Chapter 18
In case you missed it I have updated Right Side of Wrong. Now if you are wondering This story is my priority that will get most of the work. But I will work on Right Side from time to time. As for Squad Reborn when I get Right Side or this story is finished that will get more of my focus. As for doing a third Arrow that wraps up Connor's story I have a few ideas but that will be written some day but some day isn't any day soon.
Being the Elite
Kenny, Nick, and Matt were waiting in the locker room. "You are sure he said it?" Kenny asks looking towards the door. "Kenny I showed you him saying it," Nick reminds him. "And aren't people tweeting you about it?" Matt asks. "I thought you quit twitter?" Kenny fires back. "We got something back up for the merchandise business and Dana is on there. Plus I do have access to the official AEW account," Matt explains. The sound of a door opening is heard. Riley walks in followed by Mandy. "Hey guys how is it going?" Riley asks as he puts down is bag. The vice presidents all exchange looks. Matt wants Nick to say something, Nick wants Kenny to say something, and Kenny wants Matt to do it. Mandy clearly notices something is up but Riley is ignoring them.
Finally Kenny agrees to speak. "Riley you remember last week?" Kenny asks getting up and standing next to The Dog of War. Riley laughs as he replies, "be kind of hard to forget." "Well you also remember how you and I talked. And I stressed you can't let Moxley get to you," Kenny reminds him. Riley just nods as he pulls his gear out of his bag. "Riley maybe you should listen," Mandy says. "I'm listening," He says harsher than usual. "Look Riley last week the camera caught you acting a big off when you were alone," Nick says cutting to the point. "You mean my awful Joker laugh and how I'm how just getting started," Riley says with a smile doing the dark harsh tone. Kenny just nods. "Guys guys it was a rib. Come on I knew the camera was there. Brandon is kind of hard to miss," Riley points at the camera held by Brandon Cutler.
"That is true," Brandon is heard saying off camera. "So you are fine?" Matt asks not buying it. "Yes I'm fine. Look I get it Kenny went nuts and last week got caught up in the moment and had the big blow up with Moxley. So it hit me during Kenny's rah rah speech," Riley claims. "Man we are just worried," Nick admits. "Okay Mandy tell them I'm fine. Have I been acting strange at all?" Riley asks his wife. "No stranger than usual," Mandy assures the others. "Okay good. Its just brother we want to look out for you," Kenny says. "Yeah we don't need you going off your rocker like Kenny did," Matt says. "We don't need that again," Matt adds. "How many times do I have to tell you I'm fine," Riley insists.
The Bucks and Kenny leave talking about other things they need to take care off so they exit leaving Mandy and Riley alone with just Brandon still filming them. "That was nice they were worried about you? It just show how much they care," Mandy says. "Or how little faith they have in me," Riley says harshly. "Riley," Mandy says stunned. "Facts are facts. They clearly think I can't handle Moxley," Riley says bitterly.
"Cut," Brandon says. "So was that good?" Riley asks. "It was great," Nick assures him. "That part where you snapped at Mandy is going to get a lot of response," Matt tells them. "I agree. It stunned me because you never act like that," Mandy adds. "That needs to be the point. That I am showing this dark edge," Riley says. "Well you are," Mandy tells him. "Well we are done here. Riley TK wanted to go over the segment with you and Moxley personally and Mandy we need you for the pre tape with Britt," Kenny says taking over. "Right see you later Riley," Mandy says before she and Kenny leave. "Okay so where is Tony?" Riley asks the Bucks. "He's not here yet but he should be in a few minutes," Matt says. "Okay I guess I'll be waiting in catering," Riley says. "No need Tony is making you and Moxley his priority. I'll show to his office," Nick says.
Meanwhile
Mandy was with Lexy Nair. "Mandy..." Before Lexy could get her question out Britt Baker walks into the shot. "Britt I'm sorry this isn't your interview time," Lexy says. "Let me get straight I'm the top woman in AEW. I'm the face of the whole division. I'm a role model and what is she?" Britt says pointing at Mandy. "Britt if you are such a role model why haven't you won the title yet?" Mandy asks with a smirk knowing that will piss Britt off. "And you haven't had a title shot yet. I got news for you Mandy your whole career has been as an also ran. Just a spot filler on the card," Britt taunts before slapping Mandy. Mandy charges at Britt just as officials step into break them up.
Full Sail University NXT Taping
Seth Rollins was beaming as he walking through the parking lot. He had a coffee in one hand and his roller bag behind him. "Its a fantastic day. This is why I got into sports entertainment," Seth thought. He entered the building and checked in. He dropped his gear off in the locker room and than took a lap around the building. In the arena portion Matt Bloom and some of the other coaches were over seeing the newest trainees putting the ring together. It was part of breaking the kids into the business making them pay there dues. "Great to see some people earn there chance. Instead of just uploading stupid shit to you tube," Seth thinks. He checked his watch the taping was still hours off. Still Seth figured more people should be here by now. "What happened to drive? When I was in NXT we showed up early. We made it clear we wanted to get to the next level," Seth thought disgusted.
Salt Lake City Arena AEW Taping
Riley exited Tony Khan's office. The segment for tonight would be pretty straight forward. "Riley you got a minute?" Excalibur asks coming up to him. "Yeah sure what do you need masked man?" Riley says to his old friend. "Just want to check some stuff for commentary tonight. You want JR, Tony, and I to foreshadow you flipping out on JR right?" Excalibur asks. "Oh yeah. I mean JR did the interview. So he should be hyping up how much I change during the course of the thing," Riley says. "Alright. Hey just want to add I am really looking forward to calling you and Jon. The matches should be great," Excalibur tells him. "Thanks brother," Riley says.
Riley broke away and started heading for the locker room but wast stopped by Matt's wife Dana. "Riley hold on I need your approval for the next line of shirts. Option A or Option B?" She asks holding up two sheets of paper. One has a black t-shirt Riley hitting the ode to Chono the other had had a styled writing of Riley's name and a large dog breaking off chain with Dog of War under it. "Can't we do both?" Riley asks. "Not at the same time," Dana says in a tone making it clear there is no wiggle room. "Could we add more to the fist one. Like the AEW or Elite logo?" Riley asks. "That would be close to the shirt you have out now," Dana tells him. "Okay second one... And when are Mandy and I getting out action figures?" Riley complains. "As I told you last time. Wave two that will be out soon enough," Dana reminds him.
Riley moves back towards the locker room when now Brandi stops him. She is in full Chief Brand Officer mode. "Just the man I was looking for. Guess who going to be on Inside the NBA?... And don't be a smart ass and say Shaq or Chuck," Brandi warns "Well who is playing?" He asks switching his plan for a joke. "What does that have to do with anything?" "Well if the Seventy Sixers are playing Chuck Taylor is going to be pissed," Riley says. That gets her to laugh. He will be on next week a big chance to plug the Moxley match. Its really hitting Riley what a big deal this is. He's a full blown main eventer right now.
NXT Taping
Sonya was with Seth's group as they would be in the opening segment. Seth was pacing back and forth as if he was trying urge the time to move faster. Finally the NXT opening video started to play. Seth rubbed his hands together in anticipation. Once the video was over Seth's music started to play. Sonya looked over and saw a very unhappy looking Adam Cole with the rest of the Undisputed Era waiting for there cue. "Let's go Deville," Seth orders. He leads the group to the ring as fans boo. Seth cuts a long promo about all he has done for the WWE. And how important NXT was and had been. How he just wanted NXT to find that fire it had back at Survivor Series. "And I think that is the issue. NXT lost that fire lost that intensity. And I put the blame at the very top," Seth claims.
Some fans react to that Sonya even thinks she hears someone says Triple H. "Adam Cole you are supposed to be the champion of NXT. You are supposed to be the leader. So get out here and answer these charges," Seth yells. Adam makes his way out the NXT title on his waste, Roderick, Kyle, and Bobby behind him. Adam and Seth have a pretty usual WWE back and forth.
AEW Dynamite Later That Night
The Bastard Pac was already in the ring pacing like changed animal as Riley's music played. "And his opponent accompanied to the ring by Mandy Rose. He is the number one contender to the AEW championship The Dog of War RILEY MORGANNNNNNNN!" Justin Roberts announces as Riley and Mandy come down the ramp. "Pac has been obsessed with a rematch since Riley Morgan manged to pin him in a tag match," Excalibur says as footage of Riley countering the Brutlizer into a pin plays. "Speaking of obsessed you will see how obsessed Riley Morgan is when part two of out interview plays next week," Jim Ross plugs.
Tony Schiavone speaks next. "Guy this feels like a trap game. Pac he wanted that big match with Kenny Omega. Well he lost that match. Meanwhile Riley Morgan might be looking ahead to Jon Moxley. If you are Pac this your chance to get right back into title contention at Riley Moran's expense." Riley climbs into the ring and referee calls for the bell. Pac slaps Riley right in the face when Riley goes for a lock up. Riley fires a round house kick right to Pac's side. Pac with a rolling sole butt to Riley's stomach. Pac goes for a running clothesline and hits it. Snap suplex by Pac than into a shoulder lock. For added effect Pac drives his free elbow into Riley's shoulder. Riley manages to get back to his feet and tosses Pac in a modified side suplex to get free.
A pissed off Pac slaps the mat in frustration. Both men are back up and now they lock up. Heavy jockeying position with both men in control. Pac goes for a head lock but Riley slips out and gets one of his own. Head lock take over but Riley but Pac escapes and gets the goes for a seated drop kick but Riley moves. Riley is up first and hits a strong front kick to Pac's back. Pac is driven forward into the ropes and is bounced back towards Riley who hits a release German. Pac lands on his feet and than hits a leg lariat as Riley tries to stand up. Pac pulls Riley up and tosses him to the floor. He waits for Riley to stand back up and than hits a Suicide dive. He doesn't waste any time and pulls Riley just to toss him into the ring steps. "Shoulder first," Jim Ross declares. "And now a brutal backdrop suplex on the apron," Excalibur says as Riley hits hard.
Pac rolls Riley back into the ring and sets up for spring board crossbody. The referee counts one, than two, Riley kicks out. Standing moonsault by Pac and another cover count of one count of two Riley kicks out again. Pac moves Riley over to the corner and climbs to the top he is clearly looking for the black arrow. Riley moves at the last second and Pac lands hard. Mandy has come over to check on Riley who is still hurting. "Come on baby," she cheers. Riley gets up using the ropes. Meanwhile Pac has gotten back up first and goes for a shotgun dropkick knocking Riley back into the corner hard. "A brillant move there by Pac to stop Riley's momentum dead," Tony says on commentary. The Bastard sits Riley on the top rope and goes for a superplex. Both men crash hard.
Cover by Pac, count of one count of two Riley pops his shoulder up. Pac goes for the Brutalizer. Riley archers back looking for the counter he used a few weeks earlier this time though Pac rolls through keep the hold on. "Tap Riley!" Pac yells but Riley gets his boot under the rope for a break. Pissed off Pac reigns down stomps on Riley. "Is this you husband? Is this the man you sleep with?" He taunts Mandy who is on the floor. Pac pulls Riley up again and looks for a Northern Light suplex. Riley blocks it and turns it into his own version of the Northern Lights bomb. Pac stands first but is hurt. Riley is back up. "Ode to Chono! And now the Cobra Bite" Excalibur yells Riley combos up two of his big moves. Shinning wizard by Riley and he covers. Cont of one count of two. Pac kicks out.
Both men stagger back to there feet. Exchange of punches, chops, and elbows. Riley scores with a leg kick that hurt back and than hits a spinning hook kick that knocks Pac down. Dragon sleep locked in by Riley. Pac gets the ropes for a break. Riley with a dragon suplex with a bridge for a pin. Count of one count of two Pac kicks out. Riley sets up for a inverted suplex but Pac counters it into an inverted DDT. Jackknife pin by Pac count of tone count of two Riley kicks out. Both men get up and they do a test of strength but Pac leaps up and gets a snap rana. Count of one count of two Riley kicks out. "Brilliant move by Pac there," Jim Ross praises.
Both men charge at each other and hit clotheslines neither will go down. They do it again and again they won't go down. They charge for a third time for this time Riley changes moves and hits jumping front kick. Riley locks in a scorpion death lock. Pac screams in agony. "Could we see Pac top out?" Ross asks. Pac gets to the ropes. Riley lets the hold go. "What a gut wrench suplex by Morgan," Tony yells after Riley hits the move with force. Riley wants go for a over but Pac has grabbed onto the ropes. The referee forces Riley back. Pac gets up and thumbs Riley in the eyes. Riley is blinded and than eats a super kick.
Slingshot cutter by Pac and he covers. Count of one count of two the referee stops when he sees Pac has put his feet on the ropes. Mandy's whose protest is what drew the referee's attention to the cheating celebrates a bit. "Now he pays for that!" Pac yells at Mandy. He goes back Riley but than get caught in a Koji Clutch. Pac tries to crawl again but with this hold Riley is right up on his upper body and can't move enough. It looks like Pac might tap but suddenly Riley lets the hold go and hits a double arm DDT before going back to the Koji Clutch. Finally Pac taps out. "Riley Morgan wins and sends a clear message to the champion of the world," Jim Ross says as Riley's hand is raised.
Riley's music plays a bit only to suddenly stop and change to Moxley's. The AEW champion makes his usual entrances through the fans the AEW title wrapped around his waste. Moxley hops the guard rail and gets into the ring. The whole time Riley hasn't moved an inch. Mandy climbed into the ring and stands next to her husband. "The champion and the number one contender. A potentially epic heavyweight title fight on the horizon," Jim Ross narrates. Moxley has a microphone. He takes off the title belt and holds it one hand. "So the question is are you man enough to take this belt from me?" Moxley asks. Riley just nods right before Moxley hits him with the belt laying him out.
"And that is payback for last week. And here comes the interest," Tony says as Moxley pulls Riley up and sets up for the Paradigm Shift . Mandy tires to shove Moxley away when that won't work she slaps him. Moxley turns to face her and drops Riley. "Don't do this!" Jim Ross says getting worried. Moxley advances backing Mandy up. He stops picks up the belt and leaves knowing him made his point. Riley up and tries to go after Moxley. Mandy grabs onto Riley's hand. To everyone shock he shoves her away. "That is not right. I know tempers can flair but that is your wife Riley," Ross scolds. Riley sees what he has done. "I'm sorry," He finally says calming down. Mandy is in shock but she just nods.
NXT Taping Later That Night
"And we have a new NXT champion!" Seth is handed the NXT title as his group jumps into the ring to celebrate with him. Adam Cole is on the mat. On the floor lay the rest of UE. Seth is handed a microphone for his post match promo. "I told you all! I told you all change is coming. I told you all I wasn't going to be denied. Some of you want to talk about elite. This Elite! I'm the top guy two shows in the only Sports Entertainment company that matters! Cody you couldn't hack here you couldn't break though so you ran off crying! Young Bucks you couldn't even get through a tryout. Kenny Omega you had your chance to be a star but didn't have the guts to try. Hangman Page you are a one note joke! And Morgan Mr.s Tough Guy I see you are still cheap shooting my friends. Have some balls fight me... I'l even meet you in the parking lot!" Seth rants as NXT goes off the air.