Showdown VII Nekketsu Title Match: "Radical" Edward Sealgair vs "Paragon" Ryan Knight

Ryan sat in his private locker room, facing the mirror as he put his arms on his knees and rested his chin on his hands staring at his reflection in the mirror. Seemed like only yesterday that he was getting ready for another PPV and a title match, wayyyyy back when with him and his right hand man John. The artist was there, leaning on the walls of the room in quiet contemplation. The Paragon would let the silence hang in the air for only a bit there however as he said "Thank you for being here my friend."

"No problem boss.........Lucy still not talking to you?" John said as he glanced at the one eyed knight, way back when they returned to Tension the trio were certainly heels. However Ryan came back to his senses and brought John with him, Lucy however had decided to relish cutting loose with the rules and she quarrelled with her brother with blows being exchanged.....

"............She's speaking to me......Its a start." Ryan said as he then stood up, his powerful frame draped in his ring attire with its fabulous fur cloak adorning his shoulders. "Now then, get your VIP seat lad. I'll give you and Claudia a show and fight as best as I can for the fans." the Paragon would fistbump the artist who headed out the locker room to the crowds. As for Ryan? Well he headed to the entrance ramp......

The lights in the arena dimmed, then the opening rock riffs of Fodlan Winds Remix began to blare from the speakers and a white stage light would shine down to present the mighty Paragon as he waved and smiled warmly to those in attendance. Ryan was gaining a massive amount of cheers from the crowd, sure there were some boos. But by and large the people of Tension were glad to see the Knight grace the PPV, he strode towards the ring and effortlessly sauntered over the top rope.

Giving a smile and a raised fist in the middle of the ring Ryan would then march to his corner, facing the entrance ramp with his arms folded and a confident expression on his face. Inwardly though? He was bouncing about all over the place, he felt that burning feeling in his heart. That he was here, he was fighting for the belt once again. Ryan knew of his opponent, a young up and comer named Edward. Well now was the time to put him to the ultimate test as the Paragon awaited who he'd be facing tonight!

Backstage, Edward Sealgaire sat, finishing braiding his hair and putting his vest on, trying to calm his nerves.

This was it, another Showdown PPV, his second one in fact, and he was getting his very first title match in all of AFW. He had been selected for a special tournament over Tensions newest title belt, advancing through the first round, and since the tournament fighters had been forced to drop out, Ed became the last man standing. In truth, he supposed he should have been a little annoyed that his opponent didn't need to even JOIN the tournament to end up getting a title shot...but that was just the wild and unpredictable nature of AFW really, and if it meant he didn't need to win a whole tournament to get the belt, that was a good thing.

Now, he just had to win THIS match, this one match, and he'd be a champion. The boy had watched pro wrestling ever since his days as a shut in at home as a kid, watching the amazing Valley Doll wrestle in AFW and win title belts that she would hold over her head, the small scottish child fantasizing about winning one himself one day.

Now, years later, the opportunity was all his. The chance to become a champion. What would those kids say, the ones back in Scotland who had bullied him so much in his youth that he became a shut in, and eventually fled to Japan? Would they respect him? Would his parents be proud that he had achieved such an accomplishment? Would winning that title, getting to hear the word "Champion" before his name was called, boost his self esteem, or rather, actually BUILD some actual self esteem for him for a change?

Well...it was time to find out, wasn't it?

Once his music played, Edward, clad in the blue and white colors of his native Scotland, the speedy high flyer sprinting his way down to the ring, and sliding underneath the ropes to enter the ring in one smooth motion before he leaped to his feet with a kip up.

The crowd cheered for him. Not very loud, but he WAS starting to build a positive reputation with his previous matches and impressive high flying abilities and counters, though from the sounds of it, his opponent, Ryan Knight, a longtime veteran of Tension, was far more popular based off the reaction he got.

Removing his vest and handing it to the time keeper for safe keeping, Edward moved to his corner and did some final stretches while looking over at his opponent.

"Don't believe we've met! Edward Sealgair!" Ed said, the 19 year old teen showing Ryan a kind smile, putting on an air of confidence that he only HOPED the other man wouldn't see through. "You ready for this? I may only have fought one opponent in that tournament, but I would've won the whole thing, so don't take me lightly, alright?"

Ryan stood stoic and proud as he heard his opponent's entrance music, his one eye barely blinking in anticipation of tonight's bout and what was on the line here. The Paragon had his arms folded in front of his broad chest, he had seen some of what Edward had been up to true to making sure he kept track of what was happening in Tension.

The lad was pretty good in the ring all things considered, enough to make Ryan know this would be worth the bout. The Paragon waited there sternly as Edward made his entrance and introduce himself to the mighty knight.

"Greetings Edward. Ryan Knight shall be your foe for tonight. Rest assured I had you as the favourite for that tournament, they lacked the heart you clearly have. However know this, I'll fight for every inch of this battle regardless........" Ryan calmly said. The ref would hoist up the belt for the crowd as the announcer would speak.

"Ladies and gentlemen the following contest, is set for one fall! And it is for The Nekketsu Championship! Introducing first, from London, England. The Paragon, Ryan Knighhhhhhhtttttttttttttttt!!!!!!" the announcer yelled out as Ryan raised one fist up into the air to salute the crowd as the announcer then went on with "And the opponent! From Dumfries, Scotland! The Scallywag, Edward Sealgaiiiiiirrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!" after this the ref would check both of the wrestlers involved to make sure they weren't carrying anything, Ryan simply remained composed outwardly even as he already felt his heart beat strong as it'd not be long before the battle began here................

Edward bounced on the balls of his feet as he and his opponent were given a proper introduction to the crowd, raising his hands and blushing slightly as he actually got some cheers. Apparently, despite his recent setbacks after his losses to Valley and Saif, he was still gaining some fans with his good looks and athletic displays, little by little, even if he didn't have the best win/loss record to show for it.

Still, as the bell rang, he did some last second stretches and got his hands up in a defensive position while grinning Ryan's way. "Heh, alright. I heard you were a decent guy. Glad to see that held true, I've fought quite a few...dis-honorable people lately. Gonna be good to not have to watch out for a cheap shot."

He said with an excited tone in his voice, already starting to watch the bigger man closely as their match started, eager to see how he would start things off and if there were any openings he could take advantage of!

Ryan kept himself composed there, he drowned out the noises around the arena. Relying on a technique he taught himself, simply focusing on only the ref and the opponent there, all else around the squared circle was pitch blackness that wasn't to be concerned with.

The Paragon simply acknowledged Edward's words with a polite nod before settling into his wrestling stance, Edward would surely have his work cut out for him in this match. Mr Knight lived up to his moniker if his heroically built frame was anything to go by there!

The bell would ring and it was go time now here, Ryan would prep into a classic wrestler stance. Low crouched a bit with his arms curved down and outwards, the Paragon sized up Edward's frame and garnered an inkling of what the plan might be. With that the knight would be stepping forward slowly, only to then dive down forward and crouched in an attempt to try and take Edward to the mat with a single leg takedown attempt to the mat!

Edward circled his opponent with his arms outstretched, taped fingers spread apart and wiggling as he waited for Ryan to make the first move, wanting to see what he would do and if his actions would afford any insight on how to approach him.

As Ryan stepped towards him, Edward moved one leg back, planning to match him step for step, only for Ryan to suddenly drop and lunge towards the teen, just as Edward was mid-back step!

"Oh Shi-" Edward was cut off, as with his footing uncertain, Ryan was able to tackle him and bring the smaller and lighter fighter down onto the mat underneath him, giving the early advantage to The Paragon!

Ryan wasted no time in making to assert himself in this bout, his usual approach to combat was to take things carefully half the time. But here in this title bout the Paragon would be going for it right out the gate and give it his all here, Edward or anyone else in attendance would know this by the end of the bout regardless.

The Paragon's gaze was calm as he managed to take down Edward there to the mat, the Paragon dabbled in MMA in his off time and had sought to apply certain moves into his gameplan. It worked well there in taking Mr Sealgair down to the ground, now Ryan sought to try and implement a follow-up to this there.

And make a statement at that, with the Paragon attempting to keep hold of Edward's leg there and roll him onto his stomach. Only to then try to lift the lad upwards with his renowned strength and slam him downward right on the knee there. It would be clear that Ryan was holding nothing back in this bout, for to do nothing less wouldn't grant him the name of his moniker!

Crapbaskets.

This wasn't the way Edward had particularly wanted things to start out for him, already on the backfoot as his leg was caught and he was pressed down to the mat. Unfortunately, size did matter in wrestling, and his short size was once again putting him at a near immediate disadvantage in this bout.

Which meant, as usual, if he was going to pull off the win here...he was going to have to do things the hard way. Damn.

Ryan didn't intend to make it easy on him either it seemed, as within seconds of being tackled, Ed was flipped to his front, and felt his leg being raised, realizing what was coming seconds before it did, as his knee was slammed hard down onto the mat, getting a pained yelp from the scottish teen as the high flyers leg was targeted from the get go!

Many had said that Ryan Knight was the sort that might not seem too impressive in his toolset and approach to fighting, relying on a boring yet practical arsenal to get stuck in with his matches. However it was one thing to say this and it was another thing to actually take Ryan's offence entirely, he could very well ragdoll someone if he could do so against them!

The crowd in the front row yelped loudly in response to the impact there, no doubt wincing and being glad they weren't being Mr Sealgair in the squared circle in this title bout. It sent a statement regardless for what was in store for Ryan's opponent here regardless! The Paragon had assessed his opponent's frame, a bit on the leaner side compared to his heroic build might suggest a propensity for flying around. A thing Ryan would have to watch out for.......

Giving a grunt of effort after the fact the Paragon would make to try and keep Edward's leg grabbed there with his left arm and attempt to flip him over for a single legged boston crab. As he did so Ryan would state to Edward with the following "This is no game lad. You'd best step up to the plate!" Ryan was ever the honourable fighter and knew the people wanted this to be a bout to remember hence the encouragement on his behalf there!