The bell rang out, reverberating through the arena, and Owen Hart didn't hesitate for even a moment, despite the obvious size difference.
In fact, he seemed downright excited.
The younger Hart charged forward in a whirlwind of energy, launching a flurry of strikes that completely caught Hunter off guard. He landed a solid punch to Hunter's face, followed it up with a sharp jab to his ribs, and then snapped his jaw back with a powerful forearm.
The crowd went wild as the formidable Steel Titan staggered back from the unexpected onslaught.
"Owen Hart is definitely not backing down from the Steel Titans!" Noah shouted, his voice barely cutting through the cheers.
"I don't think Owen even knows what intimidation means," Irvin retorted. "Just look at him! He's taking on Hunter like he just insulted his whole family."
In the stands, Luke was already on his feet, caught up in the excitement.
Tony glanced between him and the action unfolding in the ring. "Your cousin's lost it."
"Always had a bit of a wild streak," Luke replied, his eyes glued to the ring.
Owen kept the pressure on, but Hunter finally steadied himself and shoved Owen back with both hands. Owen stumbled, barely managing to stay upright, and charged again without a second thought. This time, Hunter was ready. A heavy hand slammed into Owen's chest, sending him crashing to the mat.
As Owen scrambled to get back up, Hunter wrapped his arms around him, lifted him off the mat, and slammed him down with a bone-rattling thud.
Before Owen could catch his breath, Hunter yanked him back up, scooped him onto his shoulder, and drove him down with a punishing powerslam. He quickly hooked Owen's leg.
"One!"
"Two!"
Owen kicked out, igniting a wave of cheers throughout the arena.
From the Hart corner, Bret was on his feet, clapping wildly and leaning over the ropes with his arm stretched out. "Come on, Owen!"
Hunter shot Bret a frosty glare before yanking Owen toward the far corner. That's where the Steel Titans' ruthless efficiency kicked in: total isolation.
Hunter tagged in Brocke, who stormed into the ring and immediately started hammering Owen's midsection while Hunter held his arms in place. The referee tried to intervene, but the damage was already done. Brocke scooped Owen up and slammed him down again.
As Owen attempted to roll toward the ropes, Brocke seized his ankle and dragged him back into the depths.
"This isn't looking good," Justin murmured, wincing from his seat.
Luke leaned in, tense. "He just needs to reach Bret."
So close, yet it felt like a mile away. Every time Owen clawed toward his corner, the Titans slammed the door shut. Brocke pounded on him, tagged Hunter, and Hunter picked up right where Brocke left off. Bret stretched as far over the top rope as the rules allowed, but Owen remained hopelessly trapped in enemy territory.
"Sensational tag-team strategy from the Steel Titans," Noah observed. "They've effectively cut the ring in half."
"And they're beating him within an inch of his life to make a statement," Irvin added.
Minutes dragged on, brutal and relentless, until Owen finally spotted his chance.
As Brocke grabbed him by the hair to drag him back to the corner, Owen suddenly spun around and slapped the giant hard across the cheek. The sound echoed through the arena.
Brocke froze.
The crowd gasped in unison, a collective "Ooh!"
Even Owen seemed to realize the gravity of his bold move. Brocke turned slowly, his eyes blazing with rage.
Owen flashed a wild grin—and took off running.
Brocke charged after him. Owen hit the far ropes, rebounded with explosive speed, and launched himself through the air, landing a flying fist squarely on Brocke's jaw. The Titan staggered back, losing his balance, while Owen crashed to the mat.
Both men were down for the count.
Bret's hand shot out like a lifeline. "OWEN!"
The crowd erupted, rising as one, their voices echoing in unison. Owen dragged himself across the canvas, inch by inch. Brocke shook off the daze and lunged for Owen's ankle, but his fingers just missed, grazing nothing but air a heartbeat too late.
Owen surged forward. Hands met with a resounding slap.
The arena exploded with energy.
Bret launched himself into the ring as if he'd been shot from a cannon. Brocke had barely found his balance when Bret's boot slammed into his jaw. The Titan wobbled but managed to stay on his feet.
Brocke swung a wild, furious right hand; Bret ducked effortlessly under the arm, slipped behind the giant, and wrapped his arms tightly around Brocke's waist and neck.
For a brief moment, the crowd held its breath, unsure if anyone could lift a man as massive as Brocke.
Then Bret found his footing.
He pushed through his legs and lifted. Brocke's feet left the canvas, and Bret arched backward, hurling the colossal wrestler overhead and crashing him down onto his back.
The crowd went wild, the noise nearly shaking the building apart. Noah nearly leaped off the commentary desk. "Backdrop suplex! Bret Hart just tossed Brocke Steele clear across the ring!"
Tony stared, his mouth agape. "Wow... that was actually insane."
Luke grinned from ear to ear. "That's my cousin."
"Your cousin is incredibly strong," Justin chimed in.
Bret rolled onto his knees and sprang back up, flexing his arms as he glanced up the entrance ramp at Hawk and Animal, who were watching from a distance.
He struck a defiant pose aimed straight at the Tag Team Champions.
For the first time that night, Hawk's smirk faltered. The Hart Brothers were showing they truly belonged in the ring.
Suddenly, frantic screams erupted from the front row. "BEHIND YOU!"
Bret spun around just in time to see Hunter barreling toward him, lowering his massive shoulder for a spear.
In a split second, instinct kicked in—Bret shot his boot up, landing a solid kick right in Hunter's chest. With all that momentum, Hunter was sent tumbling sideways, flying over the top rope and crashing hard onto the arena floor.
The crowd erupted once more as Bret leaned against the ropes, taking a moment to assess the chaos.
But he had no idea that Hawk was sneaking up behind him outside the ring.
In a flash, Hawk grabbed Bret's ankle and yanked it hard. Bret lost his footing and came crashing down through the ropes, hitting the concrete floor with a thud.
Instantly, a wave of furious boos filled the arena.
"Oh, come on!" Noah shouted. "What is he thinking?!"
Animal joined Hawk at ringside, laughing as Bret groaned on the ground.
"It's straight out of their playbook—just last week, they messed up the Flashpoint Brothers' match to protect their own egos and control the division," Irvin pointed out.
Clearly, being champions had given the Road Warriors a sense of invincibility.
Hawk reached for Bret again, ready to toss him into the steel steps—when suddenly, music blasted over the PA system.
Hawk froze. Animal turned his head sharply toward the ramp.
The Flashpoint Brothers were here.
Cal Bishop and Marcus Vane charged down the aisle, fueled by pure vengeance.
Tony jumped from his seat. "Here we go!"
"The Road Warriors talked a big game earlier tonight, and now Cal and Marcus are here to silence them!" Noah shouted, his voice booming.
Cal was the first to reach Hawk, delivering a brutal running forearm that sent the champion crashing into the barricade. Marcus went straight for Animal, dodging a wild clothesline and unleashing a quick two-punch combo before Cal joined the fray.
The Flashpoint Brothers overwhelmed the champions, unleashing a flurry of punches as the crowd went absolutely wild.
Hawk managed to push Cal back and land a hit, but just then, a revived Bret Hart jumped back into the fray, catching Hawk right in the mouth.
Animal rushed in to help his partner, but Owen came flying off the apron with a cross-body block, taking him by surprise.
Outnumbered four-to-two and feeling the pressure, the formidable Road Warriors had no choice but to start a slow retreat up the ramp, while Marcus shouted, "Keep running!"
Cal pointed directly at Hawk's championship belt, making it clear that their rivalry was far from over.
Amid all the chaos, the actual match was nearly forgotten.
Bret scrambled back into the ring just as Brocke charged at him from behind. With a quick sidestep, Bret sent Brocke crashing into the ropes.
Owen seized the moment, clipping Brocke from behind. The giant spun around in fury, grabbing Owen, while Hunter jumped back into the mix to catch the younger Hart off guard.
Complete chaos erupted as the referee struggled to regain control.
Hunter had Owen cornered, but Bret came up from behind and tossed Hunter over the top rope to the floor. Brocke lunged for Bret, but Owen tackled the giant's legs, giving his brother some breathing room. The referee had to physically push Brocke back toward his corner as Owen rolled out to the apron.
Outside, a dazed Hunter pulled himself up onto the ring apron, and Bret kept a close eye on him.
As soon as Hunter stepped through the ropes, Bret spun around and delivered a sharp, blindside thrust kick right to Hunter's jaw.
Hunter went down like a tree being chopped.
The crowd erupted as Bret quickly dropped into a lateral press, hooking the leg tightly. The referee slid into position.
"ONE!"
Brocke sensed the danger and sprinted across the ring.
"TWO!"
Owen launched himself at Brocke's knees, taking the big guy down just before he could interrupt the pin.
"THREE!"
The ring bell rang out wildly. Bret held the cover for a heartbeat longer, making sure the referee's hand had really hit the mat, then shot his arms up in triumph.
"THEY DID IT!" Noah's voice thundered over the roaring crowd. "Bret and Owen Hart have taken down the Steel Titans in their IRW debut!"
Owen quickly rushed over, wrapping his arms around his brother in a joyful hug as the arena erupted in applause.
In the stands, Luke was cheering louder than anyone else.
Tony shot him a smirk. "I thought you weren't into wrestling."
"I said I didn't want to get my face smashed for a living," Luke shot back with a grin. "Never said I couldn't enjoy watching my family do it."
At the top of the ramp, the Road Warriors paused their exit. Hawk and Animal slung their Tag Team Titles over their shoulders, their cocky grins completely vanished.
Bret broke away from Owen and locked eyes with the champions. He pointed first at Hawk, then at the gold around his waist.
The crowd erupted in cheers. Hawk had laid down the challenge: beat the Steel Titans, and they'd get a shot at the titles. The Hart Brothers had delivered in spectacular fashion.
Hawk slowly raised his belt in acknowledgment.
Bret simply smiled, while Owen revved up the crowd, gesturing for the champions to come back down to the ring right then and there. Hawk shook his head, turned on his heel, and headed backstage with Animal following close behind.
"The Road Warriors wanted worthy challengers," Noah remarked as the brothers climbed the turnbuckles, arms raised to a standing ovation.
"Looks like they just got more than they bargained for," Irvin chimed in.
---
AN: Any suggestions on Hart brothers finisher ?