRO… WRESTLING. 

[Just as the voice over finishes, the screen goes to black and "Clubbed to Death" dies out. "Imperial March (Rage Against The Machine Remix) cues up. Several clips are played through, visual effects of gray smoke surrounding them. 

Cut to: Christian Sands hitting the Sand Blaster on an unknown opponent.

Cut to: Karl Brown nailing someone with The Dragon's Bite ddt.

Cut to: Jonathan Marx slapping an intense STF on an unknown individual.

Cut to: Adam Benjamin knocking the absolute bejesus out of an opponent with a shining wizard.

Cut to: The Crimson Calling destroying their opponent with a Crimson Crasher.

Cut to: Beast delivering a high impact Tiger Driver '91 to an unnamed man.

Cut to: Dan Ryan, an evil grin on his face, stomping his massive frame towards the camera.

[Fade in from the vignette to a shot of the newly designed David L. Lawrence Convention Center in downtown Pittsburgh. Thousands upon thousands stand on their feet as fireworks shoot off from the Empire set. The theme song continues to blare over the system as the cameras pan across the audience. Signs are spotted everywhere, some of them read: “Dan Ryan Will Eat You”, “Rob Sampson: Next World Champ”, “Pittsburgh loves TROY DOUGLAS”, and others…]

DT: Welcome… to Empire Pro Aggression!!!

[The cameras cut to Dave Thomas and Mike Neely, who are seated at their familiar commentators’ table, smiling and joking with some of the nearest fans.]

MN: (adjusting headset) Whoah nelly is it going to be a good one tonight!

DT: Ladies and gentlemen, we’ve got tons of great matches scheduled here, the majority of which include first round bouts in the World Title tournament!!! That’s right folks, it all starts here in Pittsburgh!! Now our…

MN: Wait, Dave, I’ve got somethin’ goin’ on in the back… 

[Cut backstage inside a dressing room. The camera pans over to show 'The Ego Buster' Dan Ryan shuffling through some belongings. There's a knock on the door, but Ryan doesn't react.... 

Another knock.... 

Another.... 

Finally the door simply opens, revealing the knocker to be Empire Pro CEO Paul Freeman.] 
Freeman: "Is there any reason why you didn't answer the door?" 

Ryan: [Not looking up] "Nope." 

Freeman: "Ok. Let's try another one. What's this I hear about you saying you might not compete tonight? And defacing an Empire Pro banner during a promo to boot?" 

Ryan: [Walking to within inches of Freeman] "First of all....don't barge into my dressing room unannounced. Secondly, I'll do.....whatever I feel like doing....when I feel like doing it. And as far as tonight's match goes, as soon as you make some changes in the way you plan on conducting this....tournament....I'll be happy to raise the star power in this place by ten fold by competing in it." 

Freeman: [Taking a step back with a sigh] "Look, when our owner hired me for this position he made it clear that you....along with the others on our roster.....would be willing to be a part of this thing from the ground up. He said you expressed interest in making a clean start with a new company. I wasn't expecting any demands from you....not to this extent. Truthfully Dan...I'm as accomadating as I can be most times....but I'm afraid I'm gonna have to order you to wrestle this match tonight. We can deal with your issues at another time." 

Ryan: [Smiling] "I don't think you understand...." 

Freeman: [Getting angry, moving closer to Ryan] "No, I don't think YOU understand. You'll be in that match tonight....like it or not." 

Ryan: [chuckling] "Or what?? You'll fire me? Gimme a break...." 

Freeman: "I don't care who you think you are, Ryan.....get in the ring.....or you're outta here." 

[Ryan eyes Freeman warily for a moment or two, then abruptly picks up his bags...] 

Ryan: "Then I guess I'm outta here." 

[Freeman's face briefly registers shock, as Dan Ryan slings his bag over his shoulder and walks out the door.]

[Cut back to Dave and Mike, who are looking at each other in complete shock. The fans are booing heavily.]

DT: Did that…

MN: DAN RYAN JUST QUIT?!?!

DT: What’s going on here? Dan Ryan’s scheduled for a match tonight against Adam Benjamin and Rocko Daymon! 

MN: Ryan’s been actin’ really weird lately… I just don’t get it. Now he says he’s quitting? What the hell?

DT: Your guess is as good as mine, Mike. Wow, that’s incredibly shocking news… I don’t even know what to say. 

MN: Just get to the first matchup, Thomas, we can’t just stop the show.

DT:  Right … right .. Ummm.. folks up first we have…

[Before he can even finish his sentence, “War Machine” by Kiss hits the speakers, and the video wall shifts to an image of the United States flag flying behind transparent images of tanks and warlplanes, evoking “USA” chants from the fans.  As the lyrics kick in, Cloak and Dagger emerge at the head of the ramp and walk purposefully to the ring.  Cloak rolls in under the bottom rope, stands on a turnbuckle, and waves an American flag, while Dagger steps in over the top rope and stands resolutely in the ring.]

DT:  I guess it’s time for Covert Ops to take on the Assassins!

MN:  Oh I’ve been lookin’ forward to this one.  Check out these fans, man.. they’re diggin’ these guys!

[“War Machine” fades out as the lights drop in the arena and “Little H” by Superjoint Ritual kicks in, mid song.  The scene is entirely pitch black as the words “the Assassins” scroll horizontally across the Tron in a bright green hue.  A video plays out on the screen in black and white, showing various instances where the Assassins have taken out their opponents with the Hit.  The video occasionally pauses in mid play the words “Assassinated” simultaneously stamped on the screen.  Orion and Osiris walk out from the back as the video starts kicking into more action, standing atop the ramp, raising their arms to the crowd.  They get a surprisingly dull reaction from the fans, and most of their music is drowned out by the USA chants that are still echoing throughout the building.]

MN:  Damn, would you look at that?  Told you these fans were diggin’ Covert Ops.

DT:  I think you’re right, Mike.  The Assassins are a great team and are highly talented, but this place looks to be solidly behind Cloak and Dagger!

MN:  Now this match is under tornado style rules… care to elaborate Davey?

DT:  Sure.. while a standard tag match requires that only two men may be in the ring at the same time, this type of matchup does not.  All four men will be wrestling simultaneously, and anyone can score a pinfall or submission.

MN:  Couldn’t have put it any better myself.  I knew we kept you around here for SOME reason, Thomas.

[Before the bell rings, both Cloak AND Dagger rush their opponents, delivering strong lariats.  Osiris and Orion both flip backwards in mid air, then land hard on the canvas with a deep “thud.”  The bell rings, but no one can really hear it anyways, as the cheers of US are still drowning out everything else.]

MN:  Damn … what a set of wicked clotheslines!  These guys aren’t holdin’ back…

[Cloak immediately pounces on top of the downed Osiris, pummeling him in the face with a barrage of rights and lefts, which drives the fans even more crazy.  Dagger hoists Orion up in the air w/ a huge gorilla press slam, holding him above his head for a few moments.  The fans are screaming at the top of their lungs as Dagger turns towards the outside of the ring, heaving Orion over the top rope.  He comes crashing down upon a ringside table, splintering it in half.  The fans are mixing chants of USA with EM-PI-RE.]

DT:  Oh my, Dagger just tossed Orion over the top rope!

MN:  DID YOU … all you can say is OH MY?? He just threw a 245 pound man through a table!!! Holy shi…

DT:  This is getting brutal already, and we’re only a minute into our first matchup!

[Dagger goes over to assist Cloak, who is still beating away at Osiris’ face.  Both members of Covert Ops then lift Osiris to his feet, and send him to the ropes with an irish whip.  When the big man comes back, he is immediately sent over with a back body drop that rocks the ring.  The fans cheer, but neither man goes for a pin on the fallen Assassin.  They hoist Osiris to his feet once more, this time setting him up for a double suplex.  As he is put into the air, he remains there for about 10 seconds before slamming hard to the mat.  The fans are still going insane.]

DT:  Great tandem suplex there by Covert Ops!

MN:  This team has got its stuff together…

[Dagger picks up Osiris, then lifts him up onto his shoulders in a fireman’s carry.  He throws him up, then extends his knee out to execute a picture perfect rib breaker.  As Osiris desperately tries to get some of his air back, Cloak backs up into a corner, waiting for him.  It takes Osiris a few seconds to get up, but when he does, he is immediately rocked with a sickening spear at the hands of Cloak.]

MN:  Damn, that guy’s one mean sumbitch!

DT:  This isn’t a wrestling match… these guys are just beating the living snot out of the Assassins!

[A slowly recovering Orion tosses his hand up on the bottom rope from the outside, and starts to climb up onto the apron.  Dagger sees this and walks over to where he is, allowing him to get to his feet.  As Orion holds onto the top rope, Dagger pulls back on it with all his might, causing Orion to come flipping over into the ring and onto the mat.  Dagger immediately starts to punch away at Orion’s face, working into him at a feverish pace.  The fans are still chanting USA.]

DT:  I can’t believe this … The Assassins are an experienced tag team… yet they’re getting their butts handed to them!

MN:  Covert Ops is for real, baby!! That’s what I’m talkin’ about, this is the kind of stuff we need around here!  THESE GUYS KILLED IRAQIS, THOMAS!!

DT:  Ugh.. they’re frightening.

MN:  You’re such a pussy…

[Still holding his ribs, Osiris slowly gets to his feet, and is immediately chopped in the chest by Cloak. “WHOOOO” says the crowd.  Another.  “WHOOOO.”  Another.  “WHOOOO.”  Finally, Cloak smashes Osiris’ face off of his knee, then grabs a hold of his tights and hair.  With one swift motion, he chucks the Assassin head first into the corner, where his face smacks off of the ring post.  It makes a sickening “CLUNK,” and Osiris limply falls to the mat.]

MN:  DDDAMN!  That’s gotta hurt! You watchin’ this, Thomas?

DT:  It’s a sight, that’s for sure…

[On the other side of the ring, Dagger is still beating the snot out of him when Orion flips him over, trying to mount a comeback.  He gets one punch in before Cloak approaches him from behind and applies a full nelson.  Orion tries to escape, but it’s to no avail.  Dagger gets up to his feet and immediately starts to deliver rib shots, one after the other.  After a few, he puts his arms around Orion’s waist, driving a shoulder into his midsection.  As Cloak lets go, Dagger lifts Orion up onto his shoulder, performing a solid bear hug.  He squeezes the life out of Orion, putting as much pressure into the hold as he can.  Orion tries to fight back by putting some well placed elbow to Dagger’s head, but the big man is quick to counter this by leaning backwards.  As he does so, Cloak executes a picture perfect diamond cutter like maneuver, turning the move into a 3-D like offensive.  Orion holds his neck as he flops around on the mat. The fans continue to mark out.]

MN:  OH MY GOD! What a move!

DT:  Great cooperation here by Covert Ops…

MN:  They’re stomping the piss out of the Assassins, and all you have to say is “GREAT COOPERATION?”

[A bloodied Osiris slowly rises to one knee, and rushes at Dagger, who is also getting to his feet.  Osiris goes in for his attack, but he is taken out with a strong clothesline by Cloak before he can even reach his target.  Both Cloak and Dagger start to romp away at the Assassins, absolutely decimating them with each well placed kick.  Dagger picks Osiris up and whips him hard into the nearest turnbuckle, then repeats the process two more times.  He then applies a full nelson, lifting the big man into the air and slamming him into the mat.  He goes for a cover … and the ref counts.  1… 2… Dagger lifts Osiris up by the hair.  The fans in the audience begin to laugh and cheer even louder as Dagger looks around with insanity in his eyes.]

MN: Hahaha, wow, these guys are great!

DT:  I can’t even believe this … this is just amazing!  These two are DOMINATING the former GXW Tag Team Champions!

[On the other side of the ring, Orion is lifted to his feet by Cloak, who whips him to the ropes and follows closely behind.  Cloak nails Orion with a huge knee to the gut, then performs the move again.  He whips him to the opposite ropes.. huge knee.  Finally, on the third go around, Cloak simply sends Orion out to the floor with a vicious clothesline over the top.  Meanwhile, Dagger lays into Osiris’ already bloody face with some hard punches.  Cloak comes over to join him, and both men are quick to toss Osiris to the ropes.  When he returns, he is sent straight to the mat with a powerful tandem spear.  The crowd erupts, and Dagger lets out a war cry of sorts.  Both members of Covert Ops go to the turnbuckles, where they grab the American flags that they brought with them.  Standing on the corner padding, they hoist the flags into the air and start to wave them around for the fans to see.  A HUGE chant of USA erupts, and everyone is going crazy.]

MN:  HOOOORAY FOR PATRIOTISM.

DT:  This is amazing…

[Osiris staggers towards Dagger’s corner, but he is quickly noticed.  Dagger puts his flag down into the corner post, then hops off the turnbuckle to address the oncoming attacker.  Osiris goes for a wild punch, which comes nowhere near connecting.  As he misses, Dagger nails him in the gut with a sharp toe kick, then applies a standing headscissor.  Cloak notices this, then goes straight to the nearest corner.  As Dagger lifts Osiris up into the air with his incredible strength, Cloak comes off the second turnbuckle with what a neckbreaker drop.  Osiris’ head bounces off the mat and both members of Covert Ops are quick to their feet.  They each put a boot over the chest of Osiris, and the referee goes for his count.  1…. 2…. 3.  The fans go wild.]

MN:  SHOCK AND AWE… SHOCK AND AWE!!!

DT:  What a move!!! This match is over already!! I can’t believe it!

WINNERS:  Covert Ops