Chapter 26
So to update I will try do my usual one or two updates a week. But I'm lucky enough to essential personal at my job which is in the security industry. Well right now company is short staffed. So I am actually working overtime. So I don't have as much time to write and well I'm more tired when I do have downtime. Also and more importantly I want to thank everyone. This story is now over 50,000 views. Extra thanks to everyone that has me on alerts lists. And please review.
Riley was in his den face timing with Moxley who had asked to talk. "So what is up?" Riley asks. "Were you happy with our match?" Moxley asks bluntly. He was never one to waste time. "Yeah of course I am. It was easily the best match I've had in AEW," Riley says. "I feel like it could have been better," Moxley says. Riley took a second to think. The match was good. It was very good in fact, yet yeah it could have been a bit better. "We do have the rematch in a few weeks," Riley points out. "I am thinking we need to follow the similar path but not exactly the same. Still do the striking but add some more in," Moxley says clearly thinking out loud. Maybe do some more actual grappling work a few more submissions," Riley suggested. "Or maybe we need to go into the hardcore box," Moxley says.
"I thought part of the reason for our feud is to do something than you doing hardcore," Riley says. The truth is his mind goes right to Mandy. She had been freaking out over his feud with Moxley at first. She only calmed down after it was made clear that the feud wasn't going to be about hardcore wrestling. "It doesn't have to be a whole hardcore match but some weapons could help things," Jon says. "Or it could take away from the story we have been telling. I am not saying no. But lets think about it," Riley says. "Sounds good. You run it by Cody see his thoughts. I'll talk to Tony," Moxley says before breaking off the call. Riley puts his phone down. "What to do? What to do?" He thinks. He didn't want to ruin Mandy or have more fights. Yet he also didn't want blow this main event feud.
"Okay think Riley. Your wife and your push doesn't have to be an either or situation. Maybe Mandy will be okay with a little hardcore. Plus Cody and Tony listen to the talent. I'm sure I can find a line that will make everyone happy enough. Or maybe I can start wrestling in a mask and switch places with a stunt double," Riley thinks noting he needs to remember that last part to do as a joke on BTE sometime.
Post WrestleMania Party
Seth Rollins took another drink. WrestleMania was over as was TakeOver. He had worked a match on both shows. He retained the NXT title defeating The Velveteen Dream. Than at WrestleMania he lost to Kevin Owens. He was proud of both matches. He felt Becky place her hand on his shoulder as she sat next to him. "You ready to go?" Seth asks her. Becky had worked a long match with Shayna Baszler. Her match had been a bit rough with her taking a knee to the head. "Yeah lets go," Becky says. Seth gets up and stretches. "Its a good weekend babe we should be proud," Seth says as they head for the exit. "I'm like see that smile on your face. It's been a while," Becky notes. "This is the stuff I live for," Seth says.
"Seth just a second," Vince says walking up to them. "Yes Mr. McMahon," Seth says stopping. "Becky could you give Seth and I a moment?" Vince says. He doesn't even wait for her to answer before leading back into the area the party is being held. They had to the private booth Vince was sitting at. "I am very proud of your work the last few weeks," Vince says. "Thank you sir. I am really excited to keep working on both NXT and Raw," Seth says. "Speaking of NXT and it's little problem," Vince says. Seth has to assume he means the ratings and or AEW in general. "I think I can be a problem solver," Seth says. "My thoughts exactly. You know which one really pisses me off? Mandy Rose's husband. The Brothers never worked for WWE. Omega fine he's a strange guy. Cody wants to be to much like his father. But Morgan was always hanging around. Clearly he wanted t work for the WWE even wasted my time with that meeting," Vince ranted.
"You mean the one in the hotel room?" Seth asks. "Of course that one. Think about Seth I took time to go pitch him coming into the WWE. And than he mouths off to my daughter when she comes to get him to sign the deal," Vince rants. "I hear he was upset about starting in NXT," Seth says getting mad. He and just about everyone else had started in either NXT or FCW. Who the hell was Riley Morgan or any of his friends to balk at the idea of starting in Orlando at the Performance Center. "I think we need to double down on your attacks," Vince tell him. "Hunter didn't seem to think that was a good idea," Seth says liking where this is going. "Well in this case Hunter is wrong. The locker room will calm down in time. You know Raw has a show coming up in Omaha Nebraska," Vince declares. "Morgan's hometown," Seth notes. "I think we need to mark out territory," Vince says.
AEW Road To Show
Chris Jericho sat in front of a bar a drink in his hand. "So Jon Moxley did it. He manged to beat me for the AEW world title. But I don't need to a champion to be Le Champion! I'm still the top guy in this company. I am still the reason this company is doing what it is doing. So anyway I took a vacation. Needed a few weeks to recharge. And it just so happened Riley Morgan was given a title shot. And well story of Riley's he was good but not good enough. And hell Morgan I watched that match. It was amazing odds are you are getting five stars. However play time is over," Jericho says. Footage of Jericho knocking Riley out with The Judas Effect plays. Than footage of a previous match with Jericho beating Riley also plays. Jericho takes a moment wanting the footage that just played to sink in with the viewers.
"Why should you get a rematch Riley? You beat Kenny Omega right. Did that already. I also beat you. I beat you badly in your hometown. I beat you in front of your wife, in front of your parents, in front of all your little friends. But hey I need a warm up before facing Moxley. So I will just beat you again," Jericho says before taking a drink. A graphic hyping a match between Riley and Jericho is shown. Jericho puts down his drink "See you this Wednesday Riley," Jericho taunts as the rest of the Inner Circle walk into the shot. "I'll be there," Ortiz says. "Will you be there Santana?" Jericho asks. "Oh I'll be there," Santa declares. "What about you Sammy G?" Jericho asks handing Sammy a drink. "Of course I'll be there," Sammy says. "I know the Big Hurt is going to be there. But you know who I don't think will be there? Any of Riley's friends. He doesn't have any left," Jericho says before laughing.
Orlando Mandy and Riley's Home
"Happy birthday mate," Marty says handing Riley a box. His birthday had been a few days ago. But Mandy was having a few friends over before they went to the for the week. Besides Marty there was Britt and Adam. Kenny was in town as were Nick and Matt. Riley tore the paper off Marty's gift. "Marty is this is great," Riley says. "Its a socket wrench set," Britt says confused. "The man knows what he wants," Marty says. "These should get some real work done," Riley says looking at the set. "Alright well mine is next," Kenny says handing Riley a gift bag. "Its going to be the best gift," Kenny as Riley opens the bag and pulls out a copy of the book Strong Style by Scott Norton. "Open it read the inside cover," Kenny urges. "Its autographed," Riley says. "I ran into Scott a while ago. Asked him to do it," Kenny explains.
"Well thanks guys. These are great. Time for cake," Riley says. "Wait there is one more gift," Mandy says going to the closets and pulling out a large box and putting it in front of Riley. He opens it and pulls out a smaller box. He opens that box and pulls out another smaller box. "Now I know they have been together to long. This is rib Riley would pull," Adam says to Britt. Riley tosses the top of one of the boxes at Cole. Final Riley reaches a small box. He opens that and pulls out two tickets. Riley's eyes get real big and he starts to suck in air trying to talk. "You broke him," Matt says. "Riley breath mate," Marty says. Riley looks at Mandy holding up the tickets. "The Southern five hundred," he finally manages to get out.
"The what?" Marty asks. "Its NASCAR Marty," Mandy says causing him to go oh. "You got tickets for the Southern five hundred... I LOVE YOU SO MUCH!" Riley says before picking her up and spinning her around. Once Riley puts her down the group heads over to get cake. "So Riley what did you wish for?" Adam Cole asks. "That none of you tell Hangman about those tickets. Because that race is months off. I don't need him begging me to take him," Riley says. "Well who you gong to take?" Cole asks. "Me," Mandy says. "Do you actually want to go?" Riley asks knowing full well Mandy has zero interest in racing. "I bought the tickets. That thing takes place over a holiday weekend. And I have remind you about these little gold rings we wear. I am going," Mandy says. "But do you want to go? You can't even name one driver," Riley says. "Dale Earnhardt and Jeff Gordon," Mandy says.
"Half points for naming former drivers. But Mandy this race is a five hundred mile race. And there is a lot of pre race festivities. I just don't want you to to miserable," Riley says. "Would I be going on my own of course not. But I'll go with you," Mandy says. The party didn't last to much longer. Everyone had to get ready to get back out on the road. Even the EVP's had only managed to make it due to some business the Orlando. Once they were alone Riley picked up the tickets again. "You are going counting the days down like a child waiting for Christmas," Mandy says. "Can you blame? This is one my favorite nights in sports every year," Riley says. "Well you are lucking to have such a great wife." "That is what I tell myself all the time," Riley assures her.
Riley takes a deep breath he's made the call to let Mandy know what is going on. "Hey you know I was talking to Moxley earlier. And he and I are going over ideas for the rematch. He put out the idea of maybe doing some hardcore this time," Riley says figuring trying to sugar coat anything wouldn't work. "Not like what he did with Kenny?" Mandy says clearly upset. "No not to that level. Maybe some stuff with a chair. Maybe we go into the crowd. Look Mandy I know this worries you. I actually think to much hardcore would be a huge mistake. For a number of reasons. Including I don't like see you worried," Riley says hugging her. "How far does Moxley want to go?" Mandy asks. "I don't even think even he wants to go to the level that the Kenny match did. He's going to talk to Kenny. I'll talk to Cody. Than see where we are at," Riley says.
"Is this going to be at Double or Nothing?" Mandy asks. "I don't think so. I last time Tony laid out the time line. Its I have one more match in late April leaving time to set up other contenders for May," Riley recalls. "How are you feeling after the last few weeks? The match with Moxley the match with Kenny you are pushing yourself," Mandy tells him. "Yes I'm pushing myself. Yes I'm sore, but I am not hurt. We are riding a hot streak baby. You are doing great I'm having some of the best work in my career. Hell babe we could both wind up main event a Dynamite this year. I can do this and not be hurt. Just like how you were able to do the spot with your teeth," Riley says. "Just don't go insane," Mandy pleads. "I won't. I got to many good things to protect," Riley says before they kiss.
WWE Raw
The night after WrestleMania it was very common for stars of Smackdown to be backstage at Raw. As a result Seth and Roman were catching up. Seth had just told his old stablemate about Vince loving his mocking of Morgan. "Man I can't wait until we are in his home town," Seth says rubbing his hands. Roman looked as he old friend. "What is the end game here Seth? You are so focused on Morgan man. What do you really want out of this? Because man all I got out of messing with Morgan was a messed up nose, a ruptured ball, and my daughter googling me to find out daddy got in trouble for hurting Mandy," Romany says. "That wasn't on you. Morgan shouldn't have been hanging around that weekend," Seth claims. "Well we don't have to worry about him anymore. Hell you whole issue with Morgan was he worked for New Japan. Now they are directly trying to compete with us," Seth says standing up and getting mad as he recalls Roman's past actions.
"So what is the end game? What do you want out of this. NXT beats AEW? That would be great but the Khan's have some major money. I've talked to some people they aren't going away any time soon. TNT seems to really be behind them. Do you want Morgan to show up on one our shows?" Roman says trying to keep calm. "Hey would help our ratings," Seth says. "Well I doubt anyone in AEW is going to let him skip there show. And well Raw I bet even Morgan is going to lose it enough to risk something like that," Roman points out. "He attacked you," Seth points out. "He snapped and punched me in the face... after I got in his face," Roman admits leaving out his comment calling Mandy a rat. That day he wanted to get into a fight with Morgan he hadn't counted on Morgan having such a fast and powerful right cross. "Roman don't worry about it. I can take care of myself," Seth claims.
Being the Elite
Nick, Matt, and Kenny were backstage. "So..." Matt says before stopping. "Well..." Kenny but he also stops himself. Nick looks like he is about to say something but doesn't' even bother. The door opens and Mandy walks in. "I need to ask you guys a favor. I get right now Riley is not acting like Riley. He's letting his pride get the better of him. But Jericho and The Inner Circle are to dangerous for him to face alone. He's not listening to me. I am begging you guys to watch his back," Mandy says. "Mandy if we tried to help him do you think he would even want it?" Kenny asks.