The World Spins On
As The Elite prepares to go to war onscreen, Riley and Mandy mull over a huge offer.
Chapter 1
Offers came across Tony Khan's desk every day. Certain companies got top priority. The name of the company this e-mail come from wouldn't mean much to most Americans. But it had big meaning for Tony. Opening it Tony read. "This would be different. Can we do it? Is it the right move," Tony thought. For now he would put it aside. He had more pressing issues to take care of today. As if on cue his cell phone rang. Something was going on with the Jaguars that needed his attention for now.
Orlando
Riley and Mandy were in the middle of a workout in there home gym. Riley finished up his set of barbell cleans and dropped the bar. Mandy laid on a bench doing in an inverted press finishing her set she let the kettle bells she was using go. "Hey what time is it?" Mandy asks. Riley turns to look at the clock they had put on the wall. "Just before ten. What time are we meeting Sonya?" Riley asks. "Not till one. Why? You ready to give up," She taunts with a smile. "Oh so you are getting tried and want see if I will quit first chance. Not a chance beautiful," Riley says move to get plates to do a dead lift. "Actually I thinking we should get lunch. You know how long things like this can take," Mandy says. Riley does his left and speaks. "Whatever... you..." he has t put it down since it's to heavy. But he does finish, "have to tell yourself to fell better... ouch." "That is what you get for showing off," Mandy says with a smile.
"Oh I'm fine," Riley says even though he had just torn up his hands. Mandy gets up and whips herself down with a towel. "Sure you are Hercules," Mandy jokes as she exits the gym. Riley gets a sly smile on his face before running up behind her and spanking her on the ass one time. "Oh so you want to play," Mandy says before throwing her towel at him and hitting him in the face. "Come here you," Riley says chasing after her as they both laugh. Right now life was good and things seemed to only look good in the months ahead.
Riley "caught" Mandy and pulled her into a kiss. "I love you," Riley says. "And I think you are insane," Mandy says. "And you love me anyone," Riley says picking her up over his shoulder. "Okay I get it you are strong and can still go," Mandy says. "I'll show you how far I can still go," Riley says. "Riley stop put me down. We have to meet Sonya," Mandy reminds him. Riley puts her down on the bed. "Sure break my heart… among other things," Riley jokes. "What has gotten into you today?" Mandy asks. "Good workout, beautiful wife its testosterone raging inside of me," Riley says. "Yeah well take a cold shower and calm down a bit," Mandy says.
Being the Elite
A clip of Jay White's AEW debut played just before the segment. The shot then turns to the Young Bucks walking into a room finding Riley who sitting in a chair looking annoyed. The Bucks whisper to each other. "You tell him," Nick says. "No you tell him," Matt says right back. The both look at the camera and reach behind it grabbing Cutler. Matt can still be seen meaning Nick has taken the camera. "You tell him," The Bucks both order Cutler before shoving him at Riley. Cutler looks back clearly very nervous. Making him more worried is Riley's fists are clinched. "Hey Riley, how you been?" Cutler finally says.
"You know Brandon hate is a strong word. People love to throw it around. I hate that place, I hate that color. But true hate is powerful," Riley says. "That is deep Riley," Cutler claims. "You know who I hate Cutler?" Riley asks. "I think I have an idea," Cutler says awkwardly. Riley gets up and Cutler looks really worried. "Easy buddy. Breath, breath with me," Riley says clearly doing it in a way he is imitating Jay White. Cutler with no other option starts to breath with Riley. "That is good that is good Brandon," Riley says as he turns to leave. "Well that went better then I thought," Cutler says. "You didn't tell him idiot!" Nick snaps. "Well he clearly knew what happened," Matt points out.
The door opens and Riley returns. "Oh hey Cutler you never answered my question. You know who I hate?... Jay White!" Riley says very bitterly he stops for a second and point at Nick and Matt. "You two know how much I hate Jay White. So talk to your friend," Riley says before leaving again. "Still went better then I thought," Cutler says. "Okay lets take a second to think," Nick says. "You know what I think? Riley hates Jay White. Adam brought in Jay White and Riley's been very fond of Adam at the moment. This won't end well," Matt says clearly worried.
Hotel
Riley and Mandy were unpacking. Dynamite and Rampage were being tapped the next day. Once they were done with the taping they were heading to Omaha. It would be the first time Riley had been to his hometown since before the pandemic. Mandy could tell he was excited. His brother Scott and his wife had a young son Riley had never technically met except for on face time. Mandy checked her phone. "You don't have to film anything for BTE right?" She asks. "Not this week why?" Riley asks. "Riley what did we agree to do this year?" Mandy asks. "File our taxes before April," Riley says thinking. "We said were going to really enjoy being able to travel again. So I am looking for something in the city for us to do," Mandy says. "Oh right we did something about not wanting to fall into a rut," Riley says.
There is a knock on the door. "Who is is it?" Riley calls out. "Room service," A familiar voice calls from the other side. Riley smiles as he opens the door. "Kenny!" Riley says happily hugging his old friend. "Hey man," Kenny says. "Hi Kenny," Mandy says. "How are you guys?" Kenny asks entering the room. "So are you back?" Riley asks. "Am I backstage this week yes? Back in the ring I will tell you when it happens. I figured with everything going on I should put in appearance backstage this week. So hey how are you two?" Kenny says. "Living the dream," Mandy says. "She wants to sight seeing," Riley says. Kenny turns to Mandy. "Has he asked if there is a racetrack yet?" "I was not going to ask if there was a racetrack. Wait is there racetrack?"
"Thank you Kenny," Mandy says annoyed. "If he hadn't asked already he was going to," Kenny claims. "Riley you need to expand your horizons," Mandy says. "She's right Kenny. I should go to a road course instead of an oval," Riley says with a smile. "Its a good thing I live you," Mandy says with a hint of disgust. "Honey I'm kidding," Riley says laughing. "Just for that we are going dress shopping," Mandy warns. "So hey Kenny what did you need?" Riley says turning to his friend. "Oh I just wanted to say hi," Kenny says.
AEW Dynamite and Rampage Taping
"We need to cut time from the tag match. We can do the intros during the break but I want another two minutes cut. I know Jericho won't be happy tell him I already made up my mind," Tony Khan looking at the current rundown for Dynamite tonight with his team. "That should bring us in on time," QT Marshall says. Tony looks over the sheet again. "Should we open with Riley Morgan vs. Daniel Garcia? I feel like it would be the better opener," Tony says. "I think the show flow better having Riley and Garcia where we have it now. Remember we got that video on Jay set to play," Matt Jackson reminds them. "Oh right I need to speak with Riley and Mandy. Are they hear yet?" Tony says thinking out loud. "Not yet last I head," Nick Jackson says. "Anyone sees them when we are done tell them to come to the office," Tony says before moving onto his next point on the agenda of the day.
"What do you need to see Riley and Mandy about?" Matt asks. "Oh we have an offer on the table I want to run by them," Tony says before going into something about Wardlow's segment. It's a busy day and they had all worked for Tony long enough now to know not to keep going back to something he had addressed. They move onto talking about the rest of the show. Nick, Matt, and Kenny also know Riley will just tell him them after he's done.
Women's Locker Room
Mandy laid out her outfit for tonight. Anna Jay and Tay Conti entered both looking overly excited. "What is with you two?" Mandy says. "Did you hear the latest rumor?" Tay asked. "There are so many rumors flying around I have no idea if the latest I've heard is the latest," Mandy says. "You know the boarders are opening in Japan right?" Tay asks. Mandy nodded. "Well the word is Tony is doing some huge super show. We might be debuting in Japan," Tay says happily. "I keep telling her not get to carried away," Anna says. "Wait an AEW show in Japan or sending talent to Japan?" Mandy asks. "I hope it's both. Mandy do you know what wrestling in Japan is like?" Tay asks causing both Mandy and Anna to laugh. "Yeah I guess you would," Tay says. "The many, many and I stress many old Bullet Club shirts gives me a hint about what wrestling in Japan is like. And how big a deal it is," Mandy says with a smile.
Men's Locker Room
"You guys are such freaking nerds," Riley says to Brandon Cutler and Paul Wight who are talking about Dungeon and Dragons. "Hey, you have no idea how much work goes into this," Brandon says. "Nerd work," Riley says getting up from the chair that is next to the two. In another part of the locker room Sammy Guevara and Alan Angels were talking. Sammy had his camera up and was filming for his vlog. "Hey Riley," Sammy says. "What do you want Sammy?" Riley asks. "Well you know a lot has changed lately. I need a new former BTE regular to be on the vlog. You willing to jump full time?" Sammy jokes. "See Sammy the problem with that is I don't want to be around you more," Riley jokes. Sammy points the camera at himself. "Well I tried guys," he says before putting it down.
Riley and Sammy both laugh after that. Riley keeps walking and heads into the hall. "Don't tell you are vlogging as well. Getting to the there are more vloggers than wrestlers," Riley jokes seeing Ethan Page. "I would be had my battery not died," Page says. 'Good," Eddie Kingston says passing by. "So hey who you got? Colby or Masvidal?" Page asks both he and Riley were big MMA fans. "Man I can't make up my mind. Ask me next week. But aren't you supposed be part of ATT. Shouldn't you be all about Masvidal?" Riley asks. "I am about Masvidal that is why I want you to tell me how easy he's going to KO Colby," Page claims.
Riley keeps moving. He checks his watch still many hours before the show. He kept his eyes open for Jay White and Adam Cole to go over there segment for tonight. Various people said hello to him. "Hey Riley!" He hears Matt Jackson's voice yell. He turns around and sees the Bucks on the other side of a hall. "What?" Riley yells back. "Dude come down here we aren't going to yell across the hall," Nick yells. "They what are we doing now?" Riley yells back before starting to laugh. "We aren't filing BTE stop doing a bit," Matt warns. Riley is tempted to yell back it would make a funny bit but instead he walks over to them. "So what do you two EVP's want?" Riley asks. "Tony wants to see you and Mandy. He said go right into his office," Nick explains. "I'll text Mandy. I don't think she had anything she had to do today," Riley says thinking out loud.
It doesn't take Mandy long to get back to Riley. They meet up near Tony's office. His assistant lets them in. "Yeah well the Rams were closer to the Superbowl when they made those deals. We need draft picks and guys that can be around for years. Look we will finish this talk later... I have a show tonight," Tony says before hanging up his phone. Tony greets them both before getting to business.
"Since AEW stated we have built a number of working relationships. And I got a very interesting e-mail from one of out partners. Now I want to make it clear there will be no heat if you say no. This has some interesting potential but I also get you two may not be interested for any number of reason," Tony says. Both Mandy and Riley were intrigued and exchanged a quick look.
"The offer comes from Bushiroad," Tony says. For Tony that had significance for Riley. Bushiroad was the parent company of New Japan Pro Wrestling. That company had been his biggest goal and drive for him as a pro wrestler. Like the rest of The Elite he had left it when All Elite Wrestling had been founded. Riley had loved Japan and wrestling there. It had been hard leaving Japan for AEW. Two things had been the breaking point. One had been Mandy and wanting to spend more time with her. The other was a conversation he had with New Japan booker Gedo and long term official Tiger Hattori. In that meeting Gedo had made it clear he didn't see Riley as a main eventer. He had returned to New Japan recently to face his friend Katsuyori Sibata. Still that memory left a bigger taste in his mouth.
"So they want Riley for another show?" Mandy asked. "Its more then that. They would like both of you to come work full time for at least six months," Tony says. "Six months?" Mandy asks. "It seems Gedo has an idea. But its not just Riley. Mandy they would like you as well. As you know Bushiroad also operates Stardom. They would use like they were using Bea Prestley for a time. Working in Stardom and also appearing on New Japan events," Tony explains. "So we would be splinting our time in Japan and AEW? Are the boarders opening enough to do that?" Riley asks. "Things change everyday. Some days for the better some for the worse. But due to the risk things could close down again Bushiroad would like you to live in Japan for the duration of your stints with New Japan and Stardom," Tony says.
"We would have to move to Japan?" Mandy asks. "I'm sure they would provide housing or something," Riley says. Mandy looked like she was about to say something but she stopped herself. "Did Gedo give you any idea who I would be working with?" Riley asks. "What does it matter we would have to leave the states," Mandy says cutting him off. "Like I said there is no pressure take some time to think. We would have to write you both out of AEW story lines," Tony says.