Chapter 12 A Shot Across The Bow
It was Monday that word of Mandy's impending departure got out. Pro Wrestling Sheets got the scope first. Shortly after the story was posted an updated line up for upcoming live events and talented that were working them. Mandy quickly saw her named had been removed from non televised shows. She was still being used on TV but was jobbing out. She knew there was nothing she could do. For now she just had to ride out the last few weeks of her contract. For Riley time was spent lining up some Independent wrestling dates to make some extra money before AEW officially got started. Right now the plan was for all the guys to hit some Indy shows and generate some interesting in both those smaller promotions but also AEW. Still with the extra time Mandy and Riley got to enjoy the holidays together.
Riley also watched both Final Battle and Wrestle Kingdom at home seeing his friends end there tenures with those companies. Even though he knew Kenny was putting Tanahashi over he still fell for every single near fall during there main event match. And of course there was the official announcement of All Elite Wrestling on January the first. Once it was official Riley's Twitter exploded. Fans asking why he wasn't in the video, asking if he was signing, asking if he was going to WWE after all. Riley made the call to ignore it for the time being. Might as well have some fun. Mandy had even posted on twitter that anyone he was still looking for his phone and thus couldn't post on Twitter.
Now though it was the big day. It was January seventh and he was tucked away in an office at TIAA Bank Filed. For the second time he was face to face with Tony Khan. Both Nick and Matt were filming for Being the Elite. "So I got the official AEW pen which means I can sign this right?" Riley asks. "Please do," Tony says handing Riley his official contract. Riley takes one more look at it. "Wait you're not Don Callis aren't we going to Impact Wrestling?" Riley says to the camera. "Oh just sign it," Matt says. Riley finally does put pen to paper and signs it. Nick snaps a picture.
"Well hopefully that will end that most of the "Are you going to WWE?" tweets I have been getting for years. Because I'm now locked in for five years," Riley says."And hopefully a lot longer," Tony says. "Okay cut," Matt says. Tony picks up Riley's contract. "I will get this filed. And paychecks will start coming," Tony says. "Pay before we runs show this is awesome," Riley says. "Well it wont' be much. Like explained its like how things work in the NFL. Think of that as more walking around money. But come many things will pick up," Tony says. "Great going to buy a boat," Riley says. Tony is about object when it dawns on him Riley is joking. "Yeah get used to his dumb jokes," Matt says. "Oh hey it's show time," Nick says checking the time. Riley stands up and grabs his suit jacket. "Nice of you two to dress up?" Riley says looking at The Young Bucks in jeans and t-shirts.
As they walked to where everyone else was Riley's thought's turned to Mandy. Smackdown was being filmed in the same city tonight. To the shock of no one the announcement of All Elite Wrestling had gotten zero official reaction from the WWE. It had been easy to ignore to a point so far it was some You Tube videos and a new page on Pro Wrestling Tee's website. Today the company became much more real. There would be no way to ignore them. What had Cody said? "When were are done the damn sky is going to be burning." They obviously weren't going to set the sky on fire but they amount of pyro they were going to set off was insane. Good chance the building the WWE at would be shaking.
And than there was the big surprise about to be announced who was in the middle of talking to Christopher Daniels. "They are already going nuts out there," Chris Jericho says as Riley walked by. "Riley how you doing brother. You got the contract signed?" Daniels who will be the head of talents relations asks. "He damn well better have me and this young boy have unfinished business," Jericho says. A while back Riley and Jericho had been starting a feud in New Japan that ended when Riley suffered a neck injury. Now with them both in AEW the door was open to finally have that feud. Riley also knew it would be a while. Kenny and Jericho were the main event of Double or Nothing and Riley had a feeling Cody had some ideas for a Jericho feud. But hey he had just singed a five year contract so time was on his side.
WWE Smackdown Taping
Mandy felt strangely at ease. No more questions no more doubts she knew what she was doing. In an added benefit many of the WWE lifers were now just leaving her alone. She could just enjoy her time running out her contract and spending a final few days with her friends. "So when does this stupid thing start?" Mandy heard Miz yells as he pulled out his phone. "Soon," Daniel Bryan says. Mandy checked her phone the AEW Rally was starting soon. Things were about to get very interesting.
AEW Rally
Riley waited behind the stage. Conrad Thompson was about to introduce him. "And now welcome to the stage The Dog of War Riley Morgan." Riley took one big deep breath as his music played. "Riley Riley Riley Riley," The fans chanted as he stepped onto the stage. Riley walks to the podium with a big smile on his face. The fans kept cheering. "Wow! I have been a wrestling fans since I was a little kid. And I am just old enough to remember back when there options for wrestlers for creative people and most importantly for fans. You had the than WWF you had WCW and you even had ECW. Than in 2001 a lot of of those options went away. And that is what so many fans want back. And the wrestlers need options. Because⦠and I'm one of them not everyone is meant to be in the WWE. Not everyone is someone that wants to work for the WWE," Riley says. A loud cheer goes up.
"Where's some Mandy?" Some one in the crowd yells. Riley wants to say stay tuned but bits his tongue. "And I am proud to be a WRESTLER! I am proud to be part of the alternative! Its like Cody said a few months back you people want pro wrestling!" Fans cheer. "You want good pro wrestling!" Fans cheer some more. "And we are going to give it to you guys!" Riley yells drawing a big cheer. "The last few months its been asked what makes this company any different than some of the others that have come along. Those companies that talked a big game and were gone with in a year. Its simple this company is about the future of wrestling. This isn't about taking wrestling backward. Because no industry goes backwards. And now one guys get how much wrestling has changed than my three friends running this thing," Riley says.
Riley takes a few seconds as he shifts to the next part of his speech. "So what am I doing at Double or Nothing? Well I can't tell you yet," Riley says. "Tell us," Some fans yell. "You want me to tell you?" Riley asks. They chant yes. "You want to know?" More chants of yes. "Well I can't tell you right now. But I can assure you all of you it's going to great. We said Change to the world and we have guys," Riley says wrapping up and walk to the back as the fans cheer.
WWE Smackdown Taping
Mandy smiled watching on her phone as Riley spoke. She could see how excited he was for this. So far the rally had been pretty well done. Looking up she saw most the locker room both male and female were watching there screens. "You aren't good enough for the WWE," Carmella can be heard saying. Mandy laughed at that. Given she knew how hard the WWE had just gone after Riley. "Notice there buddy Omega hasn't show up. So much that sticking together crap," Miz says. Again Mandy had to fight to say something. Kenny wasn't there due to the fine print in his New Japan contract. "NO FUCKING WAY!" AJ Styles suddenly says. Mandy looks back down at the screen and see Chris Jericho walking out.
AEW Rally
"Do you hear that?" Riley asks Hangman. "They are going freaking nuts," Hangman says. "No one thought the guys could land that big a star this quick. This is huge. A guy like Jericho isn't coming here unless he's sure about this," Riley says. Jericho wraps up his speech and the pyro starts to go off. "Well that was pretty damn loud," Hangman says. "I bet they can hear at the WWE show," Riley says.
WWE Smackdown Taping
The building was actually shaking a bit from the explosions going off in the air. "I don't want to see one of there damn shirts in the crowd. No one in a AEW shirt gets in," Vince yells walking down the halls of the building. All of a sudden everyone that worked for the WWE building snapped to attention. An angry Vince was like a Hurricane you were better off doing all you could to get far away until it settled down. Many in the room scatted heading the other way from where Vince's yelling was coming from. "And we need to some rewriting for the show tonight," Vince yelled storming into an office. Mandy had already slipped into the Women's locker room. But she could still hear Vince storming around and yelling.
AEW Rally
Riley win front of a AEW doing background doing press. This was new. Sure he had done many fake conferences for New Japan but this was real press not just cutting a promo. "Riley it seems you were the closets to going to the WWE. Yet also the most likely to stay with New Japan. How close were you are any point to pick one of them over All Elite?" "I was very tempted to stay with New Japan. I grew up wanting to be a New Japan wrestler. There is a reason why I do a move called the Ode to Chono or why I do moves from guys like Muta," Riley says. "What about WWE?" "Well my wife is there so it's always tempting," Riley says. "There were reports you were at WWE headquarters meeting with Triple H was that true?"A third reporter asks.
"Yeah that's true. We had a meeting a few weeks ago. He laid out his ideas. Around the same time I met Tony for the first time. Than finally met with Gedo and Tiger. When it was all laid out the best option was AEW," Riley says. "Did they want you to start in NXT?" The first reporter asks. "They did. And that was part of why I picked AEW," Riley admits. "What are you most excited about with AEW?" "There is so much. But the thing I am most excited about is just how new this all is. I mean truly getting a fresh start is so rare," Riley says.
"Is there anyone you got you eye on to work with?" He is asked. "Everyone. I mean the talent we have signed is amazing. Look there is a hanging story thread with Chris Jericho. At some point I want to have that match. Joey Janella and MJF both are guys I have had my eyes on for a while. I know the OWE have a very martial arts style given my background in kickboxing that could very interesting. And this won't happen right away but me vs. Hangman or Cody or me and a partner vs. The Young Bucks I think would do great," Riley says. "So you aren't going to tell us how you are facing at Double or Nothing?" One final reporter asks. "You will find out soon enough," Riley assures them. "Riley reports also say Mandy's contract is coming up soon any comment?" He is asked.
"Her contract and her career is her business. I am just her biggest fan," Riley says. Before anything can be asked someone from the office steps in and singles Riley's time is over so they next person in line can get in. "Thanks guys," Riley says as he heads for the backstage area and Hangman takes his place. "Well that was different," Riley says to Nick. "Good different," Nick says. "Yeah good different. Where are the others?" Riley asks. "Up in an office so Jericho can officially sign on," Nick says. "I am going to call Mandy," Riley says. Nick nods. Riley calls her and it goes to voice mail. "Hey honey its just me checking in. Crazy day. Hope you are doing well."
WWE Smackdown Taping Same Time
BG James had asked to see Mandy. He was still the head of Smackdown creative and they had always had a good relationship. "Mandy I wanted to personally give you the new run down for the show tonight. You are in a pretty important segment," BG explains. "Really given I am leaving I thought my TV time was pretty much over," Mandy says. "Its important because it how you are being written off," BG says. Mandy is speechless. She knew this was coming. She was leaving so some segment that took her out made sense. Still it was something that stirred up emotion liking walking into high school on the last day before graduation.
"I am not happy with this. Its to quick to much about just getting you off not giving your character a satisfying end. At the very least build it up a bit," BG says handing her the script. Mandy looks it over really quickly. "Okay," She finally says. It's not like if she objected or had a better idea it would be heard.
Later that night
Mandy made her entrance solo. "We understand Mandy Rose has something very special she wants to discus tonight," Tom Phipps says. "I am the edge of my seat," Cory Graves says. Mandy has gotten a microphone. "The last few weeks I have involved myself in the relationship of Jimmy Uso and Naomi and people have been asking why? Well its simple it got me attention," Mandy says cruelly. "You gotta be kidding me," Byron Saxton says. "But now I'm am done messing with those two losers," Mandy mocks. The fans boo loudly. "Now I want move onto where I should really be. Becoming Smackdown Women's champion! Now I understand Becky Lynch is getting a rematch..." Before Mandy can finish Becky's music starts to play.
"And here comes the man," Tom Phillips says. "Very disrespectful to interrupt Mandy Rose like this," Graves complains. Mandy storms into the ring and takes the microphone from Mandy. "So you don't think I should be getting my rematch for my title?" Becky asks. Before Mandy can answer Becky kicks her and locks in the disarm her. Mandy taps right away but Becky won't let the hold go. Officials rush the ring and try to pull Becky off. Finally Becky lets go as Mandy clutches her arm. "Mandy Rose is badly hurt," Cory Graves.
Backstage in the trainers room
Charley Curseso walked into the room. "Mandy Rose how you feeling after that vicious attack by Becky Lynch?" "How do you think I feel idiot? I am badly hurt. If that is how is around WWE than I quit," Mandy rants. And thus ended her WWE career.
Locker Room
Mandy and Sonya hugged. "I can't believe this," Sonya says. "I know I thought we had a few weeks to go," Mandy says. "Stupid rally," Sonya jokes. "This is all Chris Jericho's fault. They should have cleared hiring him with me," Mandy replies. She grabs her bag and heads for the door. "Good lucky Mandy," AJ Styles says as he passes her. "Thanks AJ." She exited the building and found Riley waiting for her. "Need a ride?" He asks. She runs up to him and they kiss. "Didn't think it would end this way," She says. "Hey if they are to dumb to take advantage of having you a few more weeks there loss," Riley says. "So what comes next?" Mandy asks as he takes her bags and puts them in the trunk. "Feel like going to a bar?" Riley asks.
