“Well, it took a couple false starts, but… here I am.”

Cold open.

We’re inside a rental car, looking on from a phone or tablet camera situated on the dashboard. You’ve seen that kind of perspective in a reality show, most likely. It’s dark out, and there’s a streetlight shining on the car, peeking through the driver’s side window.

And in the driver’s seat, leaning back as he stares out into space, is one of HWA’s newest acquisitions, the hardcore veteran Rob Sharpe.

“I’m about to check into the hotel here in Ames, IA, and then tomorrow night, I’m gonna roll right into that ring and show my stuff against another old-timer named Professor David Hoff. And I’m going to show the HWA just what I can do.”

Sharpe looks into the camera with a confident smile.

“When I first showed up to Havoc in Nashville, I was just set on having a good time. But of course, what happened happened, and I headed on home with a signed contract. And now, it’s time to start paying back for the opportunity given to me in my old age. HWA management saw an old dog with some fight still in him and decided to give him the chance he’s wanted for a while; a chance to face the young crop of stars rising up in the game and see how I measure up.”

A shake of the head.

“I’m not gonna bore you guys about the belts I won and the people I faced from yesteryear, because resting on my laurels is the opposite of what I wanna do in the HWA. All that matters is the here and now, and now, I’m itching to set the pace for my 2025 in wrestling. And I’m not about to let turning 50 discourage me!”

Sharpe chuckles. If you listen closely, you can hear Looking Glass’ 1972 soft rock classic “Brandy (You’re a Fine Girl)” playing in the background, but Sharpe doesn’t give any signs of noticing.

“Professor Hoff, I’ve read up on him, and I know old son’s a madman in a fight, but I’m game. Why?”

Sharpe leans in towards the camera, his face taking on a more serious shade.

“Because I live by the Three Any’s. ‘Anywhere, Anyone, Anytime.’ In this sport, this business, that’s how you show the world what you’re made of, by taking on anyone who comes your way. Scruffy greenhorn wants to take you on and learn a couple lessons the hard way? Take ‘em on. Crazy weirdo nobody really knows where he came from, who makes everyone uncomfortable? Take ‘em on. World champion? Take ‘em on. That’s how you know where you stand.”

Sharpe nods and looks out the windshield for a second.

“There’s too many people in my generation of wrestlers, who run their podcasts and complain about how the business has gone in a direction they don’t like.”

He scoffs.

“Thing is, things change. Companies rise and fall, styles get hot and cold, and fans’ tastes, what flies on TV and what doesn’t… it all changes, because ALL things change, not just in wrestling. It’s all about how to react and adapt to that change. So.”

He shrugs and chuckles again.

“Tomorrow night is the start of a new journey, and I plan to walk into 2025 a winner.”

A pause.

“See ya then.”