Chapter 14
Thanks everyone I am getting some really good viewership numbers on this story so thank you for that. Also I've been added to more favorite and alert lists so thanks. And I am always grateful for reviews. You know I always think I should end the Riley Morgan series than I get an idea. I don't want to go to Jake level numbers but who knows. I also know I need to get back to Right Side of Wrong, Squad Reborn, and at some point do a third Arrow story. But for now this story is my priority.
"This mixed tag match was much better than I expected," Bryan Alvarez says. "This was a great opener. I would say its the best match and work I've seen from Mandy Rose and from Penelope Ford. I think it was Kip Sabian's best match in AEW. The guy that actually looked the worse was Riley," Dave Metlzer says. "And he wasn't that bad. Its just he seemed to want others to shine. Which is strange given he's supposed to be a title shot," Bryan says. "He is getting the title shot. That's why on the post show he had the deal with Moxley," Dave says. "Do you think he was trying give everyone a rub and thus didn't do as much?" Bryan asks. "Its possible. Or it could come down the need to get heat for Kip and Penelope so that meant it had to be Mandy in most of the match. Also he wasn't terrible. Its just we didn't see him at his best," Dave says.
And with that Riley turned off the file. He wanted to hear some thoughts on the match. He adjusted the bag of ice on his ribs. The cost of the spot landing on the guard rail. Noting broken but some nasty bruises. Still other wise he was fine. Mandy's eye was pretty black but she would be fine. Thankfully Revolution had been a fairly injury free show nothing to major. Nothing anyone should miss extended time over. Riley wasn't sure what the buy rate was going to be but he thought show had been great. But this was wrestling should could be bad should could be bad either way move on to the next one. Mandy came out of the shower wearing a robe. "All yours," Mandy says. "Thanks," Riley says as he puts his ice bag down.
"So what did Dave think?" Mandy asks. "He and Brian liked it. Really put you, Penelope, and Kip over," Riley says. "How many stars?" Mandy asks. "How may times do I have to tell you. He doesn't do ratings right after the show. I used to think it was so he could take time to think and make sure the rating fit his thoughts. Now I think he just wants to make sure people keep buying the latest issues of the Observer," Riley says. He reaches for his shower kit and than grunts in pain. "You okay?" Mandy asks getting worried. "Yeah yeah just over reached," Riley says. Mandy nods.
Riley can tell she is worried. "I think it's nice we are heading out early. We are going to have fun in Denver," he says trying to change the subject. "Yeah we will," Mandy says. "Yeah my brother will coming out as well. He loves Denver it will be fun," Riley says again before heading in to get a shower. Mandy nodded and set about packing as her phone started to ring. "Sonya hi," Mandy says. "Hi, is this a good time to talk?" Sonya asks. "Of course. Anything in particular?" Mandy asks. "Well I wanted to see how you were doing after the match. And just to catch up," Sonya says. "Sounds great to me," Mandy says sitting down. "So how did it go?" Sonya asks.
"I think it was a home run. The fans were into it. I had so much fun my biggest problem was not breaking into a big smile when I was supposed to be selling," Mandy says. "That's great. I wish I could have watched it," Sonya says. "Come on I understand. You had a show to work. I highly doubt they would have been okay with you asking for the night off to watch an AEW event. So hey I know it was juts a house show but how did your night go?" Mandy asks. Sonya let out a huff. "It went fine its just frustrating. I get moved down from Smackdown and I'm still doing jobs," Sonya says. "Sonya I understand but it has only been a week. And you know how it goes a lot of the live events are about pleasing the crowd that day not the TV story lines," Mandy says trying to be encouraging.
"I know but it feels like I got moved to NXT for no reason and with no plan," Sonya says. "Could you talk to someone? Maybe ask they explain there plans for you," Mandy suggested. "I tried that I was told they want to keep everything hush hush for now. They tried to flatter me saying it was to add star power to NXT," Sonya says. "Hey that is something," Mandy reminds her. "Yeah it's something I just I something would lead to some wins," Sonya says. "You could refuse to job," Mandy says joking. "Maybe I should," Sonya says also joking.
Meanwhile
"People can say what they want. But the facts are AEW is winning the ratings war. They are getting the key demos. WWE thought they turned a corner after Survivor Series but they haven't. We will see what adding Seth Rollins, AOP, Bud… just Murphy and Sonya Devillie does. If I had to guess not much," Bryan Alvarez says. "The simple fact is Seth Rollins or anyone really is not a long term ratings draw. Can a give a bump? For a few weeks yes. Remember when Punk debuted on Back..."
Seth shut the two morons off. "What the fuck do they know? Keep kissing Omega's ass," He thought. He knew he never should have listed to that show. Metzler and Alvarez were just to biased. They would always favor AEW no matter how shitty it was. "God they fell all over themselves to praise the main event. "It was nothing but blood and guts," Seth said thinking about what he had seen from it. "Second major show they did where Jon winds up cut up and bleeding. Its disgusting," Seth thought as he hit play again.
"...stage. First week it did a great rating. Since than we people are used seeing him on that show its not gotten close," Dave finishes. "Because now its normal. Seth being on NXT weekly will just be Seth on NXT. And a lot of people don't watch Raw because of Seth," Bryan adds.
Seth shuts it off again. "What do they know?" Seth thinks to himself. He shuts off the tablet so he wont' be tempted to start listening again. He checked his phone and saw he had an e-mail from Hunter. Finally it was something to put a smile on his face. As he looked the e-mail he did in fact smile. "Hunter this is why you are a genies," Seth thought. This was good this was very good. "So you say you want a Revolution well you know… they end poorly more often than they make any change," Seth says.
Back in Chicago
It was rare the members of The Elite got to just hang out these days. That is why Kenny insisted they do something after the pay per view. So they wound up going to Birds of Prey or Harley Quinn and the Birds of Prey or just Harley Quinn since they kept seeing different titles. "Well that was average," Cody says as they exited the theater. "I liked it," Riley says. "You like it because of your crush on Margot Robbie," Cody says. "Could have been better. But come on there been much worse," Kenny says. "I was so disappointed," Nick says. "We told you Batman wasn't in it," Riley says. "But neither was Will Smith," Nick says. "Yeah where was he?" Matt says. "It wasn't a sequel to Suicide Squad!" Cody yells.
"See that is why I hate these shared universes it makes everything so confusing," Nick says. "It wasn't that confusing I just wish Will Smith had been in it. I liked him in Suicide Squad," Matt says. "Next time I pick the movie," Nick says. "What would you have picked?" Cody asks. "I don't know what is playing?" Nick asks meekly. Kenny's phone rings and he answers and starts speaking in Japanese as he walks off for a second. Cody's phone is also going off so are Nick and Matt's. Riley and Hangman just exchange looks. "Good thing we weren't in the theater," Hangman finally says.
Cody gets off first. "Sorry that was QT he needed to double check something." Kenny is getting surprisingly animated but still speaking in Japanese. Riley could speak Japanese pretty well but not to the level Kenny could. Especially as fast as Kenny was talking. Nick is off it was his wife nothing to major. "Sorry that was Dana I need to approve some thing to go for sale next week," Matt says. Finally Kenny gets off the phone and rolls his eyes. "How bad?" Nick asks. "Yeah Kenny you is it something with imagination? Did some issue with Rihno or Shida come up?" Cody asks. "None of the above. I've been trying to get this rare game out of Japan. My friend thought he had a lead and than he lost the lead," Kenny says.
The group laughs. "Its not funny," Kenny says. That only causes them to laugh harder. "Guy you have no idea how rare this game is. It's not any of the digital consoles. It didn't have a wide release," Kenny says still upset and the guys lose it again. "All the things we have to worry about and you are chasing down video games," Cody says. "I need to unwind some how," Kenny says. "Oh yeah you are really unwound," Riley says. "Why did I suggest hanging out with you guys?" Kenny asks. "You were getting sick of hanging out with the baby oil guy," Hangman says.
Back at the Hotel
Mandy had debated doing this for weeks but finally felt she had to. The door to the room opened and there stood Jon Moxley. "Come on in," he said. "How are you after last night?" She asks. "I'm fine. Although if you see me walking around with a bandage its just… well I've already been wearing an eye patch for weeks might as well sell the cuts," Jon says. "I'm glade. How is Renee?" She asks. Jon was never the type for small talk. "Mandy you didn't come to my room to ask how Renee is. You could always text her and ask. What do you really want to ask?" Jon says. "I remember watching you in the WWE. People would tell me how different you used to be," Mandy says.
"And you never really understood what they meant until you saw me outside of the WWE," Jon says. Mandy just nods. "And now I'm about to have a number of matches with Riley," Jon says. "Am I that obvious?" Mandy asks. "You both are. You should see some of the faces he makes backstage when you are in the ring," Jon says with a laugh. "I know what you and Riley say you are planning. But how long before you two start pushing the limits? I don't need to see him taking bumps into bed of barb wire or getting stabbed with a screw driver" Mandy says. "I don't like to be in a box. Rather that is WWE's box or the hard core box," Jon says.
Mandy nods listening. "You know I remember when you and Riley first got together. I thought you two had no chance. I was more convinced of that the night of that Wrestle Kingdom. There was Riley in that match and every moment you were living way to hard. I saw how you looked when it was done and how he looked on the screen. You looked were just happy it was over. He had just had the time of his life," Jon says. "Riley took some big risks in that match," Mandy says. "Risk is part of the game," Jon says. "Risk led to Riley breaking his neck," Mandy reminds him. "That wasn't a hardcore match Mandy. I get you don't want to see him get hurt," Jon says. "I don't want him to ruin his life chasing a high to match what he got vs. Jay White," Mandy says.
"What about accepting who you married? Look Mandy I don't want to lecture you. But I remember one time Riley and I were bunking together on the road. I go to bed as he is watching old New Japan matches on his little portable DVD player. I get up he's still watching them. Mandy he is in America for two reasons. His friends and you. And if not for you I think he would have stayed in New Japan," Jon says. "Odds are you are right," Mandy says. "Mandy let Riley be Riley. His neck was a freak injury. You efforts to protect are going to drive you crazy and tick him off," Jon says.
"I just worry that one bad moment will happen again," Mandy admits. "Than make him retire. Because Mandy he could hurt his neck doing rolls doing a chain," Jon says. "Yeah he could. I don't know what is going on with me since I found out you and he were going to feud," Mandy says. "Likely the same thing that went on with Renee last night. See she watch the show. Saw how much I happened to bleed and found out a I have pretty bad bruise and felt some pain my shoulder. I made a joke how she won't have to worry since Riley will likely just give me a concussion. And than over the phone she went off on me," Jon says.
"She did?" Mandy asks. She had known Renee a long time and never seen her get mad. "Yeah big time. Called me a jerk, called me thoughtless and irresponsible. Spouses worry. But at the end day Renee know who I am. She know I won't be happy dialing it back," Jon says. "Riley won't be happy either," Mandy finishes. "No he won't. And if he did he's not the guy you married. Think about that might when he wrestled White. When it was over what did you think?" Mandy takes a deep breath and thinks.
"Once I knew he was okay I was thrilled for him. Hell I could see this look in his eyes this intense joy. Riley's told me a million times he didn't grow up wanting to be a WWE superstar. It was New Japan, All Japan, NOAH, Indy wrestling that drove him. Jon wow thanks you gave me a lot to think about," Mandy says. "In college I studied to be a marriage consolier," Jon says. "You wen to college?" Mandy asks. "No its a rib," Jon says. They both laugh. "Hey are you and Renee going to be okay?" Mandy asks. "Yeah we will be fine. She said what she needed to say. I know made it clear I was fine," Jon says.
Mandy leaves and heads back to the floor with her room. As she rounds the corner she sees Riley at the door checking his pockets trying to find a key. "Again?" She says mocking him as she approaches the room. He had a terrible habit of forgetting his hotel key. "Yes again," Riley says. She uses her key to open the door. They go into the room and Mandy throws her arms around him and kisses him. "That was nice," he says once they break apart. "I just wanted to remind you how much I love you," She says. "I never doubt it," Riley says. "So hey I was thinking these matches with Moxley what is my role going to be?" She asks with a smile. "Well I've been thinking..." Mandy smiles listening to his ideas. This is the man she fell in love with and married.
WWE Raw Taping
"You seem like you are in a good mood," Murphy says seeing Seth in the locker room. "I am in a great mood. You know why?" Seth asks. "You found out for sure what we are doing are doing at WrestleMania?" Murphy says. "Better," Seth claims. "Better than the biggest show of the year and the biggest payday of it," Murphy says skeptical of the claim. "Its the biggest payday of the year. But it's one payday. I got news that helps everyone's paydays," Seth says. "I get it. A new contract big raise right. Something that is going to up the everyone's downsides," Murphy says. "Better. Man its over the war is over," Seth says getting up and laughing. "What?" Murphy asks. "Its over man. So many people chose wrong," Seth says.
"If you mean AEW they just got that huge pick up. I mean they aren't going anywhere. Hell they are getting a second show on TV," Murphy says. "So what? TV deals end all the time early. Man Hunter is about to show the world just how smart he is," Seth brags as he walks off to get changed. "Seth what do you mean?" Murphy asks getting up. "You will learn soon enough. We have another big match with Kevin Owens and Samoa Joe tonight. But I will say I bet even my old buddy who just won that worthless title will be begging to come back home," Seth brags. All Murphy can wonder is how did this guy get to be so damn mental.