Tracey and Evelyn's catfight didn't take long to escalate into something much more intense.
Tracey was the first to take charge again.
With a series of stiff forearms, she pushed Evelyn back into the corner, and the crowd erupted with every hit. Tracey's aggression was more calculated this time—less frantic, more precise. She seized Evelyn by the wrist and hurled her hard against the turnbuckle padding.
Evelyn's back slammed against it with a loud thud.
Tracey quickly followed up, pressing her forearm against Evelyn's throat and leaning in with her weight. The referee rushed in, separating them and issuing a stern warning.
"Tracey needs to be careful," Noah shouted. "You can't choke her in the corner!"
Irvin smoothly replied, "Champions fight with an edge, Noah. That's why she's the titleholder."
The referee pushed Tracey back a few steps.
Tracey rolled her shoulders, gave a quick nod, and then lunged again—this time aiming a kick right at Evelyn's midsection.
But Evelyn was ready for her.
She moved to the side just in time.
Tracey's leg flew past her, and her momentum sent her tumbling forward awkwardly, getting tangled up between the top and middle ropes.
For just a heartbeat, she found herself frozen in place.
The crowd collectively held its breath.
Evelyn's eyes sparkled with determination.
In an instant, she dashed to the far corner and effortlessly scaled the turnbuckle. The audience erupted, rising to their feet as she steadied herself on the top rope.
"No way—" Noah started to say.
With a burst of energy, Evelyn propelled herself backward, executing a flawless flip while twisting in mid-air, catching Tracey by the neck as she descended.
The sound of impact resonated throughout the arena.
A breathtaking top-rope flipping neckbreaker.
Tracey's body crumpled downwards, hitting the mat hard as she instinctively grasped her neck.
The crowd went wild.
"What incredible athleticism from Evelyn Sharma!" Noah exclaimed. "She just soared off the top turnbuckle and took down the champion!"
Irvin had to admit it. "That was impressive. Absolutely impressive."
Tracey rolled out of the ring, wincing as she held the back of her neck, taking a moment to regroup outside.
Meanwhile, inside the ring, Evelyn stood tall, her chest rising and falling as she soaked in the cheers. The atmosphere was electric. For a fleeting moment, it seemed like she might just pull this off.
Little did she know, Maya was slipping back into the ring.
Maya burst onto the scene from behind, slamming her forearm into Evelyn's upper back.
Then she struck again.
And again.
The crowd erupted in boos right away.
With a fierce grip on Evelyn's hair, Maya yanked her backward onto the mat, unleashing a flurry of punches. Evelyn curled up, trying to shield herself and fight back, but Maya's relentless energy was too much to handle.
"Here comes Maya," Irvin remarked, clearly impressed. "She's seizing the moment."
After a brief pause to catch her breath, Maya hoisted Evelyn up.
She adjusted her hold.
Hooked her arm.
Lifted her high.
And executed a sharp suplex.
Evelyn's back slammed hard against the canvas.
"A suplex!" Noah shouted. "Maya's really showing off her strength!"
Evelyn rolled onto her side, wincing as she clutched her lower back, looking for a way out.
Maya quickly dropped into a cover.
"One!"
"Two!"
Evelyn managed to shoot her arm up just in time.
The crowd erupted in cheers for the kickout.
Maya let out a frustrated breath, annoyance flickering across her face.
She got to her feet—
And almost collided with Tracey, who was re-entering the ring.
Tracey swung wildly with a clothesline.
Maya ducked just in time.
In a swift motion, she pivoted and drove her foot into Tracey's midsection.
Hooked.
Lifted.
Another suplex.
Tracey hit the mat hard.
Maya went for the cover once more.
"One!"
"Two!"
Tracey managed to get her shoulder up just in time.
The boos came pouring down once more.
Maya, clearly frustrated, slapped the mat in annoyance.
Evelyn, struggling and still nursing her back, pulled herself up while leaning against the ropes.
Maya caught sight of her.
With determination, she marched over and grabbed Evelyn by the arm, spinning her around-
Crack.
Evelyn slapped her hard.
It was a sharp, stinging slap that echoed throughout the arena.
The crowd erupted with a collective "OHHH!"
Tony nearly toppled out of his seat. "She slapped her!"
Luke winced, "Oh no…"
Maya slowly turned her head back toward Evelyn.
Her expression shifted.
The humiliation she felt burned hotter than any of the boos.
She swung a right hand—
Evelyn ducked just in time.
Then, with surprising strength, she drove a knee into Maya's midsection.
In one swift motion, she shoved Maya toward the ropes and clotheslined her right over the top.
Maya crashed down to ringside.
Evelyn didn't hesitate for a second.
She sprinted across the ring, rebounding off the ropes to build momentum for a dive.
"She's going for it again!" Noah shouted.
Evelyn launched herself toward the ropes—
But just before she could clear them, a heel smashed into her face.
Tracey.
The impact was brutal.
Evelyn fell backward onto the mat, her body going limp for a moment.
Irvin's voice changed. "That caught her flush."
Tracey wasted no time.
She started crawling toward Evelyn for the cover—
But Maya slid back into the ring right behind her.
With Tracey's back turned, Maya charged forward and grabbed her head.
Running bulldog.
Tracey's face slammed into the canvas.
The crowd gasped in shock.
Maya rolled through the impact and pushed herself up, adrenaline pumping. She quickly glanced at both opponents—Tracey down, Evelyn barely moving.
This was her moment.
She climbed the nearest turnbuckle in a flash.
Luke stood up without even realizing it.
Tony was already shouting.
Justin covered his mouth in disbelief.
Maya took a deep breath, steadying herself on the top rope.
Then she jumped.
A full-body splash.
She landed right on top of Tracey.
The ring shook with the impact.
Maya quickly hooked Tracey's leg.
"One!"
"Two!"
"Three!"
The bell rang.
For a brief moment, everything went quiet.
Then, all hell broke loose.
Noah jumped to his feet. "Maya Hart has done it! Maya Hart is the new Women's Champion!"
Irvin chuckled, clearly pleased. "Boo her all you want, but she just pinned the champion!"
Luke sank back into his seat, feeling conflicted. "She actually won…"
Tony was practically bouncing in his seat. "LET'S GO!"
Justin shot Tony a look of mild disgust. "You really need to chill."
In the back, Michael nodded slowly, genuinely impressed. He hadn't expected the women to put on a show like that. High-risk moves, reversals, near-falls—it had it all.
Inside the ring, the referee handed Maya the championship belt.
He raised her arm in victory.
For a split second, Maya looked almost in disbelief.
Then, a smile broke across her face.
Not a villainous smirk.
A genuine smile.
She held the belt high above her head.
The boos were loud, but so were the cheers now. New fans. Converted fans.
She had truly earned it.
Outside the ring, Tracey sat up slowly, her eyes fixed on Maya.
Evelyn rolled toward the apron, blinking in confusion.
Tracey's face turned to stone.
Her eyes shifted to Evelyn.
Blame hung in the air.
Tracey stepped out of the ringside.
Before anyone could react, she seized Evelyn by the arm and yanked her up—
Then slammed her head into the ring post.
The loud clang rang out.
The crowd gasped in shock.
Evelyn crumpled to the floor, clutching her head.
"Come on!" Noah yelled. "That's just too much!"
Irvin didn't defend her this time. "That's pure frustration. That's a former champion who just lost everything."
Officials rushed in, trying to pull Tracey away.
She struggled against them for a moment, shouting something no one could hear before finally breaking free and storming up the ramp.
Maya lingered at the top of the ramp, watching with narrowed eyes as medics rushed in with a stretcher.
Luke stood there, mouth agape. "What just happened…"
Evelyn was carefully placed onto the stretcher, still holding her head.
Noah's tone softened. "We really hope Evelyn Sharma is okay. That hit against the ring post looked serious."
Irvin added with a grim expression, "And Tracey Prince just made this personal."
The stretcher was wheeled up the aisle.
The arena gradually quieted down.
The referee cleared the ring.
After a moment, Noah sat up straight in his seat.
"And ladies and gentlemen… we are not done yet."
The crowd buzzed with excitement again.
"Our next match… is for the IRW Tag Team Championships!"
The energy shot back up.
Apex Predators versus Steel Titans!