Chapter 10 Things Change
"Mandy maybe you misunderstood what he meant," Sonya said as they drove to the next town. "No he was beyond clear. He didn't tell me break up with Riley or threaten my job or anything illegal. BG though was clear its not good for my career to have it be to well known I'm with Riley," Mandy says. She had been so upset after he talk with BG she has started nearly cried. She made a break for the locker room and was tempted to text Riley. She decided against it with the time difference and having to travel getting a hole of him would be tough. Plus it wasn't like he could do anything. She had pulled herself enough together for the show where lost a one sided match to Naomi. Form a booking standpoint it made no sense given her feud with Charlotte was still ongoing. It was a clear message from the WWE.
"I don't get what the big deal is. You and Riley are adults its not like you are flaunting the relationship every where. Hell it's all Cole's fault. You didn't pull a Lana," Sonya says. Lana a few years ago had gotten huge heat for posting her engagement ring photos online. At the time she and Ruseve were supposed to be broken up on screen. For the longest time Lana had struggled to get any real traction going again. It wasn't until Ruesve days exposed the brute's knack for comedy that things turned around. Once the fans got behind the wacky Lana is the best Lana number one chant was she finally truly featured again. "I know but the company can hold a grudge. Hell there real issue could be Riley is a Bullet Club guy. You know some the executives are upset over the invasion stuff still," Mandy reminds her.
Sonya nodded. When BTE had teased another invasion after the #SaveRiley episode WWE had been on edge. Daniel Bryan had even said he had seen photos of the Bullet Club under listed as "No Entrance," at a security station. "I finally get a big push and now this," Mandy says. "Mandy this might sound cold but if your push is that important maybe stop seeing Riley," Sonya suggested. "I would but Riley is becoming pretty important to," Mandy says.
Japan
"Come on two more," Kenny urged as he spotted Riley on a bench press. Riley felt a fire in his arms but pushed the bar up. "Slowly get the full rep," Kenny reminded him. Riley pressed up for the final one. "Great job man," Kenny said as helped re-rack the bar. "Why did I let you talk me into one more set?" Riley says sitting up and shaking his arms. "Because you need to be in main event shape," Kenny says slapping his chest. "I think you just like seeing me suffer," Riley says. Kenny moved to take his spot on bench as Riley spotted for him. "And if I really wanted to see you suffer I would just watch you mope around the hotel room," Kenny says as he does his reps. "I am not moping around the hotel," Riley says.
"Dude you have that I just to go home look... and you showed up with it," Kenny says still doing reps. "Its just going to be a long trip," Riley says. "All the more reason it's a bad sign you are already like this. And that's got to be twelve man," Kenny says exhausted. "Oh shit sorry," Riley says taking the bar. Kenny is tempted to make him do another set. Instead though he signals Riley over to a the rack of kettle bells. "Like I was saying. You just sulking and counting the minutes until you get out of here will make for an awful trip. So come on man's what the deal?" Kenny says as they do cleans.
"Mandy is the deal," Riley says. "You got it bad for this one don't you?" Kenny asks. Riley puts the two he is using down. "Yeah I do man. I just feel this pull to her. So quickly talking to her rather it be in person or the phone or text became this big part of my day. And now its like I'm on another planet," Riley says. "Just focus on the good. Like our main event tag," Kenny says. "Hey I am focused. You and Okada have a bad match people will just blame me and White. Jay and I both want this feud to be a big deal," Riley says.
The US title New Japan had created was in a strange spot. The reason for it was to be the center piece of the US shows especially if a US wing of New Japan started full time. Until than though it was a oddity. It didn't help it was technically the fourth singles title for heavyweights in the company. Kenny's run had good but so much of that had been based on it being so damn good in the ring. Jay White was one of the guys many though New Japan would be built around. His gimmick was that of the young hotshot who had only joined with CHAOS to have the numbers to fend of Bullet Club. Sadly New Japan had made misstep in presentation. The long term set up was for White to go after Okada New Japan's top guy. Only now fans were more worried about his eventual turn on The Rainmaker.
The plan had been to add give Jay a feud with Hangman Page. But a couple of injures and Page's role as Cody sidekick had derailed things. That's why Riley now came in. Gedo wanted to use Riley's injury as story point. A driving factor for Riley to move out of the shadows and go after the top spot making him a natural rival for White. It would also add tension to the Bullet Club's civil war with strong hints Cody and Jay White were working together. The match between Riley and White had gotten rave reviews. This would be the first time the two had touched since that show. The plan was for Riley to get the fall on Jay. There was also plenty of meat on the bone to further the long standing Omega vs. Okada feud, Omega's past with White, and set up for a big match with Okada and White with both men blaming each other's ego for the loss. Riley's win would be reason enough to set up for a title match between he and White.
He and Kenny finished there workout and headed for the locker room. "So have you talked to Page or Cody?" Kenny asks. "Why should I?" Riley says. "We are friends and we need to work together," Kenny says. "Page is the one that acted like a jackass. And where does Cody get off saying I owe anyone an explanation," Riley rants. "Dude think about it from there end. For months it appears something is going on. We ask you and you keep denying it. If the shoe were on the other foot hot head how would you act?" Kenny asks him. "If Cody or Adam had kept something personal from us and it bothered me I would at least have enough respect for our friendship to not confront them in public in front of the person they were keeping," Riley says. "That was wrong. But man let it go we don't need story line turning real," Kenny says.
"I will talk to them when we are in Australia together," Riley concedes as he and Kenny change. "Good now come on man we got to me the sponsor for that dinner," Kenny says. "Hey I'm ready you are the one primping," Riley says. "Hey when Capetian buzz cut I actually have hair," Kenny says.
Smackdown House Show
Mandy was at ring side as Adam Cole wrestled Jeff Hardy. Adam rolled to the floor after taking a jaw breaker. Mandy ran over to comfort him as he held his Jaw . They had been this one spot for weeks. Jeff would give them some time and than do a plancha to the floor taking out Adam as Mandy moved away. "Riley's not going to like that," Some fan taunted. Mandy knew she should ignore it but she turned to see who said it.
She didn't' see it but she felt it. Jeff Hardy's boot hitting her. She went down hard. "Mandy? Mandy are you okay," Adam said moving over to check on her. "My shoulder," She says reaching for it. "Its okay just stay down," Adam says. The referee came out to check on her and made the call to put up the X the signal to the back they needed medical help. The trainers comes down quickly to help Mandy to the back along with some agents. They get her to an area. "Mandy what hurts?" The trainer asks. "My left shoulder," She says. He gently places her hands on on it. "Nothing feels broken… Did you feel anything pop or roll up?" "I'm not sure," Mandy admits it had all happened so fast. "Do you want to go to the hospital and get checked?" he asks. "Yes."
Hospital
Her shoulder was killing her but it felt better. The doctor had examined her and had stepped out for a moment. Her phone started to ring. She wondered if mother or father had heard about the injury and were calling to check. To her shock it was Riley. "Hello." "Are you okay?" He asks concern in his voice. "You known about what happened?" "Yeah I saw a report online. Are you okay? It sounded like it could be really bad," Riley says. "I'm actually getting checked out now," Mandy says. "Oh sorry I will call you back if you want," Riley says. "No you know how long doctors can take talking to you is better than waiting," Mandy says. "Is someone with you?" Riley asks. "So Sonya and Adam are here but have to wait in the waiting room," Mandy says.
"What exactly happened? What hurts?" "I messed up the time on a spot and got caught. My shoulder is the problem. I think both his feet caught me," Mandy says. "Neck okay?" He asks. "Yeah it's fine… oh hey the doctor is coming in," Mandy says. "Mandy I'm sorry about that wait," the female doctor in her forties says. She tells her it's alright. "It seems you have pinched nerve given you are still feeling pain. Ice and lets it rest. If you are still in pain in few days get it checked out again." "Anything I need to avoid?" She asks. "Don't lift anything over twenty pounds. When you are sleeping don't do it on your side. And for the time being no wrestling," she says.
She agrees and gets released. "Riley you still there?" "Yeah. Sounds like it was mostly good news," Riley says. "Easy for you to say I'm the one in pain," She jokes. "Hey you said Adam was there. Ask him if he has any Namman Muay," Riley says. "Na Na Oh?" "Namman Muay its a lament from Thailand. It's helped me a lot with muscle and join stuff. If nothing else it will reduce the bruising. Take a shower put some on. Just be ready it will be hot," Riley tells her. "I will try it," Mandy says as she gets to Sonya and Adam who are waiting. "I will be there in a second," She hear Riley say to someone. "Riley I should go. Thanks for calling," She says. "Are you sure your okay?" He asks again. "I will be fine," She tells him. "Alright talk to you soon," Riley says. "Can't wait," She says.
Japan Hours Later
The sound of the knife edge chop Minoru Suzki hit Riley with echoed off the walls of the arena. Riley held his chest and fired up landing a kick that hit a loud thud. Suzuki hit another chop. "Is that all you got ass hole!" Riley screamed. Another chop this time it knocked Riley down. Riley rolled over to the corner to tag in Tama Tonga. "Damn bro why did you take a third?" Tonga Loa asked Riley. "Because I'm fucking stupid," Riley admitted. He was teaming with GOD to take on Suzuki and KES in a six man. In the ring Tama and Lance Archer were going through there key spots. When Tonga was put in the Suzuki Gun corner Davey Boy Smith Jr hit a cheap shot. Tama fired back and ran Archer into the Bullet Club corner.
This let Riley and Loa land cheap shots on Archer. Loa tagged in but missed a move turning the tide back to other team. Riley cursed as Suzuki tagged back in in. He knew full well that meant he was about to take more shots from the stiffest man walking god's green earth. As Loa tagged him back in he took a deep breath. At least this would be there only encounter on this tour. Eventually the match broke down with Riley and Smith as the legal men. The GOD's took out the rest of the the other team allowing Riley to hit the final wave and get the pin fall.
Smackdown Taping
Mandy was still sore in her shoulder as she walked into the arena. A strange feel was in her stomach. Adam walked up to her. "Hey creative wants to see us," He says clearly in a bad mode. "What's up?" Mandy asks. "Jeff seems to be restarting his feud with Orton," Adam says. "Could just be they are popping a rating," Mandy says. "I talked to Bobby Fish. Matt Bloom told them I was coming back down," Adam says. "What?" Mandy asks. "I'm not sure but I don't have a good feeling," Adam says.
Mandy took a deep breath and after dropping off her bag and followed Adam. "Hey guys come on in," Stephanie greeted. They both said hello and took a seat. Mandy tried to get a read on BG and Stephanie's mode but couldn't. "Guys I'm sure by now you saw the line up," BG says. They both nod. "We need to make some changes to what you are doing," Stephanie says. "What kind of changes?" Mandy asks. "We don't think people buying you two as a couple," Stephanie replies. Mandy flashed back to talk with BG just a week before. "Right the lovey dovey stuff just isn't flying," BG says. "We think it would be best if Mandy you started acting like more cruel to him," Stephanie says. "What ever you want," Mandy says.
"Great we also think the story with Jeff and Charlotte has run it's course. Next week we will get you on to start doing something Tye Dillinger," Stephanie says. That told them all they needed to know. Dillinger was talented guy but much lower on the pecking order. Mandy was seeing her biggest story line die. Also the fact they didn't make any mention of a female for her to work with was another sign.