Chapter 13
"One more time into the great unknown," Riley says as the flight took off. "The unknown? We are going to Japan," Mandy says. "I was trying to be dramatic and deep," Riley says. "Worry about your arm and shoulder," Mandy says. "It feels great. I'm serious I think that thing Trent gave me worked," Riley says. "Or it just masked the pain," Mandy says. "Well it's a great mask. And if it's does it the full flight to Japan it's a modern miracle," Riley says. "You ever count how many hours you've spent flying between Japan and the USA?" Mandy asked. She had been to Japan a few times he had made a career of it. "You know how bad at math I am," Riley says. "Bad is an understatement my love. But I am curious," Mandy says. "Let's see I've between New Japan, NOAH, and DDT I've made at least a hundred trips. Problem is I didn't always fly right to the Japan from the US. Sometimes I was in UK or Germany. Wait was that one tour or two when I was in New Zeeland for Fale... Let's just says I've spent a lot of hours flying," Riley says.
The fasten seatbelts sigh went off they removed there's. "I'm glad we are going this early. Hopefully we will have some time to relax and see the sights," Mandy says. "We should. As long we aren't delayed by weather or something. NOAH doesn't need me for anything for a few more days," Riley says. "And when do we come back?" Mandy asks. "If I remember we should have a full day afterword,' Riley says. "Riley this is it right? Your last trip to Japan for a while?" Mandy asks. "Of course it is. I got this chance had a few matches in NOAH. Had a main event in New Japan. But yeah it was fun to have another run in Japan. But short of Kenta Kobashia or Mashiro Chono coming out of retirement," Riley says. "Did you just jinx yourself?" Mandy asks.
"Darling I'm joking. I give you my word. This is it for me in Japan for a while. Plus Kenny's back I finally have someone to have fun with at TV again," Riley says. "Great thing to say to your wife who you work with," Mandy says. They were kidding of course. "Nah look we got All Out coming up. You are going to pick up your feud with Jade. We are trying to have a baby. I got no time to go to Japan after this," Riley says with a smile.
Japan
Riley's days leading up to the match had been filled. NOAH had a final press conference to hype the big show under the name Destination. There has been filming for the pre match hype video. But now it was match day. Riley with Mandy next to him looked around the famous Nippon Budokan. "So this was where Ali fought Antoni Inoki?" Mandy asks. "Do you actually want me to give the history lesson?" Riley asks. "The cliff notes darling," Mandy says. "Yes Ali vs. Inoki was here but this was mostly All Japan's home for big events than it became NOAH's. New Japan has run shows here and it was over there while doing a DDT show that Kota Ibushi moonsaulted off the balcony and got banned for a decade," Riley says. "And you never wrestled here?" Mandy asked. "Nope never got the chance. When I was in NOAH there in such a downtown they couldn't risk running here. And when I was in New Japan I was hurt or had already left for AEW," Riley says looking around.
In the ring some of the young NOAH wrestlers were working out. Work on the stage was being finished. Mandy had a seen a lot of big show stages but this one was pretty impressive. "Hopefully this is a really special night," Riley says more to himself. Mandy takes his hand and gives it a squeeze. "It will be," Mandy assures him. "Thank babe. This place has so much history. I just want to be good when I try to carve me own little bit. It's like how it was with the dome... Oh they need me," Riley says pointing at some officials who are waving for him to come over. "I'll find our dressing room I'll be fine," Mandy tells him. Some member of staff leads Mandy to a dressing room he's also brought Riley's bag with them. The time difference always threw Mandy off. She sat down in a chair and killed some time on her phone.
Meanwhile Riley was led to an office area in the building. He figured it was to meet a sponsor, maybe sigh somethings, maybe an interview for social media. Instead Riley finds himself in a room with a number of officials. Scanning the room Riley recognized a number of the faces. Most of them were wrestlers having worked in NOAH or DDT over the years. Three drew Riley's focus. One was Kenta Kobashi one of the vaunted Four Pillars a true legend in every sense of the world. Next to him was Jun Akiyama another former All Japan turned NOAH and even now DDT star. They two were talking in Japanese Riley heard Kobashi say, "he's here." "Riley welcome," A third man says in English. It was Sanshiro Takagi who had been the founder of DDT and it's long time president. When CyberAgent bought both NOAH and DDT along with DDT's sub brands Takagi was named president of the new created CyberFight. The man was unassuming but was now one of the most powerful men in all of wrestling. "Please sit," Takagi said motioning to a chair.
"I want you to know I am appreciate your efforts as GHC champion. You've had a great reign. Now I'm sure you are aware that Peter Pan is coming up," Takagi explains. Peter Pan was DDT's single biggest show and Riley had a feeling where this could be going. "Currently Akiyama-son lacks an opponent and we hae an idea that would greatly appeal to you." The dates ran in Riley's head. Of course he wanted to say yes. Even in his older age Jun Aikiyama was still great and being the history buff Riley was the idea of facing Giant Baba's last student. If Riley was a still that young man chasing his New Japan dream it would be a yes, if Riley was under contract to New Japan he would be wearing out the knees of his pants begging for the okay to take the match. But things had really changed for Riley the last few years. "Gentlemen it would be real honor to do a match like this. Unfortunately I know for a fact the dates just don't work out."
Later that night
Mandy gave herself one final look in the mirror as the semi-main event neared its finish. Riley had finished his warmup and was now checking his boots to make sure laces were tight. Someone knocked on the door. In Japanese Riley told them to come in. One of the young wrestlers stuck his head in and spoke. Mandy had learned enough Japanese to know it was time to go. Mandy looked down at her emerald green dress and slipped on her heels. Riley grabbed the GHC championship belt and strapped around his waist. Mandy took a took at the long tights he was wearing. They were mostly green with the AEW logo on them. His boots were silver with the NOAH logo on the left and the AEW Logo on the right. Finally riley grabbed the robe he made for this match. It looked like something a boxer would wear. Riley tied the belt and pulled up the hood.
It was hard to miss Kenoh even in a crowded backstage area. The man's dyed blonde hair was combed up looking like Super Saiyan from Dragon Ball Z. He wore red jackets with various decorations on it. He was surrounded by members of his faction KONGO all of whom were red t-shirts. Kenoh came over and whispered something to Riley that Mandy couldn't hear. Riley just noded in response. The lights in the arena dimed. The championship's rollcall recapping the history the GHC played. Next came the pre match video played. The video talked about the ghosts of the past the legendary matches that had taken place in the venue. Next it showed Riley winning the GHC title and Kenoh's challenge. Finally Kenoh's music started. He made his entrace with flames shooting up from the stage.
Riley's theme played and he waited for the anticipation to build. Mandy went up the steps to the ramp first. She stopped and turned back a second later Riley appeared. He looked around the venue and then power walked to the ring down the ramp. Stopping right before reaching the ring the ring Mandy untied the robe's belt and slipped it off him. Riley jumped into the ring and Kenoh got right in his face forcing the referee to back him up. The formal in ring introductions are made. Finally the referee calls for the bell.
Both men right into a collar and elbow tie up. Both men fight for control Kenoh winds up getting control. At the last second Riley is able to step around and get a waste lock. Kenoh bases out, breaks Riley's grip and takes control of the arm getting a hammer lock. Riley tries throw an elbow trying to get free but he can't connect. Riley tries again but this time Kenoh uses the momentum to catch Riley with a Northern Light Suplex. Getting back to their feet Kenoh land the first roundhouse kick. Riley falls back into the corner selling the kick. Kenoh cracks a smile and calls for Riley to come forward. Riley comes out of the corner and both men lock up again. This time Riley is able is able to use a back heel trip and then moves into a head lock. Kenoh gets the ropes for a break.
Riley breaks the hold and both men get back up. Kenoh throws another house kick which again hits. Riley fires a kick of his own. Kenoh responded with another kick and Riley fires two kicks and knocks Kenoh over. Kenoh gets back up and takes a running shoulder block from Riley who than pulls his challenger up and locks in a cobra clutch and hits the cobra bite suplex with a bridge. Count of one count of two Kenoh kicks out. On the outside Mandy is stunned when Riley gets a body scissors and rolls into another pin. It was a sequence she had never seen him do before. Coming out of the pin Kenoh has grabbed an ankle lock but Riley is quickly able to get the ropes for a break. Once he is free Riley rolls to the floor and walks around it taking a second. "You okay?" Mandy asks coming up to him. "Yeah, I'm good. Don't freak out in the next few minutes," Riley says. "Why?" Mandy asks but he's already back the ring.
Kenoh comes in and lands several palm strikes and chops than an elbow. Riley comes right back with a series of slaps and elbows than a front kick right to the face. Kenoh is stunned. Riley grabs a front face lock and looks for a vertical suplex only for the challenger to kick his feet and get back down. Kenoh than manages to get Riley up looking for the suplex. Riley gets back down and goes for the suplex again. Kenoh kicks his feet again both men are off balance and fall over the ropes to the floor. "I am gonig to kill for that," Mandy thinks, she loved Riley but he drove her nuts taking risks like that after breaking his neck years ago. She moved over to check and could see Riley already moving.
Kenoh went to whip Riley into the guardrail but at the last second Riley reverses it. Ode to Chono by Riley sends Kenoh over the rail and into the fans. Other members of KONGO are at ringside. Katsuhiko Nakajima stares down Riley before turning back to his leader who is getting back over the rail. Spear by Kenoh knocks Riley down. Both men get back up and start to exchange strikes and wind up over on the ramp. For big shows NOAH used the type of ramp that was elevated and went right up against the ring. Riley went for a spinning hook kick but Kenoh ducks it and catches a waste lock. Kenoh looks for a German suplex off the ramp. Riley hooks the ring ropes and blocks the move. Both champion and challenger start to exchange kicks again. "Sixteen, seventeen, eighteen," The referee counts. NOAH used a twenty county. "Nineteen," the count goes on. Riley and Kenoh dive into the ring to avoid a count out.
Kenoh is faster and grabs a headlock only for Riley to hit a backdrop suplex. Riley doesn't let go and does a release German suplex. Kenoh gets back to his feet just in time to take an Ode to Chono. Riley covers count of one count of two, Kenoh kicks out and than rolls to the floor. Riley climbs to the top rope and leaps off. Kenoh sees him coming and lands a roundhouse kick to Riley's face. Fans cheer as it's a all back to Kenoh's last match in the Budokan when he won doing a similar kick. Kenoh tosses Riley back into the ring and covers count of one count of two, Riley kicks out. Kenoh grabs a chin lock. Riley fights to get free but winds up taking a neck breaker.
Kenoh climbs to the top rope and comes off looking for his Professional Foot Stomp finisher but Riley rolls out of the way. Kenoh lands on his feet, turning around he winds up taking a shotgun dropkick that Sends him into the corner. Ode to chono by Riley and Kenoh falls over. Riley covers count of one count of two Kenoh kicks out. Riley gets the Kojli Clutch locked. Kenoh reaches out for the ropes he's just about to get grab it when Riley rolls and moves them both back to the center of the ring. Kenoh refuses to tap out he forces his free hand between Riley's legs and breaks the hold. Now both men are scrambling looking for something. Kenoh nearly gets an arm bar but Riley escapes. Both men are back up. Riley is able to lock in the Muay Thai clinich and lands a series of knees one final one to the head drops Kenoh. But Riley is exhausted and falls over having used all his energy to do the clinch. "Come on Riley!" Mandy yells as she pounds the apron. Riley finally rolls Kenoh over and covers count of one. Kenoh kicks out at one. Both men stand once more but it's Kenoh who is faster and lands a big roundhouse kick to Riley's head.
Once again Kenoh climbs to the top looking for his foot stomp but this time it connect. Deep cover by the challenger. Count of one count of two count of... at the very last second Riley gets his shoulder up. Kenoh doesn't miss a beat he climbs back up ropes and moonsaults off. Only it's not a normal moonsault instead he flips and drives both knees into Riley's chest. Another cover count of one count of two count of three. The bell rings. Kenoh slowly gets off of Riley selling the intense battle for the title he was just in. Mandy beats the young wrestlers that are supposed to attending to Riley. "I'm okay baby," Riley says out of breath. "You are insane doing that suplex spot," She whispers to him. "Sorry I'll make it up to you," Riley claims.
Riley's Dressing Room
Mandy waited while Riley took a shower. He had already done the post match backstage promo. The trainer had already checked him out and he was fine other than a few bruises. She had changed out of her dress into jeans and t-shirt. "Hey Riley?" She called out. "What?" He yelled to be heard over the water. "I am going to make sure the driver is ready," She yells. The water turns off. "Sounds good I'm just going to dry and get changed," Riley says. Mandy exited the room and found someone from the company that spoke English. That person assured her when they were ready the car service would get them back to the hotel. Mandy thanked the employee and turned back to the locker room.
"Mandy?" Someone says behind her. "You are Saki Akai," Mandy says already knowing who it is. "Yes, I wanted to introduce myself. I am a big fan," Saki says. "Thank you," Mandy says. "It's to bad the match won't happen," Saki said. "What match?" Mandy asked confused. "I thought you knew. Takagi-son offered Riley a match at Peter Pan. You and he vs. me... myself and Akiyama-son," Saki explains. "Yeah, I'm sorry but it just didn't work out. I have to get back to Riley," Mandy says. She made her way back to the dressing room and sees Riley putting on his shoes. She threw her arms around him and kissed his cheek.
"You forgive me for the suplex over the ropes spot?" Riley says. "Why did you tell me about the match they offered you?" Mandy asks. "I told you this tonight was the last match in Japan for a while. You just can't say yes to everything," Riley says. "Well now I feel bad since I know you are a fan of that Akiyama guy," Mandy says. "Mandy Rose during our relationship you have been okay with me taking numerous trips to Japan, not gotten mad at me for making a comeback after a broken neck, took care of me after said neck injury. Come with me to AEW and a lot of other stuff. If anything I owe you at this point," Riley says. "You are right I'm the best wife ever and you are selfish," Mandy jokes before they both laugh. Riley finishes tying his shoes and grabs his bag. "So you don't want to goodbye to Japan?" Mandy asks. "I think I'll be back someday. But for now it's time to focus on AEW," Riley says. "Good point. I hear Punk is coming back soon," Mandy says. "So is Kenny and All Out," Riley says having no idea what is to come.
Been a while since I updated any of my stories. As always I am so grateful to all of you for reading. I posted this earlier but the next story I do with Mandy and Riley in the Two World timeline will be the finale for that. I've had great fun but it's time to wrap it up and find some new stories to tell. I have some ideas so don't worry.