Breaking the Tension!™ Special Episode: Ryan Knight and John Carnaby, Tension Tag Champions

Showdown. Finally. A legitimate PPV for Patty to ply her trade in.

She had come too late to attend last year's show, arriving in Japan right as it was starting. She'd tried to procure a press pass, but there had been some mixups, and no one backstage realized the calibre of star power they were dealing with or the mass potential that Breaking the Tension!™ brought to the company. Patty had to grease a few palms in order to make it work, but they eventually smelled what she was cooking, and agreed to let her do the Battle Royale special episode. Even with all the shenanigans that had gone down in that match - and mysteriously losing the Bree segment thansk to technical difficulties - that episode had drawn quite a few veiws, and pushed her well past the coveted 100K mark.

While her fans loved the regular episdes, they also wanted to be backstage for the most momentuous events, like the crowning of the new - and, arguably, the first - Tension Tag Team Champions. The United Kingdom Elite, Ryan Knight and John Carnaby, had seized the titles, and Patty was more than willing to congratulate them on their momentuous accomplishment...and score a world-exclusive, post-match interview.

She wanted to commemorate this occasion by wearing the proper attire for whoever came out on top. If this Ishiis won, she had a red and white outfit all set and ready to go, displaying Japan's blazing colors. For the UKE, she had a variation of her usually hoop-skirt outfit, which  would proudly display the Union Jack. She never cared much for the flag, being a true-blooded, 110% American, but since she was an international star, it was only fitting that she learned to cater to audiences across the waters. And the idea of drawing bigger in Europe was quite tantalizing. There was only one, small problem.

"Stop moving around so much!" Ran whined as she tried to pull the zipper all the way up Patty's back, gaining more than a few awkward stares as they made their way down the hall. The two of them had been watching the match and saw how much damage Ryan had taken, so it was sure bet where the man would be after the match. Now that it was finished and Patty knew which dress to put on, it was a simple mattter of heading to the medical center. The zipper on her outfit had other ideas, and Ran was having a devil of a time getting it all the way up while Patty anxiously strolled forward.  "You're not making this easier, you know? Can't you stop, just for a second?"

Patty staggered around as Ran tried to get the zipper unstuck, giving it a few hard tugs and making absolutely zero progress for her efforts. "No, we cannot!" She grunted as Ran gave her another pull to the right and didn't move it up one inch. If anything, it went back down."It's an exclusive, Ran. We have to strike while the iron is hot!"

She turned the corner towards the medical center and looked around, while Ran desperately fought with the zipper behind her. Ryan had to be around here, somewhere...

"Mr Knight please! You can't have red wine while your stiches are being done!" a voice could be heard from down the hallway, it sounded like a Japanese man talking in English. It wasn't too far from where Ran and Patty were.

It was then followed by a young man saying "Bollicks, fine whatever." Ryan was sitting upwards on a hospital bed. He was still dressed in his usual regal ring attire, only there was the new addition of one of the Tension tag belts now around his waist. Mr Knight was hoping to celebrate his team's hard fought victory with a little drink, but of course the head wound complicated matters.

So the paragon of Britain would just have to sit still and be a good boy for once, still though at least Britain's best had secured the gold. John was sitting next to his boss, some bandages around his waist. He hadn't broken anything, although the artist had his ribs badly bruised from when Yamato tackled him through the ropes. It would hurt to lie down, but still the price for their victory was worth it. His title belt was on his left shoulder as opposed to how Mr Knight had his.

The only one not injured was Lucy, and that was because she hadn't fought in the match. Or in any of the tournament matches, due to being from Friction she wasn't allowed to compete. Still right now her place was at her adoptive Brother's side, a bemused smirk on her face as Lucy saw how her Brother was behaving.

"Mind if I have that drink boss?" John said.

The paragon of Britain lifted an eyebrow in curiosity, before saying "I recall that you don't drink John, you say it interferes with your creativity."

The master of creation shrugged and said "Time to celebrate though right?" with that John picked up the wine glass and started sipping from it.

"Got that right, way to go Bro." Lucy said. Ryan didn't say anything, and kept perfectly still as the Doctor got to work on stiching up his noggin. Ms Grange had been checking on Facebook and Twitter, and all the tension fans were still talking about it. Even as the main event of the evening was going on.

There they were - the freshly minted tag-team champions. And some other girl they hung out with from Friction, Lacey or Lana or something. Not important. And she was mildly curious where they found a glass of red wine so quickly afte the match, but that wasn't important, either. No, what was important was getting her interview while her subjects were particularly well-weathered and ripe for the plucking.

"The zipper is hopeless..." Ran sighed, giving it one final tug before she threw up her hands in frustration. "Cheap, piece of-"

"Psh, forget the zipper." Patty gave her microphone a quick check and nodded over her shoulder. "Just keep the focus off my back, we'll work it from the side."

[B]"Right, right."[/color] There was some reluctance in Ran's voice, but she knew better than to question Patty's insights and mistrust her superior expertise and judgment. It had served them well in every episode so far, and this time would be no different.

They took a moment to get set up and then made their move, bursting down the hallway with her heels click-clacking all the way. Ran came in with the camera and centered on Ryan and John, making sure Lacey stayed out of the shot, while Patty put on her best smile for the camera.

"Ladies and Gentleman, your new Tension Tag Team Champions!" She threw a quick wink at the camera before turning their way. ]"Hello, boys - I'm Patty O' Malley with Breaking the Tension!™, the voice of the average wrestling fan on our humble little show. I'm sure you've heard of me, just formalities." Patty had a girlish giggle, even managed to make her cheeks flush for that extra bit of cuteness. "Care to share a few words, tell the fans where you head is at?"

Oh, God, the blood. Patty winced a bit when she saw the stitch work. It had been easier to deal with on the TV, but now that she saw it live...ew. She tried to focus on something else, anything else...like the belt around Ryan's waist. Coming to think of it, Patty couldn't remember the last time she'd seen anyone actually wear a championship belt like that. Did not look comfy.

John wasn't expecting more people in the room, he assumed the noises in the hallway were just nurses. Nope, it was what appeared to be journalists. Which made the artist recall that he knew a guy taking up journalism in college. Mr Carnaby sat there with a confused frown, rather unsure as to what he should do.

Ryan on the other hand smiled, and then winced at the doctor went on with the sutures of his head. He had heard of Breaking the tension, one didn't spend a year in tension without knowing the names of all the major players. It seemed rather well, novel to the paragon of Britain. He had toyed with the idea of maybe setting an episode up, however there were more pressing concerns at hand for Mr Knight.

Lucy was also a bit confused, and also ever so slightly annoyed that she wasn't in the shot. Ms Grange adjusted herself ever so slightly, to try and hang at the edge of the shot. Just because she was in friction couldn't mean she was ignored after all.

John looked at the Doctor, before standing up and saying "Um look I don't think you should be here at this point we...."

"Not at all John, hello Ms O Malley. It's a pleasure to meet you at last, I wish it had been under more nicer conditions of course. Ngh!" Ryan said, although at least the wound had now been sealed up. The doctor handed the paragon of Britain a cloth to stick over his head.

"Well my head's been tomatoed, donned one half of the proverbial crimson mask. But it's not the first time of course, please take a seat. No doubt you have several questions, seeing as how we have no where to go allow us to indulge you." Ryan said while sticking the cloth on his wound, motioning for Patty to get herself comfortable.

Patty caught Linda trying to squeeze into the shot, but fortunately Ran was having none of it. She scooted to the side, managing to keep her out on the periphery while she centered on the champions. It was bad enough that they had to get the doctor in on it, too, but he was too close to be avoided. If the little girl wanted to be on camera so bad, she could always appear on Conway's Crib.

Oh, right, that was cancelled. Sucked to be her.

"Ah, no, I'm quite fine standing Building up the leg muscles, you know how it is." Patty backed away a few steps, just to be on the safe side, fully covering her exposed back. The air conditioner was blowing down her skin, but she could deal with it. Ryan seemed to be a locquacious sort, too, which would definitely help her pad things out.

"So. Ryan Knight. John Carnaby. You're the first ones to hold those belts in a long, long while. No matter how long the AFW endures, you two will always be remembered as the first active holders. What's it feel like to win the Tension Tag Titles and set such a massive precedent?"

Lucy caught on to the fact that Ran and Patty were keeping her out the camera, Ms Grange huffed and then decided to take the chance to slink out. If they were going to be like that then fine, Lucy would just need to get a certain something to get back at them.....

Ryan raised an eyebrow, a bit miffed that his Sister wasn't sticking around. Something told Mr Knight that whatever Lucy had in mind it wasn't anything pleasant, they were siblings but Lucy could just be a right prankster at times.

John on the other hand was still feeling a bit of buzz from the team's hard earned victory, that and the bruised ribs. But still Patty was correct, him and his boss were gonna be remembered for this deed. Mr Knight looked at the camera and cracked a grin, saying to Patty "Well sunshine I think it's quite spectacular to be honest, this tournament has proved Tension can be just as good with tag teams as friction is. It's helped make tag teaming here relevant again. And to have obtained the belts, our first ever titles in such a situation is quite an incredible feeling. Why I still remember the loud applause of the crowd, even if my ears were ringing."

John then chimed in by saying "When I was in college a teacher of mine once said that those who make history often don't realise they are doing so. I believe we have proved the exception to that, you are correct Ms O Malley. We have set such a bar for the competition, I only hope we can set the example for others to follow."

Patty breathed a quiet sigh of relief as Lana went off somewhere, probably to brood. It was unfortunate for her, really - Friction could have used a Patty O' Malley, but so far, none had stepped up to take the mantle. Perhaps, some day, an intrepid reporter would see the example she was setting and follow it, give the women of Friction what they deserved. Granted, she would never enjoy the publicity that Patty did, but she liked to think her shadow didn't cast too far.

With the room cleared, Ran was allowed to get a better shot and put and Ryan on center stage, making sure to get a good fix on his wounds. Smart, very smart, just like Patty had taught her. The fans wanted to see this, loved to get a glimpse of the bloodier side of wrestler. Granted, Patty was still avoiding the sight herself, but it wasn't like she had to edit the footage or anything like that. Ran did that crap.

"The bar has been set pretty high, yes, and you both had to go through hell to put it there." Patty nodded and held her hand up for a little visual aide. "What were your thoughts on the level of competition you faced throughout? Even the wresters you could've gone against, but didn't - if the order had been switched around, do you think I'd be speaking with someone else, right now?"

The other teams in the tournament, ah of course Ryan knew about them. So did John, in fact they looked up each team and any matches they had before the tournament. In this business it paid well to know the competition as best you could. King's crew, the brat pack, Sion and Daisuke, the Valkyries, the Higurashi siblings, the Ishii siblings, Fire and Ice. Mr Knight had believed that this tournament had brought tag teaming back into the tension spotlight, it was just as relevant as it was in friction.

Now Ryan and John were ready to give their honest thoughts and opinions about the opposing teams. With that in mind Mr Knight put a hand to his chin in thought before saying to Patty "Ah all the others in this tournament, where to even start my dear? Well how about the teams we fought yes? For starters, Daisuke and Sion. Now I am a man of romance but spats between lovers are best suited after matches."

John then spoke in with his two cents with "Well I'll admit they smacked me around pretty good, but still the fact was they lost due to not being a good team. It ain't one on one, it's two on two. Requires a bit of a different game plan."

The second team that the United Kingdom Elite had battled was the Valkyries, well namely Mako and her enforcer Stone. "Then we faced the Valkyries, and I have to admit that it was time to take them down. Do you recall what happened John in that match?"

The artist let out a grin and said "The part where Mako tried to take you out with a chair, only I came up right behind her. And then slammed her down hard with that German suplex, man don't know how long I was wanting to do that."

"Hrmm yes, the fact that Mako cheated to win only to lose because of it. The irony is lost on no one. However on to the match that just occurred not too long ago, with the Ishii siblings. It was a match that will be remembered fondly, for years to come. It was how the finals should have been, a hard fought battle between two unified teams. No one will be able to say that no one gave their best this night." Mr Knight said, a smile on his face with a proud twinkle in his eye. John remained silent and just nodded his head with a slight smile, the artist was there. He was there.

"As for the rest of the competition well, it's clear that all involved were playing to win. As expected, and it's best that way. But if fate gave us other competitors....Well perhaps the Higurashi siblings would have given us a battle to remember, but for all we know it could have been anybody holding these belts. But we don't lose easily. Next question Ms O Malley?" Ryan said as he leaned forward in his hospital bed.

Patty listened close while Ryan recounted his tales and gave his expert opinions. It was a sharp reminder that there was still a lot she had to learn, even though she'd spent many hours delving into the sport since coming to Japan. This was the sort of in-depth analysis she desperately needed - maybe she should hire a consultant? Or, better yet, get Ran to increase her studying and make her the consultant. A good way to save money and increase her protege's skill set, all in one swoop. Brilliant.

And speaking of protege, it was time for Patty to focus on John a bit. She needed to get a little more of a human element into this interview, give some more time to the common man. After all, John was the easier one to relate to, more of a rags-to-riches story. That needed some playing up.

"No, you don't lose easily, and I'm sure there are many fallen opponents in Tension who can attest to that fact." She turned her attention to John and Ran followed suit, getting a close-up on the burgeoning artist. "But what about you, John? You're fairly new to the game - some might say you're still in the 'rookie' stage." She brought in the air quotes for that one. Would probably get a good laugh. "How's it feel to score such a major accomplishment at this point in your career?"

John was a little surprised that Patty and Ran were now focusing on him, the artist wishing that this could have been done later. When he didn't look like well, shit to be frank. But hey Mr Carnaby learned that Tension was a crazy place, and heard that Friction could be even wackier.

So the artist had decided it was best to try and go with the flow, and make the most of it. After all he had just won championship gold, that hadn't been touched in donkey years. Mr Knight cracked a wry smile, seeing how the master of creation would cope with the spotlight. The paragon of Britain believed that John had rightly deserved it.

Upon being called a rookie however John couldn't help but look just a little annoyed, although it was true. Mr Knight and Lucy had trained longer than he had, not to mention they also spent time on the Asian indie circuits. But still John figured this was his chance to maybe set the record straight.

With that in mind the master of creation coughed a little and then said "Well to be frank...It feels bloody brilliant, it feels like the treasure at the end of the dungeon. And I might still be a rookie, but I've got the potential. When my boss here first saw me in action, he said I was a diamond in the rough. I feel like I've proved myself, and the naysayers wrong. And I'm gonna keep trying to do that, because it's part of the life and job here. I've come to understand that."