Chapter 4

So I was asked if Riley Morgan was going to be in this story. The answer is well no. Although there is a joke Jake makes that kind of involves Riley. The main reason is the Jake Reed stories are set in a kayfab world where wrestling is real. While the Riley Morgan stories the wrestling is fake and real drama comes from Mandy and Riley's relationship. Plus if I want to get another AEW or Elite guy in the story I got tons of options. So for now Jake and Riley are in separate worlds.

I rolled down my window as the guy working security approached me. "Can I get your name sir?" He asks looking down at a clip board. "Ah yeah Jake Reed," I say. I see him flip the page clearly going for the R's. "Sir this is a talent only entrace," He says clearly my name isn't on the list. I heard a story once about something like this happening to Ric Flair and he just drove through a barriacee and got away with it. Well he was Ric Flair. As trolls on the internet tell me I'm no Ric Flair. Instead I try this. "Yeah I was kind of last second booking. Could you maybe radio in?" I ask nicely. The guy does it even though he's clearly annoyed about having to do it. The guy hops and radio and four minute later QT Marshall is outside looking at me in my rental car. "Hey QT long time no see," I greet him. "You actually came," he says in shock. "Well I was invited. You mind letting me in I am wasting gas," I say.

Eventually I'm let in. A camera is crew scrambling to get get ready to film me. QT tells me I have to rapid tested for COVID. Thankfully I'm negative. By now the show was just second away from go live and Alex Marvez was outside. "Fans we have breaking news as AEW Dynamite comes on the air. Jake Reed the Omaha Outlaw from Impact Wrestling is here. But Jake why?" Marvez says. I give him a look. "Well I was invited. I mean you are worrying me. Is this Tony Khan guy the type to not mean an offer. Please tell me he's not the guy that goes let get something to eat my treat only to get mad when the bill comes and don't offer to pay your half," I say. "Jake you work for Impact Wrestling," Alex says. "So does Don Callis hasn't stopped him from showing up. And Omega keeps showing up on Impact which is what started this whole thing," I point out.

"What are you going to do?" Alex asks. "Listen to me man. One thing I have never been predictable. Maybe I'm here to just watch wrestling. Maybe I here to say hello to old friends like Sting. Or maybe I want to see the so called greatest wrestler in the world Kenny Omega. Than again maybe I'm hear to meet Jim Ross never meet him before. Now come on the show is starting I got to find a seat," I say before walking off toward the ringside area. I head down the ramp FTR drove there truck down for a while. Everyone has turned to look at me. During this pandemic AEW has had wrestlers on two sides. One side is the fan favorites the other side the rule breakers. Me I wind up sitting in the middle.

The first match finally makes it way to the ring its Hangman Page taking on Jake Hager. Of course Hager isn't alone he's out with the rest of the Inner Circle. I get a few sideways looks but when the Dark Order comes out that draws Jericho and Company's attention. I don't get to watch much wrestling as a fan anymore so its actually kind of fun to just watch a show. Its finally just around the start of the second segment that Omega comes out with Callis behind him. Omega is in a suit with his sunglasses and as always he's got the AEW title on his shoulder. They both stop on the ramp and suddenly a group of four security guards comes out and walk over to me. The stand in front of me. By now the "family" has gotten in the. "He does anything I want him out of there," Callis declares over the microphone.

"You go the wrong guy, Austin Gunn is over them," I joke. "Watch him like a hawk. Do not let him over that guardrail," Omega says to the guards. "You guys know my third cousin Riley he was a cop in New York?" I ask. Callis has taken the microphone back. "Once again the invisible hand has guided the fate of the wrestling world. As you can see my latest little puppet Riley Morgan is right there," Callis claims. "And what an historic moment the an Impact Wrestling star wait they don't have stars a guy that used to wrestle for Impact Wrestling is here," Kenny taunts. I just listen not like have many options given I don't have a microphone.

"But Jake I'm sorry you missed out on the chance to make history. See you aren't the first Impact Wrestling talent to appear. See Don was first. And I say these two tied for second," Kenny says. I look over to my left and there is Gallows and sure enough on my right is Anderson. Both close in slowly holding chairs. The guards aren't moving out of the way and the section behind me has a tap over the seats making climbing over them tough. Escaping is out that means I am going to have to fight. I scoop up my own chair and toss it at Anderson than I charge at Gallows and kick his chair into his face. I feel someone grab me from behind but I side step and pull of a judo toss. Anderson hits the ground in front of me.

Gallows checks on his partner and this let me round house kick him in the head. Suddenly a different set of guards along with referees and AEW officials come out and separate us. BJ Whitmer and Jerry Lynn lead me toward a break in the guard rail and actually take into the ringside area. "Come on Riley man give me a break don't fight us," Jerry says. "Sorry Jerry," I say before breaking away and getting into the ring Omega sees me coming and tries to lay be out with the belt but he misses. I kick him in the gut and get him up on my shoulders. I haven't hit a Death Valley Driver in so long and I'm so ready to do this to Omega. But at the last second Callis pulls Omega away and to safety. I pick up the microphone. "Hey Kenny you wanted the Omaha Outlaw well you got him!"

Later that night

They had taken me to me some security office I assume this where the take guys that misbehave during the NFL games. "Can I leave yet?" I ask one of the guards. "Look pal you are basically in jail right now," The guy claims. "Dude I've been to jail. This is not jail and look I've done much worse on a wrestling show before," I say. "Well you are not getting out until the show is over," The guard claims. The phone on his desk starts to ring. "That might be the Governor you should answer," I say. The guy picks up the phone. "Security…. Yes he's here… Don't worry I won't let him out of my… Let him go? But sir…Yes sir I will," The guy hangs up the phone on his desk.

"You are free to go sir. Someone is coming down to met you," The guy says to me suddenly a little less authority. A few seconds later the door open and in walks Cody Rhodes. "Walk with me Reed," he says. "I don't know Cody. I've been locked up in the big house so long. Are you sure I can adjust to life on the outside?" I mockingly ask as I leave. Cody doesn't seem so amused. "Jake why are you here?" He finally asks me. "I know you are pretty busy with EVP thing, being a wrestler, dealing with Shaq on top of that and becoming a father. But surely you heard about Omega drilling me in the head a few times. So that is why I'm here," I say. "Jake you aren't the only one that wants to his shots in on Kenny hell he's driving us all crazy lately. But you aren't safe here. Sooner or later someone is going to try to make there rep but going after you first," Cody tells me. "I'm used to taking care of myself," I remind him.

"Maybe Impact is willing to let you get crippled but I'm not," Cody says. "Look man I get the concern. But we are to far down the path to turn back. Omega and I are going to colloid," I say. "So there is nothing I can say to convince you to walk away and to back to Orlando?" "Well Nashville and no." Cody takes a deep breath. "In that case Tony Khan told you are welcome to head to the ring and cut any promo you want," Cody says. That shocks me. "Come on man we don't have much time," Cody tells me.

I head for the ring. "Riley show is in break you will get the cue when we are back," Tony Khan tells me. I head to the ring get a microphone. As I wait I can hear some fans up in the cheap sets yelling "FUCK TNA!" Finally I get my cue. "I know a lot of fans want this to be AEW vs. Impact. But guys I'm a huge AEW fan. True story I love watching Dynamite every single week," that draws some cheers. I take a second to let my words sink in. "I'm not here to represent Impact Wrestling. I am here because I could only get hit in the head so many times. See when I jumped into a wrestling ring for the first time since I retried it wasn't planned. And I thought that would be it. Hell Kenny you had made it clear you were going after Rich Swann..."

"Hey Reed up here!" I hear Don Callis says. I turn to big screen and see Don with Kenny and the Good Brothers. "You can't play the victim card. You got in the ring. You dared to touch the wrestling god," Callis reminds me. "Your right Don I did. Although when I did that I was bit dazed because oh yeah he hit me in the head that night. But anyway getting back to my point. Kenny you brought some time you couldn't get a tryout when I was world champion. You said something about wanting to prove what a mistake that was," I remind him. Kenny looks at his friends. "So Jake are you accepting my challenge?" Kenny finally asks. Madison once told me I had this smirk I used to do. I was never aware I did it. But according her the word backstage was when I did that smirk everyone should be worried. I am pretty sure I am doing that smirk now.

"Kenny like I said earlier you want the Outlaw you are getting the Outlaw. And that is the most dangerous thing you can get. See for years and years I've had to hold this dark part of my soul this black piece of my heart down. See Kenny you aren't the first person to attack you aren't the first person to bust me open! But you know what you are Kenny? You are my last chance! My last chance to get all this out. Kenny I may not beat you in a match. But I know I am going to hurt you!" I feel a warm trickle of liquid on my face. It dawns on me I gotten so worked up I had myself in the face and busted myself open. I can also see I've freaked the Winnipeg Mafia out. Finally Callis speaks. "Enough talk go get him." Gallows and Anderson go to move but Kenny holds up his hands. "No let me." He says and start to walk. I can see Omega take off his jacket and remove his shirt. I take off my own jacket and shirt before I hop out of the ring. I'm going to cut Omega off on the ramp. As I near commentary I swear I can hear Jim Rose saying "business is gonna pick up."