Chapter 2 Facts, Figures, and Fear
Note- I know I am getting some of the dates wrong. Like the stuff for when the trademarks for AEW came out not being the exact time as the Jericho Cruise. But I need to do this to drive the narritve.
Riley and Mandy's Home Orlando
Time there was never enough of it. At least that is how Riley always felt. He had just gotten home and manged to get a few hours of sleep before his alarm went off. He needed more sleep. But also had things he had to get done before he had to get on a flight and head over to Japan. Mandy was still out on the road and wouldn't be back until after TV was over. It would be two weeks between the last time they would be together. They talked every day but still this was hard being apart. But for once there was a benefit to being apart. It was making it possible to keep the guy's secret. Being face to face with Mandy he could never lie to her. Even if he wanted to she could read him like a book. "Just a few more days. Than the guys will have meeting and would know for sure if this company was actually happening," Riley said to himself.
Rolling out of bed he headed down to the kitchen. "Morning Riley!" He heard causing him to jump. "What the fuck Marty?" Riley yells. "We need to talk," Marty says. "Dude I just work up… how did you get in?" Riley asks. "You gave me a spare key in case of emergency's," Marty reminds him. "You didn't think to call first?" Riley says annoyed. "We need to talk about this company the guys are starting," Marty says. Riley groaned. Having Marty live near by could be good. A work out partner, a travel partner, a bit filmer on demand. The problem is if Marty needed something Riley usually got the call. "Okay why do we need to talk?" Riley asks. "I am freaking out," Marty says. "You aren't the only one. I thought I knew which paths I could take," Riley says. "It's worse for me mate. My ROH deal runs longer than you lot," Marty says.
"Look on the bright side Marty. That means you got more time to sit back and see how things actually go," Riley tells him. "Or I lose all my momentum," Mary says. "And I could wind up getting divorced," Riley says. "Would Mandy really..." "Of course not Marty. But I gotta keep her in mind on this. Hell Marty I just woke in bed alone knowing I wont see her for another week. At least now I know how it works. If WWE would give me there word I would be on same brand with her it would be really tempting," Riley says. "Think they would do that?" Marty asks. "Maybe… hell as opposed as I have been to NXT again more time with Mandy would be tempting," Riley says. "Well this All In company could be more time in the US," Marty says. "Could also be more work," Riley says. For as annoyed as he had been upon finding Marty in the living room this talk was actually doing him some good.
Riley opened the cupboard and grabbed some bread and peanut butter. If this was going to go on he was going to need some breakfast. "You are right. A lot of fans will be expecting the matches to be the best they have ever seen," Marty says. "As much as New Japan or BTE have taken off a lot of causal fans have never seen us work. We flop they wonder what the big deal is," Riley says. "I still don't know what I am going to do," Marty says. "Neither do I. New Japan and ROH is safe and I am good there, WWE is still the place to go chance with the most money to be made, and this new company could be the ultimate legacy maker."
Mandy and Sonya's Rental Car
Mandy and Sonya had just finished filming DaMandyz Dounutz. "That is really good," Mandy says finishing hers off. "We still need to find a ten," Sonya says. Before Mandy can respond her phone goes off. "Score," Mandy says pressing a few buttons. "What is up?" Sonya asks. "I am going to be able to take an earlier flight so I can get home and surprise my husband before he goes to Japan," Mandy says smiling. "At best you are going to have a few hours," Sonya points out. "Yes a few hours I wouldn't get otherwise," Mandy says. "Oh I am going to have to get him to join the WWE. Just to spare me all this lovey dovey crap," Sonya says. "Or it would just be me being all lovey dovey twenty four seven," Mandy jokes.
Jacksonville
Cody and The Bucks were heading to there meeting and were riding in the limo Tony Khan had provided. "Remember when I couldn't buy a chicken sandwich at a fast food restaurant?" Matt says to his brother Nick. "Yeah I do. And now this," Nick says pointing around the limo. Cody pulls out a sheet of paper and looks at it. "Guys this is my offer from the WWE. Let's lay all the cards on the table," Cody says. Nick and Matt reach into bags and pull paper out as well. "Great minds think alike," Nick says. "They offered you an opt out clause? They have never put something like that in a contract," Cody declares after reading the Bucks offer. "Yeah they are making a hard push," Nick says. "Yeah if we aren't happy we can leave," Matt says. "Man I wish I had that during the Stardust days," Cody says.
"Man we should call the guys and see what the WWE has offered them make sure we all get a fair deal," Matt says. "Let's think a second. When I was leaving the WWE some of the lifer's were trying to talk me into staying. One even told me I owed it to the company and the boys to stick around. And if I had listened to them it would have been the biggest mistake of my life," Cody says. "What are you saying?" Nick asks. "Guys what ever Tony is going to offer we will be partners in. So we have to be aware of what we are dealing with. But we don't owe the guys anything," Cody says. "Wow Hangman is saying he is in," Matt reminds him. "And no one has been putting Hangman over stronger than me. But if honestly the WWE gives us a better deal we owe it to ourselves to take it," Cody says.
"Dana was asking about trademark stuff. Like would Tony get control of the Young Buck name? Would he take over Being the Elite?" Matt says. "But maybe we control our time on the road more. I mean WWE even with all the changes you are still out there like three hundred days a year," Nick says. "That is what I am talking about. Guys we look out for ourselves. Kenny, Marty, Hangman, and Riley are adults. And I won't hold them doing that is best for them even if it's not being with us," Cody says. The Bucks nod there heads.
Mandy's Flight
Mandy was thankful in flight WiFi was now a thing. Mainly because she had forgotten to get a new book for the flight. "Anxious to see your husband?" The woman next to Mandy asks. "Am I that obvious?" Mandy asks. "Well you keep looking at your ring and checking the time. Plus I was a newly wed once," The woman says. "Yeah Riley and I are still in the newly wed mode," Mandy says. "Were you traveling for business?" She asks. "Yes I was I work for the WWE. We are just finishing a tour," Mandy says. "WWE you wrestle?" The woman asks. "Yes I do been doing it a couple years now," Mandy says proudly. "Does your husband wrestle?" "Yes for New Japan." And adds hopefully for the WWE soon enough mentally.
Riley and Mandy's home
Mandy smiled as she came into the house. "Riley I'm home," she says. No response. He had to be home he never left the door unlocked plus he left two windows open. Finally she heard the printer running in the office. "Oh I know where he is," Mandy thought stiffing a laugh. Riley like many top Indy wrestlers made extra money selling merchandiser to fans. The problem is that also meant he had to handle shipping full fulling any orders.
Mandy made her way to the office. "Excuse me I sent in for a Riley Morgan autograph and never got it," Mandy says. Riley looks up and smiles. "I am so happy to see you," Riley says getting up to kiss her. "Surprise," She says. "I have missed you so much," he says. "Same here. That is why I rearranged my travel to get home before you left," Mandy says as they walk out of the office and towards there bed room. "Do you need help with you bags?" He asks. "I can get them latter. We only have so long. When is your flight?" Mandy asks. "To soon," Riley says kissing her again deeper this time. For them passions always came fast and strong. Once they are in the room Riley picks her up instead to place her on it only to see his own bags on it. "Sorry Mandy one sec," He says putting her down and moving the bags. Once he does that Mandy pulls him into a kiss and they fall onto the bed.
Later
"Do you have to go to Japan?" Mandy asks as they lay in bed. "You are making it very hard to but yeah," Riley says. "So how long is this tour?" Mandy asks. "I am just doing a few shows in Japan. Than its off to the Cruise," Riley says. "Why did you agree to do that thing?" Mandy asks she knew why. It was good money, Jericho had become a friend to the Elite, and it was a chance to hang with his friends on a ship. Hell if she could have gotten from the WWE should she would have gone. "I promise to bring you something nice," Riley says. "A signed WWE contract with your name on it?"She jokes.
And just like that Riley was reminded of everything that was going on. Mainly the stuff going on with Cody and the Bucks. "You promised you wouldn't tell her," Riley thinks to himself. "This conversation can wait until we are home for more than a few hours. I promise," Mandy says. "Yeah just not enough time," Riley says. He kept justifying not being honest with her by reminding he didn't even have the full details. "By the way heard a rumor that you and the Bucks are going to debut for Impact. Something like Don Callis and Kenny convinced you to do it," Mandy says laughing. Riley laughs as well.
Jericho Cruise
Riley knocked on the door to a cabin. A second later Nick Jackson open the door. "Hey can you believe this set up?" He asks. "So is it happening or not?" Riley asks not wasting time. "Dude get in here," Nick says pulling Riley in. Once they are in the cabin Nick speaks. "What part of keep it quite do you not understand?" Nick asks. "Its been weeks. And I have kept it quite. But I haven't heard anything from you guys," Riley says. Another knock on the door. Nick lets in Matt. "Hey man you ready to get meet up with the wife and kids?" Matt asks. "I am but first Riley wants an update," Nick says. "Is this company happening or not?" Riley asks. Nick and Matt exchange a look. "What company?" Matt asks. "Yeah Riley you feeling okay?" Nick asks.
"Oh don't do this. Guys I don't like lying to my wife," Riley says. "Dude can you hold off until later tonight. We are all going to sit down and talk before we starting filming the Halloween special," Matt says. "There is a lot to go over. It will be easier to just tell all of you at once," Nick says. "And than I can tell Mandy?" Riley asks. "Yes you can tell Mandy," Nick says. "Ah ha so you are doing it," Riley says. "We didn't say that. Just wait for the meeting," Matt says.
WWE Smackdown Taping
"All Elite Wresting that is what they would call it?" Mandy heard The Miz say. Once again Mandy found herself in that uneasy spot of working for the WWE yet married to an outsider. Someone on Reddit had started a thread about some trademarks that been filled. According to the poster it was for a company being started by Riley's friends. Maybe something was going on but clearly Riley didn't know about it. He would have told her about it. He would have to tell her about it. This could change there whole lives. Clearly this was just some random rumor or some hoax.
"Mandy do you have a second?" Troy from HR asks walking up to her. "Yeah sure. Now works," Mandy says. "Great can just come into my office," He requests. Mandy follows him. "So contract season is starting," Troy says. "Yeah I hear that. My husband is starting his own company according to Reedit," She jokes. "Oh boy if I had dime for every time I heard about some new company that was starting with major money to compete with the WWE I would enough to start my company," Troy says.
"Well your own contract is coming up and we want to working on your next deal," Troy says. "Great," Mandy says as she sits down. He pulls out a piece of paper. "Now after Tough Enough you put under a stranded developmental deal. There was a bump in pay when made the main roster," Troy recaps. "So I am in for a big raise," Mandy says trying to keep things light. "Well we do have a raise in mind. We would also like to keep expanding your brand. I know the last run on Total Divas didn't' go well but we could try again. Maybe get in a movie for WWE Studios," Troy says. "I would be open to all of those," Mandy says.
Back on the Cruise
"So this seems familiar," Riley says as he, Kenny, Marty, and Hangman are waiting. "It's clearly happening or they wouldn't want this meeting," Kenny says. "Unless something crazy happened and they want to tell us the full story. Like maybe this Khan guy wasn't actually the Tony Khan guy from the American Football team," Marty says. "Maybe they are going there separate ways. Like Cody is going to work on this new company why Nick and Matt are WWE bound," Hangman says. "Wouldn't it make more sense for Cody to go back to WWE?" Kenny asks. "Have you wanted to go back?" Riley asks Kenny who had been under a developmental deal over a decade ago.
"Sometimes… I mean they deal the offered me last time was pretty tempting," Kenny admits. "When I got in the business the goal was always to go there. Than I see the way things are changing. Right now I think I am better off out of there system," Hangman says. "Marty?" Kenny asks. "I don't know. The dream would be go there work with guys like AJ and Bryan or Rollins. Nightmare would be just another guy on 205 Live," Marty says. Before anything else can be said the Bucks, Cody, and Brandi walk into the cabin.
"Guys we thank you for everything. We needed the time to iron everything out," Cody says. "Tony Khan is one hundred percent serious. He's willing to do things we never thought would happen," Matt says. "Matt and I have talked to our wives and our parents. Cody has talked with Brandi and we have to do this," Nick says. "Nick, Matt, and I are going to be vice presidents. Brandi is going to be chief brand officer, and Dana is going to help run marketing and merch," Cody says. "Look guys we want all of you. I hope would be to do work out a deal with New Japan so we could do both," Matt says. Riley suddenly stands up. "I gotta go," he says. "Riley wait," Matt says but he ignores them.
Riley walks down the hall. He gets stopped by a fan asking for a picture. He does that but other wise power walks back to his cabin even blowing off some old of the Impact Wrestling guys who try to greet him. Once back in his room he does something unusual and cracks open a beer from the mini bar. A knock on the door. "Hey Riley open up," Kenny calls from outside before knocking again. Riley open the door. "What the hell was that?" Kenny asks. "I'm not really sure. It was like I snapped. Well not snapped. Just suddenly I felt like I had to leave," Riley says. "I think I understand," Kenny says.
"It was like I just had to get out of there," Riley says. "Okay but why?" Kenny asks. "Things are changing Kenny. And it was like it hit me like a tons of bricks. I guess as stupid as it sounds I figured we would all just stay with New Japan," Riley says. "So did I if I am being honest," Kenny says. "And there is something. Had the guys stayed with New Japan easy call I stay and it would be easy to sell to my wife… Now part can't help but think going to the WWE might be the right call," Riley says. "Wait really?" Kenny asks. "Just looking at everything," Riley. "Don't make any decisions right now," Kenny advises him.