.[As the crowd finally settles down in anticipation of another stellar WildFire! match, they are momentarily thrown by unfamiliar guitar music. As soon as they look up at the video wall, however, they erupt into a thunderous ovation as it is clear that Nighthawk has something to say as "Just Go" by Staind blares through the speakers.]
[Nighthawk steps out onto the stage wearing white and red athletic shoes, blue jeans, a white Detroit Tigers jersey and a black leather jacket. A black baseball hat with a red outline of a hawk on the front covers up his short brown hair and mirrored sunglasses shade all the emotion in his eyes as he slowly pivots a 360 degree turn to look out at the entire crowd as he stands in the middle of the rampway. He then continues towards the ring with no lighting and no pyro to accompany him tonight.]
[The commentators are silent as Nighthawk steps between the ropes and stands in the center of the ring, looking out at the cheering masses in what appears to be surprise. The last time he wrestled, he was the most hated man in the industry. Recent events however seem to have brought most of the fans back to his side, even though there are many in the audeience holding up signs that read things like "Reign of Pain or Reign of Murder?" The music dies and Nighthawk opens his coat and pulls out a mic from his inside pocket. He looks like he's ready to speak, but the crowd noise, both cheers and boos, is too loud to allow him to begin. Finally, with his supporters in the audience all on their feet even as his critics scream obsenities that fall on his ears like raindrops from the sky, Nighthawk lifts up the mic.]
[NIGHTHAWK]: I'm not here to cut a promo tonight...I'm not hear to tell any stories or call anyone out or make any challenges. I'm simply out here tonight to ask your forgiveness.
[There is a roar at that but Nighthawk holds up his hand and is able to quiet them down so he can continue.]
[NIGHTHAWK]: Don't get me wrong...I'm not always a nice guy...I don't ride a white horse and I'm not a knight in shining armor. I offer no apologies for the things that I've done in the past inside a wrestling ring and even in the moments when you most wanted me dead...whether it was in the war with Cyprus or the Blood Feud with Mace...I wouldn't change a damn thing.
[There are more boos at this point as some fans think Nighthawk is about to go off on a heel tangent but he continues talking and ignores them.]
[NIGHTHAWK]: I apologize for one reason and one reason only. In the past few weeks, I've let elements of my personal life outshine my accomplishments in the ring and I also allowed a lot of bullsh(beep) to be said in the media without providing a response or a defense. By allowing that to happen, I've forced the wrestling fans to fight an uphill battle for my reinstatement alone and that was a burden I should have shouldered directly. Tonight...that changes. Throughout my entire life, I've always fought my battles alone and now it's time to take the fight away from the fans and put it where it belongs...right where I'm standing right now.
[A 'NIGHTHAWK' chant starts up in the stands until it becomes a thunderous roar that brings a smile to the Reign of Pain's face in spite of himself.]
[NIGHTHAWK]: To the AAEF...I say 'Screw You'...you weren't there and you fight all your battles from behind a podium, allowing the press to do your dirty work and reaching your grubby hands out for cash from any source you can get it, no matter who gets hurt or what the consequences are. You are all nothing more than human garbage and you should be sleeping in dumpsters instead of penthouses because you're nothing more than a waste of human organs.
[A thunderous ovation erupts at this even as several fights break out in the stands that send security scattering to break them up.]
[NIGHTHAWK]: To the fans I say thank you. Whether you love me or you hate me, that's your business and your right. But you gave me a career and I will continue to give you my absolute best for as long as I'm breathing.
[Another ovation.]
[NIGHTHAWK]: And to Robert Marshall I say this: I have been charged with no crime. I have spent no time in jail and I am faced with no charges for one simple reason: I DID WHAT I HAD TO DO. For myself...for my family...it was tragic but it is OVER. And this supension is over as of now because from here on in, you can look me in the eye when passing judgements instead of sending memos and speaking to me through a TV camera. Next week on Wildfire, I'm coming back live and I'm coming to fight. If you have any sense at all Robert, you'll have an opponent waiting for me because I promise you this...my days of sitting back and letting this crap go on is over. I understand you did what you felt was right for your company. But now what's right for the business, the fans, and the CSWA is for the Nighthawk to start coming to work again. Either I have an opponent for next week or I'll be forced to find one...and Robert...if I'm forced to find one I may just come knocking at your door.
[He turns away from the camera and looks out at the crowd.]
[NIGHTHAWK]: Thank you so much for giving me the time to talk here tonight. Thank you so much for the support in bringing me back and thank you so much for the last nine years. It's been a helluva ride but I'm just getting started.
[With that, Nighthawk rolls out of the ring as Staind's 'Just Go' hits the speakers again.]
[MCCOY]: I don't know what to say...
[PAGE]: Well, we've just heard from the Nighthawk for the first time since his classic Ironman match with Mace and it's obvious to me that he is coming back a man on a mission and I can't wait to see how Marshall responds. Welcome back, Dave....We missed you.
[The screen fades into commercial.]