[Fade in from black. The sounds of "Furious Angels" by Rob Dougan cue up as a video montage of Philadelphia, PA is played. Shots roll through of various sights throughout the city, eventually settling upon the Wacovia Center, the camera giving us an aerial view of the arena. ]

V/O: The field has been narrowed, the battlelines have been drawn. Now, eight men will square off 

[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. 

[The shot fades to the inside of the Wacovia Center, where thousands of Empire Pro fans have gathered to watch their favorite superstars compete. The Empire Theme continues to play as pyro ignites, flying out of the entrance way and ramp, shooting off into the rafters. Signs are held up in the audience… some reading “F*CK MARX”, “We’re going to miss you Rob”, “Rocko Daymon 24:7”, “MAELSTROM WILL EAT YOU”, “BEAST IS MY DAD”, and many, many more. The shot cuts to a view of Dave Thomas and Mike Neely, both wearing their traditional Empire polo shirts, adjusting their headsets. Neely makes faces at the camera while Thomas talks…]

DT: Folks… it is DEAFENING in here!!! You’d have to be here to believe it… but Philadelphia is on FIRE tonight! They’ve gotta’ be just as psyched as we are, Mike!

MN: [Startled, stopping his faces] Ahem… yes Dave, I think it’s safe to say our lineup is pretty stacked tonight!

DT: Which match are you looking forward to the most, Mike?

MN: You know, there’s so many to choose from…. I really don’t know…

DT: Mike, you don’t even know the card, do you? Were you out drinking last night?

MN: Last night??? NO! What do you think I am, Thomas?!? You don’t drink the night before a show….

DT: Are you drunk right now? 

MN: {hiccups] NO. Let’s go! 

DT: Right. So anyways folks, we’ve got some great matches for you tonight, including FOUR…. Yes that’s right I said FOUR World Title Tournament bouts!! 

MN: Oh yeah… oh yeah… I remember now. Maelstrom vs. Daymon… ROCK!

DT: Very good, Mike… I think that’s definitely one that’s getting everyone’s attention around here! But don’t forget we’ve got Beast vs. Douglas, Rob Sampson vs. Suicide, and Karl Brown vs. Christian Sands as well!!!

MN: Damn man… you serious?? 

[Mike looks at Thomas questioningly.]

DT: Sure am! And not only are we going to see those three matchups, but we’ll see two DEBUT tag matches as well! John Doe and Spaz will be taking on Culpa and the Stalker in our first bout of the evening, and the second will feature Kevin Watson and Derek Stoltz up against Tyrone Walker and Cliff Young!

MN: Hell yeah! Newbie action!

DT: They’re not new to the sport, Mike… just Empire.

MN: Right. That’s what I meant… goofball.

DT: And another much talked about match featured on this evening’s card HAS to be the triple threat match for a shot at the IC Title at Black Dawn. The winner secures himself a position not ONLY on Empire’s first PPV, but he also shoots for gold!

MN: Big money hustlin’, babay….

DT: Mike, maybe you should just be quiet for a little bit man.

MN: Sho’ nuff.

DT: Anyways ladies and gentlemen, I’ve been instructed to inform the public about a very serious matter which has come to the attention of several fans lately. The rumors are true… Jonathan Marx was indeed released earlier this week, due to a dispute with management, namely Mr. Freeman. Nobody knows what the exact reason was, but Freeman has gone on record as saying “it was unfortunate that Mr. Marx and I had a dispute, and that now Jonathan is no longer on our active roster. Mr. Marx was an incredible talent, and I wish him the best of luck in any future endeavors.”

MN: What? Marx is gone??

DT: Where have you been Mike?

MN: Hooters.

DT: So that’s what you did before you came to the show?

MN: No… look… second row. Check out the rack on that…

DT: That’s enough of that! Needless to say folks, Mr. Marx will not be competing tonight, and the fatal four way that was supposed to occur has become a triple threat match. The first man to score a pinfall wins… advancing to Black Dawn.

[Thomas holds his headset, and acts shocked as if receiving surprising news.]

DT: Well folks, wait just one minute… I’m being informed that the triple threat match… is now a SINGLES match! Apparently, Tommy Mayhem was INJURED last week at the hands of Suicide with that WICKED burning hammer!

MN: Wait… I thought it was a fatal four way?

DT: No… Mike… it’s a singles match now.

MN: Whatever…

DT: Well folks… let’s go back to last week….

[The screen splits in half, revealing a replay of Suicide’s burning hammer on Tommy Mayhem. The fans in Philadelphia “ooooohhhh” as the video runs through on the Empiratron. The shot then goes back to a full screen of Dave and Mike.]

DT: You can see clearly right there that Mayhem felt the full impact of that move…

MN: I still bet my headache is bigger….

DT: Don’t drink and drive kids…. ANYWAYS… it looks like Adam Benjamin is squaring off against only ONE competitor tonight… and that’s Mike Diamond!