Chapter 4
Come on people I could use some more reviews. As I always I want to think those of you that have reviewed any of my stories. And those that have this and me on alert lists. Also thank you for just reading my stories and pushing me to keep working.
"This is going to be fun," Mandy says touching up her make up in the mirror. "I hope," Riley says. They were off on the Jericho Cruise. Like last year there a number of different events for people to enjoy. Some of which would be Q and A panels with various people. Months ago Mandy and Riley had agreed to do one together. "Okay lets go last thing we need to do is piss Chris off by being late," Riley says. "Don't you have to change?" Mandy asks. She was in a nice pair of jeans with sandals with heels and wearing a stylish top. He was in old Bullet Club shorts and a old Fyter Fest AEW logo tank top. "I don't think anyone going to care what I am wearing. People expect me to look like a slob," Riley says. "They also don't expect you to dress like knock off Kenny Omega," Mandy says. "Okay just a speedo it is," He says.
They head to the part of the ship where the Q and A would be held. The room was decent in size. Riley had admitted to Mandy earlier he was worried no one would show up. Yet as they peaked behind the curtain they could see the room was filled. The person running the panel went over some last second things. The format will be fans that want to ask a question will stand in line at a microphone and be limited to one question. The event is supposed to run two hours but there is a small window to go over.
Once they reached the top of the hour the woman the panel introduced Mandy and Riley made there way to two chairs between them was a table with the microphones and bottles of water. They greet the fans. The first fan steps up to the microphone. "Riley it seems based on some of your statements you didn't enjoy your time with ROH. I was just wondering if there one reason or something soured you on the company?" "Yikes we are staring with a complicated one. I actually do have a lot of good memories in ROH. But I had a lot of issues with management. To be honest I think they viewed me as disposable. And I know I won the TV and world titles. That was on me getting myself over. I think they resented Gedo liking me and the others supporting me," Riley says.
Riley goes onto account some examples one being when ROH tried to rush a big singles match with Riley and Cody during the Bullet Club civil war. Mandy smiled that had been so early in there relationship and actually the first time she meet many of his friends. "I also didn't help things because to me ROH was a booking I really just took to be with my friends. So I had no problem telling Hunter and Joe that they were morons," Riley says laughing. Another fan gets a turn. "Mandy if you had to do it again would do Tough Enough or would try getting on the Indys?" Mandy takes a second to think. She had debated this with herself lately.
"The way I look at it is like this everything I did to get into wrestling the way I did has paid off. It means I was meant to do it that way. It allowed me met my best friend the world. It let me get into the WWE and onto Television. Maybe if I had tried any other way it wouldn't have worked," Mandy says. The news few are pretty easy, stuff about favorite foods, matches, a fashion question for Mandy. Some guy asks Riley if AEW will ever do a G1 style tournament. "I personally would love it. I know we have the talent to pull it off. But there are a lot of factors, because the G1 or the tournaments like it take place over many shows. Its very intense for the people in it. But you notice for a G1 of super juniors it limits the talent being used. It why you often don't see Okada until the end of May. So I think if we ever do a round robin tournament like that it will start small and see if it works," Riley says.
"Mandy do you still talk to anyone in the WWE since leaving?" "Yes Sonya and I are still best friends. We talk all the time, hang out often. Alexa Bliss, Liv Morgan, Lana and I talk we just all had lunch last week. Still others I call I text stuff like that," Mandy explains. Another fan steps up, "this question is for both of you. You have a tag match together coming up. And Kenny has talked about doing more mixed tag matches. Will this be a regular team?" "If I get my way yes," Mandy says quickly. "I think when it's apporate let's do it. I am really looking forward to doing this. I think Kip and Penelope have a ton of talent. And I know I will sound I am saying this because she is my wife. But I think Mandy is one of the most underrated talents out there today," Riley says.
Some more questions are asked. Mandy gets to tell a funny behind the scenes story. "So this was around the time of Evolution and there was this overriding fear for all the women that at some point they are going to add a men's match or segment. Well Becky Lynch who at this point was pretty much bullet proof decides she is going to rib her fellow horsewomen. She plants this story that some of the male heels are pitching them trying to stage a fake protest. Well Sasha hears this and falls for it and than freaks out. Well some how Sasha gets it in her head that Barron Corbin is behind it. So at Raw she storms into men's locker room to confront him. And she winds up throwing a fit right in front of The Undertaker. Well once she sees what she did Sasha just tip toes out of the room and hides the rest of the night," Mandy says laughing.
"Its good to know there were troubles at shows I didn't attend," Riley slips in laughing himself. Finally the person running the panel speaks. "We have time for one more question." The final fan steps to the microphone. "Riley how is your neck?" The guy asks. "Its fine. Before I signed with AEW they had Doc Sampson check me out. I won't lie because there is damage there wear and tear. But I'm not in anymore danger than anyone else. And well if Hiromu and Ospearay can do what they did and not have The Time Bomb get hurt again. I will be fine," Riley says refereeing to a recent New Japan match.
Later That Day
Mandy and Riley watched as The Young Bucks and there wives chased around there kids on the deck. "Wow the kids are going to blow Nick and Matt up," Riley says. "You know we talk about kids someday. But I am glade today we are a childless couple," Mandy says. "Great now you have jinxed us. Now you will get pregnant on this trip," Riley says reaching for his drink. "Hey stranger," Renee says sitting next to Mandy. "Renee oh my god? What are you doing here?" Mandy asks in shock. "I came with Jon," Renee says as her husband moves in next to her. "Won't Vince be mad?" Mandy asks. "As long I don't appear on any show I am fine," Renee says. "Morgan you actually drinking a beer?" Moxley ask. It was well known Riley didn't drink often and many guys lived to rib him about it especially when he was actually drinking.
"You should be happy the less I drink the more there is for you," Riley says. "Than you need to pick it up Riley. He's already had enough," Renee says. "You are one to talk. Or do I have to remind you about the after part for SummerSlam that one time," Jon says. Mandy laughs recalling that story. Renee's faces turns red from embarrassment. "Have another drink Jon," Renee finally says.
That Night
The two couples wound up having dinner together. "He is going to be a terrible Batman. He's the dork from Twilight," Moxley ranted. "He's a great actor," Renee insisted. "Yeah he's done great movies," Mandy added. "Riley you have got to back me up," Moxley pleaded. "Who are we talking about?" Riley asks. "Robert Patterson he's the new Batman," Moxley says. "Wasn't Twilight about a whinny bitch sounds like he's the perfect Batman," Riley says getting the others to laugh. The waiter brings over some silver wear for there meal. "Don't get any ideas Jon. Let Riley enjoy his meal," Renee says. "What?" Riley asks. "Renee just worried about I had a stray thought last week," Jon says.
"Stray thought. You were thinking about using a BBQ fork for a spot," Renee says. "Oh like the screwdriver with Kenny," Riley says. "No don't even think about it," Mandy says. "As wives Mandy and I have the right to over ride any stupid ideas you two are coming up with," Renee says. Jon reminds Renee about Tony not wanting to do another unsanctioned match so soon. "Beside I already get accused of being Kenny Omega light enough," Riley says. "So what you two planning?" Mandy asks. "Yeah how does this feud kick off? Some joke Riley makes on BTE?" Renee asks. "Hey that is actually a good idea We need some way to kick it off," Riley says. "Maybe. I was thinking something a bit more simple. Like they rank you at one and I lay you out since I will want my rematch with Jericho. We cost each other a few matches and take drag each other down in the rankings," Jon says.
Riley nods thinking it over. "I do have an idea for a sequence we have to try," Rile says. "Let me hear it," Moxley says. "Okay I for the Ode to Chono. You duck it give me a drop toe hold. You go for the Regal knee I side step it. I go for my spinning hook kick you step in get a choke in. After than I back you into the corner toss you off and finally hit the ode to Chono," Riley says. "I like it. We have a rematch we act like we are repeating that only I cut you off with a punch," Moxley adds. "Hey I like that maybe you just hall off and deck me," Riley says hitting his hand hand. To herself Mandy had to admit she loved seeing him fired up and excited like this and it reminded her something from a few weeks ago.
January 4th Early in the Morning
Mandy was half awake as she rolled over and reached for Riley only to fully wake up when she realized he wasn't in the bed. "Riley?" She says yawning. "He's up before four in the morning?" She thinks confused. Grabbing her robe she left the room. Sounds from the TV led her the living room. There bathed in only the light from the TV sat Riley on the sofa totally engrossed in what he was watching. The two cans of soda and empty bag of chips told her he had been down there a while. He was wearing his robe and slippers. "Christ," she heard him say. He still hadn't noticed her as she came down the steps. "Hidden Blade Hidden Blade!" The familiar voice of Kevin Kelly came from the TV. It dawned on her. January the fourth the New Japan Tokyo Dome show. An event that she knew held a special place in Riley's heart.
"Did I wake you? I'm sorry," Riley says finally noticing her. "No.. so who is up?" She sit next to him on the couch. "The Junior Title match Will Ospreay and Hiromu Takahashi," Riley says. "How has it been?" She asks. "It's been great. I mean Will is on that level Kenny was at a few years ago. And its like Hiromu hasn't missed anytime," Riley says. Mandy watched amazed at the thing the two men were pulling off. "You wish you were there?" She asks. "Yeah. Look I'm happy with AEW and I love being with you. But the dome was always my crown jewel. I wish I would be like Moxley or Jericho and work with New Japan still. But that's not happening right now The Elite are persona non grata," Riley says. Ospreay hits a crazy move off the top rope. "Oh," both Riley and Mandy say.
Back on the Cruise
Mandy watched as Riley was getting dressed. The Bucks wanted to do a sequel to the mini movie Opposite Day which had been filmed on the first Jericho Cruise. And like the first one the time they could really film was late night and or early morning when the public area of the ship were empty. "I still say would should have done a Snowpiecer parody," Riley says into his phone. He was talking to Matt. "That is why it would be funny we are out on the clearly unfrozen water… yeah I'm on my way," Riley says before ending the call. He turns to face Mandy and gives her a kiss. "Don't wait up. I'm not sure how long this will take. Matt was really insistent on perfection," Riley says. "Matt just knows you have Oscar potential," Mandy replies. "I'll just settling for remembering all my lines. I love you have a good night," Riley says. "Love you too," Mandy says with a smile.
Riley headed to the same dinning hall he and Mandy had just had dinner in with Moxley and Renee. Only know it was mostly empty and Riley was covered in fake blood. Nick was filming him with a camera. "And this for the behind the scenes. Riley what happened?" "Kids this is why you take you time shaving," Riley says. The fake wound appears to be coming from his neck. "Okay we are set Riley get back on the floor," Matt says. Riley lays on the floor. The plot of Opposite Day 2 was Hangman Page once again found him himself in nightmare world and found Riley was also aware something was very wrong. The two would go there separate ways with Hangman finding Dustin Rhodes was running the Inner Circle, Kenny had joined the WWE, Nick was in the Dark Circle, and Matt was still teaming with Chris Jericho in the Thrill Seekers. In the scene they were filming Hangman would find a know dying Riley on the floor.
"Quit on the set! Action!" Matt yells. Hangman come int the dinning room carrying his fake gun. "Riley no!" Hangman yelled before running over to Riley and taking him in his arms. "Hangman?" Riley says weakly. "I'm her pal I'm here," Hangman says rocking Riley. "They got me Hangman. Its over I see the light," Riley says extending his hand. "No Riley don't say that its not over," Hangman says. "No its over. Its so over… bad cough...Its over like a ratings boost from a roster invasion. It's passed," Riley says the guys knew a shot at NXT would piss some fans off but those were WWE fans so they didn't care. "Riley what can I do?" Hangman asks. "Tell my wife… bad cough again" Riley says before appearing to die. "Don't worry man I'll tell Mandy you love her!" Hangman says. Riley opens his eyes "Mandy who? My wife's name is Britt she's a dentist you know," Riley says before "dying" again. "Cut," Matt yells.
An AEW Ring
Mandy sat in the staging area as Riley made his entrance for his match. Kip Sabian ran out and jumped Riley from behind and than bull rushed him into the ring. The referee called for the bell. "Does Riley look off?" Cody asked Mandy. "He's fine," Mandy says but now got a bad feeling. Back in the ring Riley caught Kip with a punch to the gut flipping Kip over. Riley climbed to the top rope. Suddenly she saw Jon Moxley hop over the guard rail and climb on the apron to shove Riley off. "NO!" Mandy yells as she see Riley slip instead of going into the ring he fell to the floor head first. "Get the doctor out there now," Tony Khan yelled. Mandy ran to the ring.
"Mandy, Mandy!" Riley says waking her up. Mandy took several deep breaths and than realized she was in there cabin. "Riley its you," She says hugging him. "Yeah its me. You having a nightmare," He says. She regains her breath. "I had this dream you got hurt. Moxley did a run in during a match and it went wrong. You fell to the floor and landed on your neck," Mandy admits. This was there relationship they didn't keep things form each other. "Mandy I'm fine. But I get it. Between the guy asking about my neck, me and Moxley planning it plants thoughts like that for a dream," Riley says comforting her. "I shouldn't be thinking like this," Mandy says.
"I'm glade you are. You worry about me I worry about you it's part of this whole marriage deal," Riley assures her. "Promise me you won't go to far in this feud with Jon," Mandy asks. "I promise," Riley says before kissing her. "What is this," Mandy says after touching her the fake blood. "Matt's brilliant idea thought I cleaned up already," Riley says as he and Mandy laugh.