With just three NPJW wrestlers left in the ring, the energy shifted into overdrive.
Hogan and Victor teamed up, cornering their opponent with a relentless flurry of alternating body shots. As the battered wrestler attempted to break free, Hogan seized him by the waist, and Victor delivered a clothesline that sent him flipping over the top rope.
Now, it was down to two.
In the VIP box, Yoichi was in a frenzy, pounding his fists against the glass. "No! What are you doing?! Fight back!"
"Sir, they're trying—" his assistant stuttered, clearly nervous.
"They're losing!" Yoichi snapped.
Meanwhile, Zach, James, and Flora watched the chaos unfold with barely contained laughter. "I've never seen a live meltdown," Zach whispered, grinning.
In just another minute, Diego and Hogan executed a brilliant double-team move, sending the fourth NPJW competitor flying over the ropes.
And then there was one.
The last NPJW wrestler slowly rose, scanning the ring. Five IRW powerhouses formed a semi-circle around him, and the crowd erupted in laughter, sensing the inevitable outcome.
Victor leaned in close to Hogan and Diego, sharing a quick strategy. They both exchanged mischievous grins.
"What?" Steve Austin asked, looking puzzled.
"You'll see," Victor replied with a sly smile.
The lone wrestler made a desperate final charge at Austin, who ducked and caught him around the waist, halting his momentum in its tracks.
Then, the onslaught began:
Victor Cross hit the ropes and flattened him with a bone-crushing running powerslam.
Steve Austin yanked the dazed man to his feet and drove him chin-first into the mat with a thunderous Stunner.
Diego Cortez soared through the air, executing a breathtaking crossbody off the top turnbuckle.
Hogan Hornet dashed across the ring, delivering a punishing running knee straight into the man's chest.
Finally, it was Andre's moment.
Andre approached the battered, barely conscious wrestler, gently wrapped one massive hand around his neck, and effortlessly hoisted him into the air. With a single, fluid motion, he tossed him over the top rope.
The bell rang.
"IT'S OVER!" Ross Bartley shouted, leaping onto his chair. "IRW HAS WON PROMOTION WARS!"
"They completely dominated the Battle Royale!" Kyle exclaimed, waving his arms excitedly toward the ring.
In the center of the squared circle, Steve Austin was on the turnbuckle, pumping his fists in triumph, while Diego executed a stunning flip off the ropes. Hogan and Victor shared a huge hug, and Andre stood proudly in the middle, beaming as his teammates surrounded him, giving his massive shoulders a few hearty slaps.
Meanwhile, in the VIP lounge, Yoichi sank deep into his leather chair, his face drained of color. His assistant quietly took off his glasses, pinching the bridge of his nose in a moment of silence.
The risk had paid off. IRW had emerged victorious in the war.
James Wilson was the first to rise from his seat as the thunderous celebrations in the ring began to settle down.
The ACW booker made his way over to Vince, a genuine, albeit slightly dazed, smile lighting up his face as he extended his hand.
"Congratulations."
Vince took the handshake without a moment's hesitation, his grip steady and strong. "Thank you, James."
James let out a chuckle, his eyes wandering back to the ring where the IRW roster was still lost in a frenzy of celebration with the fans. "I'll be honest. When the idea of this Promotion Wars first came up, I thought you were either incredibly bold or completely out of your mind."
"And now?" Vince asked, a subtle, knowing smirk creeping onto his face.
James's smile grew wider. "I'm still weighing my options."
They shared a quiet laugh, a fleeting moment of mutual respect between the two promoters. Just then, Flora approached.
In stark contrast to James, her congratulations were devoid of any real enthusiasm.
"...Congratulations."
Her voice held no outright hostility—just a cold, rigid sense of professional courtesy.
Vince returned her smile politely, mirroring her tone perfectly. "Thank you, Flora."
She gave a brief, curt nod before retreating back toward James, clearly eager to put some distance between herself and the celebration.
Meanwhile, Zach Sachman remained seated, his fingers neatly folded under his chin, his sharp gaze locked onto Vince. He had observed the entire event unfold with the keen eye of a hawk.
Every match. Every crowd reaction. Every single moment when thousands of people had jumped to their feet in unison, fueled by raw emotion.
Eventually, the ACW owner leaned in a bit closer to Vince. "I have to ask."
Vince turned to him, locking eyes.
"How?" Zach pressed quietly. "How is IRW pulling in these ratings? You've almost caught up to ACW, and you don't have our history, our budget, or our infrastructure."
He shook his head, genuinely baffled. "You've somehow made people care about wrestlers just having conversations. You've sparked passionate debates among fans over heroes and villains. I just don't get it."
Vince's smile shifted into something more contemplative. "Maybe wrestling has always been about making people care, Zach. The moves are just the means; the emotion is what drives it."
Before Zach could throw another question his way, a loud, jarring bang echoed through the VIP box.
Everyone jumped, turning to see what had happened.
Yoichi had slammed both hands down on the railing overlooking the arena floor with enough force to rattle the glass. His face was a terrifying shade of bright crimson.
"This is your fault!" Yoichi bellowed, first turning on his assistant. "I told you those idiots weren't good enough! I warned you the booking was a disaster!"
The assistant instinctively bowed his head, shrinking back without daring to respond.
"You!" Yoichi shouted, wildly pointing at no one in particular, his eyes bulging. "You! All of you! Useless!"
His breathing grew heavy and erratic, his chest heaving as his frantic gaze finally settled on Vince. For a brief, tense moment, he looked almost unhinged. He slowly raised a trembling finger, pointing accusatorily.
"You..." Yoichi hissed, his voice dropping to a venomous whisper. "You cheated!"
Vince blinked, entirely unfazed. "...Cheated?"
"You rigged this entire event! You bribed somebody! The judges, the network, the venue—you—"
Vince simply raised an eyebrow, his calm but smug demeanor only fueling the fire. "Would you like to explain exactly how I managed that, Yoichi?"
That cool dismissal only pushed the NPJW owner over the edge. "You think you're clever! You think you've won!" Yoichi shrieked. "I'll kill you!"
Without another word, Yoichi suddenly lunged across the VIP section, straight toward Vince.