[Darkness. Slow, slightly ominous piano music plays in the background, the notes shimmering softly in the gloom. Slowly a small point of light begins to form on screen, then another, then another. A resonant voice, deep but calm, speaks, the source unseen and unknown.] 

"The universe, they say, is ever-changing. It began long ago as nothingness, then suddenly began to expand..." 

[As the voice speaks, more and more of those pinpricks of light begin to glow on screen, the piano music quickening, joined by a violin.] 

"It has continued like this ever since." 

[The music keeps heightening, the screen growing very bright with stars.] 

"Tonight, the phenomenon that started in Washington DC, then moved on to Denver, Los Angeles and beyond grows bigger than ever. Tonight, Baltimore plays host to a big bang." 

[With a sudden blinding flare, the rest of the darkness fills up with stars, leaving the screen a pure, glowing white.] 

"Tonight... the wrestling universe changes forever." 

[Cue up: "New Beginning" - Trapt. Cut to a montage of scenes highlighting both past and recent EPW action, a mingling of in-ring combat and out-of-ring activity, many scenes features with stars blurring in the background. 

Cut to Frankie Scott delivering a front flipping neckbreaker on The Sergeant. 

Cut to Shawn Hart in the ring with a microphone. 

Cut to Lindsay Troy slapping Troy Windham across the face. 

Cut to Karl Brown drilling Kin Hiroshi with the Dragon's Bite. 

Cut to Layne Winters, The First, Anthology all interposed over each other. 

Cut to Cameron Cruise holding his championship belt. 

Cut to Dan Ryan in the shadows, folding his hands across a desk, a smile on his face. 

Cut to J.A. and Rocko Daymon standing face to face .... 

Cut to "Triple X" Sean Stevens looking at J.A. and Daymon standing face to face ... the EPW World Heavyweight championship on his shoulder..

Cut to a rapid montage, culminating in a deep-space panorama that ends with a single image...] 

[The massive pyro opening WrestleVerse III obscures the stage as it blasts away. As it continues suddenly music cuts through the proceedings. MUSIC UP: "I Touch Myself" by the Divinyls plays as Shawn Hart in his golf cart, motors his way down to the ring. Andre Ware's Heisman trophy in the passenger seat.]

DT: What the hell is this idiot doing?! He's crashing the opening!

MN: What are you talking about? As ultimate champion, all this pyro, all this celebration is clearly meant for Shawn Hart!

"New School" Layne Winters vs. Shawn Hart


TF: The following contest is set for ONE FALL...Introducing first from Orlando Florida, weighing in at 223 pounds...Representing Anthology...SHAWNNNNNNN HART!! 

[Hart stops the golf cart at ring side and gets out. The crowd mostly boos with some of the smarks cheering]

DT: Shawn Hart kicking off WrestleVerse Three...And he's going to be in a fight here tonight!

[MUSIC UP: "I Don't Know Anything" by Mad Season. as "New School" Layne Winters makes his way down the ramp. Winters has his blonde hair pulled back into a pony tail. He wears black and green tights with black wrestling boots. The crowd boos Winters without anyone trying to be cool and cheer for him.]

DT: Layne Winters making his way to the ring now, this crowd not exactly on the side of Mr. New School.

MN: These fans cheer for a bunch of lunatics and idiots and yet an honest man like Layne Winters can't catch a break. I just don't get it.

TF: And his opponent...Hailing from Seattle, Washington he weighs in at 246 pounds...NEW SCHOOL...LAYNE!! WINTERS!!!

[Winters stalks about the ring, Hart yells at the ref to have Winters keep his distance...After a few moments the ref calls for the bell.]

DT: And WrestleVerse Three is underway...The two men lock up...Winters forces Hart into the corner and drives a shoulder into his chest, and again! Big right hand by Winters and he pushes Hart into the ropes...Hart whipped to the other side and he eats a BIG CLOTHESLINE from Winters!

DM: Winters coming at Hart with pure smashmouth fighting tactics to start, nothing fancy from Layne at all.

DT: Winters pulls Hart to his feet by his hair and throws him into the corner...Winters repeatedly kicking Hart in the gut and now just LAUNCHES Hart out of the corner with a hiptoss!

MN: I'm starting to warm up to Layne a bit here...I mean I'm still on the Anthology band wagon, but this kid has something going for him.

DT: Winters now grabs Hart and ELEVATES HIM...SNAP SUIPLEX!! Winters floats over for a pin!


ONE!!


TWO!!


NO!


DT: Hart kicks out at two! Winters quickly back on him with a chinlock and wrenching away on Hart, who's trying to get to his feet...Hart slowly trying to get himself up...He's to his feet...Series of elbows doesn't break the hold...He hooks Winters...BACK SUPLEX!

DM: That might be the break in the match Hart needs to get rolling!

DT: Both men down as the ref begins his count. Winters to his feet first...Right hand by Winters, Hart ducks him and gets behind Winters...INVERTED DDT! Hart quickly hooks the leg!


ONE!!


TWO!!


NO!!

DT: Winters gets the shoulder up...Hart grabs Winters and SLAMS him hard to the mat...a quick legdrop by Hart who's now going to the outside...Hart climbing up top...OFF THE TOP WITH A FLYING ELBOW!!! IT FINDS THE MARK!!! THE COVER!!!


ONE!!


TWO!!


THR--!! NO! NO!


DT: Winters kicks out! It was a very near fall but in the end Hart only got two...Hart giving the ref the evil eye as he pulls Winters back up to his feet...Hart fires off series of jabs...And now the El Codo Explosivo Bionic Elbow drops Winters!

MN: He's trying to get to he pay winda on the mudda ship!

DT: Winters down and Hart now stalking, measuring him...He's getting ready for the Hart On! Winters to his feet...HART HOOKS HIM!!! NO!! WINTERS HELD THE TOP ROPE!! HART LANDS HARD ON THE BACK OF HIS HEAD!

DM: Hart went full out for that move and just flattened himself there!

DT: Winters now trying to get his wits about him...Winters grabs Hart...He's got him hooked...NECKBREAKER!! Winters just DRILLED Hart with that neckbreaker and now he climbs to the second rope...Waiting on Hart to get to his feet...Hart stumbles up....BIG FOREARM OFF THE SECOND ROPE BY WINTERS!! HE COVERS!!


ONE!!


TWO!!


THRE--NO!! NO!!


DT: Hart kicks out! Winters shakes his head in disgust...Winters grabs Hart's leg...ANKLELOCK!! WINTERS WRENCHING THAT LEG!!

MN: The mean streak of this guy is just outstanding! I'm on the Layne Winters bandwagon!

DT: Hart thrashing, trying to get to the ropes...WINTERS DROPS DOWN AND TURNS IT INTO A HEEL HOOK!!! HART IN RIPPING AGONY...HE'S FIGHTING FOR ALL HE'S WORTH...HART MAKES IT TO THE ROPES!! 

DM: Hart needed every last bit of energy he could muster to make his escape there!

DT: The ref now checking on Hart and his knee as a raging Layne Winters is in the corner....WAIT A SECOND! HE JUST RIPPED OFF THAT TURNBUCKLE PAD! He's exposed that STEEL ring under the buckle...Winters now grabs Hart and drags him over to that corner...HE BASHES HART'S HEAD INTO IT! NO! HART BLOCKS IT! Hart fires a series of back elbows staggering Winters...Hart grabs Winters' tights and PULLS HIM INTO THE CORNER!! WINTERS HIT THAT STEEL RING FACE FIRST!! WINTERS STAGGERS OUT OF THE CORNER...HART CATCHES HIM WITH THE HART ON!! HART HOOKS THE LEG!!


ONE!!


TWO!!


THREE!!


[Bell rings, MUSIC UP: "I Touch Myself" by The Divinyls as Hart rolls to the floor outside, the ref follows him to the floor and raises his arm as Hart limps slightly]

TF: Here is your winner...SHAWWWWNNNN HART!!!!

DT: Well I think Winters outsmarted himself there to be honest...But Shawn Hart took advantage of the opening Winters gave him and opens the show with a big win for himself and Anthology!

[Backstage –

Craig Miles is situated near a corner in the hallways behind the main dressing room. Mojo Massey is….where he doesn’t belong.]

Mojo: [whispering] Folks, we’re in the hallway back here where moments ago I noticed Craig Miles moving to a secluded area of the arena….let’s see if we can listen in…

[The camera zooms in on Miles, but we still can’t make out who he’s speaking to around the corner…]

Miles: …and that’s when he makes his move. Not a moment sooner. Take care of business and I’ll see to it that he’s taken care of.

[Just then, Miles stiffens.]

Miles: [Looking at the unseen person] Take a hike…. [Miles pauses.] Mojo, unless you want to be injured very badly I suggest you walk away right now.

Mojo: [to the camera] Uhhh, that’s my cue guys…back to you.

NEXT