The Outlaw Rides Again
Kenny Omega's actions towards Impact Wrestling wind up causing a long retired Jake Reed to return to the ring.
So outside of that Christmas story I did last year I really never intended to do another Jake Reed story. And I have really enjoyed doing the Riley Morgan stories. But than AEW and Impact Wrestling started there cross over and an idea hit. So for better or worse Jake Reed is back.
It was the night of Hard to Kill and the wrestling world was on the edge of its seat. It was something never truly seen in the United States before happening. Kenny Omega the world champion of All Elite Wrestling would be wrestling on the show. And I'm outside freezing my damn ass off. My name is Jake Reed and once a long time ago I was a wrestler today I'm a guy holding a microphone. Okay sure there is more for example I'm a father of two Hope and JJ. Madison Rayne and I are now happily married. Plus I do usually enjoy doing commentary. Hell the last few months doing it was Madison has been great if only we could get rid of Josh. "When this guy showing up?" The camera guy Walt asks. We are out in the parking lot waiting for Kenny Omega's bus to arrive. I check my watch. "Walt the pre show hasn't even started yet. Don't start complaining yet," I tell him.
"I'm cold. I don't get why want a shot of this guy arriving," Walt complained. "Walk you seen the viewership? This guy as you call him is the big selling point for the whole event," I tell him. Walt still grumbled under his breath. Five minutes later I can see Omega's bus. "Let's go," I say. Walt gets his camera ready and I start. "Jake Reed here for Impact Wrestling it is Hard to Kill tonight live on pay per view. The main event the match the world is talking about. The Impact Wresting World Champion Rich Swann teams with the Motor City Machine Guns Chris Sabin and Alex Shelley. They will face The Good Brothers of the Machine Gun Karl Anderson, the Big LG Doc Gallows and the man you see arriving now the AEW World champion Kenny Omega," I say as Walt get a shot of the bus arriving over my shoulder. I've gotten pretty good at blocking out the things going around me when I am doing an on camera but I can't help but see the door to the side opening. "I don't give a damn what your list says," I hear Rich Swann yelling.
The Impact before Hard to Kill had ended with Omega and the Good Brothers laying Rich again before Kenny picked up the Impact world title to toss it into on the fallen champion. "Rich easy man," I say but he ignores me. Going up to the now parked bus he pounds on it. "Come on out champ!" Rich yells. I try to warn him but I'm to late as Gallows and Anderson run up form behind him and attack him. Suddenly Gallows pick Rich up like he is look for a power bomb. I haven't gotten involved in a fight or brawl since I retired. But I can't hold back this time. "NO!" I yell as I pull Rich away. For a second the Good Brothers look at me in shock. "That is to damn far Gallows! Leave it for the ring," I say. Rich is dazed or hurt so I turn to take him into the building turning around just in time to see Omega's knee heading into my face. I go down hard. "Finish him off!" Omega orders just before Gallows picks up Rich and tosses him head first into the side of the bus. "Who let the washed the retiree out here?" Don Callis asks as he steps over me.
Trainer's Room
"What the hell were you thinking?" Madison asks as I move my jaw trying to see if its broken. Rich was badly hurt and from what I could tell the doctor didn't want to move him. Some guys had helped me back here. Madison had been asking the same thing ever since she walked in. "I didn't want Gallows to kill Rich," I say knowing how badly I failed. "Look I like Rich. But Rich is the world champion he can take of himself. You have a bad back and are announcer," Madison says. I take her hand. "Madison I'm going to be fine. I might need to eat soup only for a while," I joke. She isn't laughing. I take a deep breath. "Queen Bee, I'm fine. they never even touched my back," I claim. "Just next time go get security or something," she says before hugging me.
We hear the door opening. I'm expecting to see the doctor enter. Instead it was Scott D'Amore. Its not going to be a good night. Scott already looks exhausted. When Don Callis first brought Omega to Impact Wrestling, Scott was willing to along with it. After all the viewership and press coverage was huge the most we had in years. More and more though Omega, The Good Brothers and Callis were out of control. "Jake are you okay?" He asks. "He would have been better is security did there job?" Madison says. "Give me a break Madison. I have a pay per view about to start and I just lost my main event," Scott complains. "Rich that badly hurt?" I asks. "Oh yeah he's done. Now I need to find a replacement. So Madison I get you are mad but you need to get to the commentary table and Jake I need not to get into fight with the active wrestlers," Scott complains before leaving.
During Hard to Kill
As if my night couldn't get any worse I'm now interviewing Moose. The so called TNA champion was bragging how he was at the show and Rich Swann wasn't. "Now I am willing to wrestle twice. But nothing in this world is for free. If the true world champion is going to stand up this company that that fake title off Rich Swann and hand it to me!" Moose yells. "Moose don't you think you should focus on your match with..." "Easy there Reed. You already got your ass kicked once tonight. You don't need it happen again," Moose says before walking off to have his match. "Ignore him Reed," Chris Sabin says as he walks up to me once the camera is off. "Easier said than done," I reply. Alex Shelley shows up. "Any luck Chris?" "Everyone either wants something, is someone I can't trust, or wants to wait until after there match to commit," Chris says. "Same with me," Alex replies. The Guns were still trying to find someone to fill in for Rich.
"Jake you don't have your old boots?" Chris asks. "Hardy har har guys. I 'm long retired," is my response. "Yeah but both Chris and I retired a few times. Come on Jake time to Terry Funk it," Alex says. "Are you sure. I mean in the old days this is when you play hero," Sabin reminds me. Than we hear the laughing. "Machine Gun did you hear that?" Gallows says between laughs. "Oh I did big man. Think about it. There answer to face The Cleaner, The Best Bought Machine is old man Reed, The never was," Anderson taunts even going to pay me on the hand. I gram his hand and shove it away. "You feeling frogy?" Anderson asks before he and Gallows walk off.
Out at Commentary
Madison was with Don Callis and Josh. "What the hell is your husband thinking putting his hands on on the Good Brothers twice tonight?" Don asks. "Why are the Good Brother putting there hands on Jake?" Madison asks. "Hold on Madison do you think does it?" Josh asks. "Does what?" "Take Rich Swann's spot?" Josh asks. "Are you trying to tick me off Josh? Jake is retired!" Madison snaps. With that Josh tosses to the hype package for the Knockouts title match which is up next.
Later that Night
Kenny Omega and the Good Brother were already in the ring. Don Callis was in the middle of voicing his disgust at the real world champion entering first. Most of the talent was at a monitor watching it. It was the old curtain sellout. But I was so pissed I just wanted to be alone. So I found a great place to watch alone. It was actually Don and Scott's office. Scott was producing the show and Don was doing commentary. "They are walking into a massacre but that is more on Rich Swann for being an idiot," Don says on commentary. The door opens and in walks Tommy Dreamer. So much for being alone but hey Tommy is a good guy.
"Main event about to start?" Tommy asks. "Yeah," I say simply. "You know Jake, you and I are a lot a like We both never dressed up much, we both stand up for what is right even if it costs us. And we both think Omega and Callis need to shut up," Tommy says. "I'm retired Tommy," I say. "I know but I can see it man you are seething. And I can see it in our eyes you want to go out there and if you don't you will regret it. Especially if the Bullet Club wins," Tommy says.
Back in the arena
Omega and Good Brothers let the Guns get there full entrance in. They felt like playing with there pray. "This is foolish the Guns needed to find a partner," Madison says just as Jake's music plays. "What the hell?" Don yells in shock. "Is he really going to do this?" Josh asks. "He can't do this he isn't this stupid," Don claims as Jake steps out on the ramp. "Madison Rayne I demand get control of your man!" Don screamed in full freak out mode. Jake just stands at the ramp with everyone staring at him. Suddenly Jake charges at the ring and runs right past Sabin and Shelley.
Jake slides into the ring and goes right after Omega. Kenny bails out followed by the Good Brothers. Kenny turns to Don to ask him to do something but Jake has climbed to the top rope and dived off. "He's lost his mind," Don says. The Guns grab onto The Good Brothers and toss them into the ring leaving Jake with Kenny. Jake hammers at Kenny with strikes as Kenny gets back to his feet. Sabin gets Gallows out of the ring leaving just Anderson and Shelley in the ring. The referee calls for the bell. "You freaking idiot!" Calls says about the referee. Kenny knows he got to do something so he tackles Jake into the guard rail. "Jake hit his bad back on that," Josh says. Kenny gets up and gets onto the apron of the ring. Jake drops to the ground holding his back.
Madison gets up and goes to Jake who is struggling to get up. "What are you doing? Stay down," She pleads. "I am okay," Jake says through gritted teeth. Back in the ring the The Guns have control until Gallows lands a boot to the back of Sabin to take control. Jake manages to get up to the apron just in time for Omega to knock both he and Shelley to the floor. Back in the ring Omega takes over on Sabin hitting the snap dragon the Doctor Wiley bomb as well as doing the you can't escape. Sabin manages to kick out yet he's clearly in a bad state. Gallows tags in but Sabin is able to hit an enziguri. Sabin goes for a tag but Jake and Shelley are still down. Shelley is almost back up but Gallows has rec covered and pulls Sabin away and hits a side walk slam.
Shoulder breaker by Gallows and than he taunts Shelley drawing him into the ring. But this causes the referee to stop Shelley so Anderson can jump in for a quick double team suplex. Anderson than tags in legally and just stomps on Shelley. "You can see it the work of a well oiled machine. Quick tags keeping all three men fresh," Don Callis praises on commentary. Omega tags in and has The Good Brothers hold Sabin for the V Trigger. Sabin goes down hard. Omega goes over to the corner and pie faces Jake drawing him into the ring. The referee holds him back a triple team on Sabin. Madison is back on commentary at this point and says of Jake, "he is not thinking."
It gets back down to one on one in the ring. Kenny Omega has Sabin hung in the corner looking for the V Trigger to the back of the head. Jake at the last second pulls Sabin out of the way and Omega's knee hits the turnbuckle hard. Hot tag to Shelley. Omega tags back in Anderson but Shelley is the house of fire hitting a series of big moves on Anderson even hitting sliced bread number two on him. Gallows comes in with no tag but eats a super kick from Shelley. Omega has recovered comes in and lays out Shelley with the Tiger Driver 98 also called the Jay Driller. "Just like that Kenny Omega turns the tide back to his team. On the outside The Good Brothers pull Jake and Sabin off the apron. "Magic Killer on the floor," Josh calls as they hit the move on Sabin.
"It might be down to the returning Jake Reed," Josh says. "Josh facts are facts. Once upon a time Jake Reed was a great wrestler. But now he's a washed up wrestler who stupidly jumped into a match against three world champions. Reed has no chance," Don claims. Shelley has barley moved and trainers have come out to take Sabin to the back. Omega picks up Shelley and tosses Sabin across the ring. "Come on Jake tag in," Omega taunts. Jake tags and climbs into the ring. Jake gets right in Omega's face. "Hit me come on Omaha Outlaw," Omega taunts. Jake turns around like he's lost his nerve. "I knew it he's turning chicken," Kenny yells turning to the Anderson and Gallows who are back in the corner even do a little win flap motion. When Kenny turns back around Jake grabs him and hits an overhead belly to belly suplex.
Omega yells in pain as he stands up he swing wildly looking for a clothesline. Jake ducks under it comes back and hits the ropes. "Leaping lariat!" Josh yells. Jake kips up. "I don't believe this," Madison says happily. Anderson comes into the ring and right into a hip toss. Gallows comes in but takes an implant DDT for his troubles. "What is going on?" Don asks. Out of no where Omega hits the Kitarou Krusher and covers out of desperation. Count of one count of two Jake kicks out. Omega picks Jake up and hits the you can't escape Finlay Roll and Moonsault combo. "Finish him off Gunner," Omega yells before tagging in Anderson.
Back breaker by Anderson than into a Boston Crab. "He tapped out," Don claims. "He did not!" Josh yells right back. Jake reaches the ropes. Anderson doesn't miss a beat and give him a scoop power slam. "Tag me in Good Brother!" Gallows calls offering his hand. Anderson does just that. "Foot of Doom by the Good Brothers," Josh calls. Corner splash in the corner by Gallows and he covers count of one count of two Jake kicks out. Tag back to Anderson. "Not the magic killer," Madison says. But Shelley has recovered and hits a missile dropkick sending Gallows over the top to the floor. Inside cradle by Jake count of of one count of two, Omega breaks it up. Kenny looks for another V trigger but Jake moves instead the referee gets hit. "Don where are you going," Josh asks.
Callis gets up and grabs the AEW title and passes it to Omega. Jake is fighting with Anderson while Gallows has tossed Shelley into the ring post. Jake hits a big roundhouse kick on Anderson laying him out. Jake turns and around and right into a belt shot by Omega. Wasting no time Omega pick Jake up and hits the one winged angle and covers. The referee is back up count of one count of two count of three.
