*TRIAL BY FIRE ERUPTS AS “THE APOCALYPSE” DESCENDS UPON APEX*

Kingsville, TX – The 2025 Trial by Fire Premium Live Event will forever be remembered as the night the skies darkened and The Apocalypse came to Apex Wrestling.The evening’s most controversial moment came not during a match, but during what was supposed to be a “victory celebration” for Mayhem. Following Maniac’s grueling victory over Mac to reclaim the Apex Championship, General Manager TJ Cantu mocked Lord Draven claiming he didn't exist and was just a ghost story.To the shock of many, Cantu emerged wearing Lord Draven’s classic ring gear—gear allegedly stolen from Draven’s personal vault with the help of Dark Disciple. Joined by Mayhem (Maniac, Dark Disciple, Ryan Rage, and Asmodeus), Cantu openly mocked the former Apex star, imitating his mannerisms and taunting the crowd.Then, without warning......The Apocalypse made their way to surround the ring.As Maniac was pointing out that the Apocalypse was clearly outnumbered...An unforgettable chant echoed through the sound system,"Wolves asleep amidst the trees" followed by flashes of light and smoke, Lord Draven made his way to encirclethe ring, flanked by a seemingly new faction known only as The Apocalypse:The four wasted no time, storming the ring in an all-out brawl with Mayhem. The fight spilled to the floor, into and back into the ring, with both sides showing zero restraint.But the night’s turning point came moments later. Maniac, the newly crowned Apex Champions, found himself face-to-face with Draven. In a scene that left the crowd stunned, Maniac appeared entranced, embracing his former ally. The moment ended violently as Draven struck, delivering his devastating Straight to Hell and leaving Maniac motionless.The attack created the perfect opening for Hardcore Stryker, who stormed the ring with his Right to Fight contract. The cash-in was immediate throwing Cantu out of the arena and dragging assistant GM J-Sin to the time keepers table, the pinfall inevitable—Stryker became the new Apex Champion in front of a thunderous crowd.Lord Draven and The Apocalypse disappeared, their message clear: they had arrived, and no one was safe.When reached for comment after the event, GM TJ Cantu refused to elaborate, issuing only one statement:“Draven doesn’t work here. He never will.”Whether Cantu’s words are a warning or wishful thinking remains to be seen. But one thing is certain—Trial by Fire has ignited a war between Mayhem and The Apocalypse, and the flames are just beginning to spread.