Chapter 19
It didn't take long for word of Seth's promo to reach backstage at Dynamite. Reaction was pretty mixed. Tony Khan did call the vice presidents into a meeting which caused a minor stir although the truth was TNT had raised an objection to something they had banned for Blood and Guts and he wanted to see what options they had. Riley checked his face in the locker room mirror. When Moxley hit him with the belt an edge cutting him. He wound needing two stitches. "Had much worse," Riley thinks. "Ready to go?" Mandy asks. Riley just nods. "So have you seen Seth's promo yet?" Riley asks her. "Yeah I watched it. Its shocking hear your and the guy's names on a WWE broadcast," Mandy says. "And?" Riley can tell something else is going on. "He brought up you punching Roman in a parking lot," Mandy says. Riley smirks remembering that.
"Riley you got a kick out of doing that for me it was embarrassing," Mandy says. "Come on you don't work there anymore," Riley says. "It still bothers me," Mandy says. Riley takes her hand. "I know it does. But it was a long time ago. Its kind of amazing the story took this long to get out. If you want I will address it. I'll admit it was my mistake and apologize," Riley says. "I know you would. I just wish it didn't have to come up. I can't believe Seth would be given clearance to bring it up," Mandy says. "You know that company a lot better than I do. But fact of wrestling is main events guys get more rope usually. And well they are looking to pop a rating. Same reason they had Charlotte challenge Rhea Ripley. Same reason Rollins is on NXT to begin with," Riley notes
By now they have reached the exit. There are some fans waiting. They stop to sign autographs and take photos with fans. That adds another half hour to there trip to the car. "Hey Riley what are you guys going to do about Seth?" A fan asks. "Sorry to disappoint you pal but I got more important thing to worry about than Seth Rollins," Riley says. "Dude he called you guys out," The fans reminds Riley. "Free advertising," Mandy chimes in. Finally they reach there rental car. "Hey Riley who did you punch?" Someone calls out as he loads there bags into the car. They ignore it get in and than drive off.
Back in the Arena
Moxley was still trying to get packed up although he was no real hurry. In fact he hopped he stalled enough the post show crowd had thinned. "You almost ready?" Renee asked not looking up from her phone. "Just about," He said. She didn't come to many shows these days but she tried to make time. She was the main reason he was taking his time. He was okay with signing a few autographs maybe a few photos but he didn't want a bunch photos of her and people speculating she was leaving the WWE. Or people asking her a bunch of questions about her contract and stuff like this. Renee put her phone down and stood up to stretched. "Alright I'm…. Going to answer that," John says as his phone goes off. He looks down and sees it's Seth. "Never mind."
Full Sale Locker Room
"You know what to do," Jon's voice mail message played. "Jon come on call me was a good night. We should be celebrating. We both have titles. Look brother I know things have been tense lately. But come on pick up the phone lets talk," Seth says into the phone. He puts his cell down and heads for the shower. He had bee taking new promo shots with the NXT title and doing a interview for the WWE you tube channel. Once he is out he can see he's got a text. Seth read the text and tossed his phone into his bag pissed off. A second later he pulls the phone out and reads the message again. "Look man I don't feel like talking. I don't need to hear you trash the company I enjoy working for. And I sure as hell don't need to hear how AEW is doomed. Let me enjoy holding a world title." It reads. "Guy has gone blind," Seth thinks.
The Next Day
"Mom it was all part of the show... Riley didn't really shove me that hard. Its a story mom Riley is playing a character. Its like when I did that stuff with the married couple when I was in the WWE," Mandy says into her phone. Riley just laughs. Her mom and dad had seen last night's show and weren't happy with him. Mandy's were ultra protective of there little girl. Mandy shot him a look. "Look mom I'm fine and Riley can't wait to see you and dad next week," Mandy says. She talks a bit more and the call ends. "So am I going to be allowed in the house?" Riley asks. "Yes of course but dad is going to interrogate you," Mandy warns him. "Well Tony always does. I am just waiting for him to get a lie detector so we can go full on Meet the Parents," Riley says.
"Well had you shoved me down he would have gone full that Jackie Chan movie you made me watch last week," Mandy says. "The Foreigner. And it was my turn to pick the Netflix stream and you used your once a year veto on F1 Drive to Survive," Riley reminds his wife. "Yeah well I get to pick next time. And you know what they are uploading this weekend?" Mandy asks. "No what?" "I don't know but I am going to find something you are going to hate," She taunts. "Can't be any worse than..." "When I made you sit through Harry Potter... See we are turning into an old married couple," Mandy says.
There is a knock on the door. "Must be Kenny," Riley says since they were expecting him. Sure enough Kenny is at the door of the hotel room. "I come baring gifts," Kenny says holding bags of food and tray with drinks. "My hero," Riley says taking a big and pulling out a breakfast sandwich. "His diet Kenny," Mandy says somewhat annoyed. "But taste these," Kenny says offering one to her. "Okay that is really good," Mandy says after taking a bite. They sit at a table. Kenny wants to go over some stuff with Mandy and her feud with Britt Baker. "So unless things change you and Britt are wrestling next week on Dynamite. Now I was thinking maybe have her take you out with an injury. Maybe do the same stuff with did with Yuka where it looks like Britt broke one of your teeth," Kenny says. "That makes me nervous. I love Britt and trust her. But I remember cracking a tooth when I started in NXT. One of the worse pains I have ever felt," Mandy recalls.
"It will be fine. Yuka told me the worst part was the taste of the fake blood. Her actual teeth were never in any real danger," Kenny promises her. "How long would I be out?" Mandy asks. "I think just a week. Timing works out well as it gives an explanation for you not being there when Riley challenges for the belt," Kenny says. "Why wouldn't I be there?" Mandy asks. "I am leaving that to you to explain pal," Kenny says to Riley who still eating. "Well you see babe… I ah… Moxley is always alone so I think for the fist match I should be alone. Push the whole two guys trying to prove who is tougher thing," Riley says. "You still aren't doing a hardcore?" Mandy asks. "Honey don't start that again... Sorry I shouldn't have said it like that. Its not hard core. Hell with Blood and Guts Mox and would be stupid to go that route. And come on you will be backstage anyway. This is not me using Kenny to do an end round," Riley says. "I wouldn't let him," Kenny adds. "I know. I just worry," Mandy says. "Hey I'm worried about the whole teeth thing," Riley says. There is a knock on the door its Britt who comes in. Kenny and Mandy catch her up on what they have already discussed. "So who would go over?" Britt asks. "Okay so for the first match I am thinking DQ win for Mandy. We don't a lot of disqualifications but here it would work. I think the match should be Britt you are way to cocky early on. Mandy makes her come back. Birtt your now pissed we do the spot DQ," Kenny says. "How does Britt get control?" Riley asks. "We can figure that out," Mandy says.
Just as the mini meeting is breaking up Kenny's phone goes off. "Another ratings win. Same old story we get the key demos. Overall viewership is down but not that big," Kenny says. "Okay so good news," Riley says. "What did NXT do?" Britt asks. "Down from last week," Kenny says handing her the phone so she can see the numbers. "So much for Seth's big plan," Riley taunts with a big smile.
Being the Elite
A clearly upset Mandy is backstage. "Mandy wait," Riley says running trying to catch up to her. Mandy stops and turns around to face him her face hard and angry. "I am so sorry about what happened out there," He tells her. "What happened out there? I have never seen you act like this?" Mandy asks. "I'm sorry," He says again. Suddenly Nick and Matt walking into the shot. "Riley what the hell was that?" Nick yells. "Bad enough the crazy shit a few weeks ago, than mocking us once we leave the room. Now you are out there shoving you wife?" Matt says getting in Riley's face. "Explain yourself," Nick demands. "Guys hold on I'm fine," Mandy assures them seeing things are getting tense.
"That doesn't make it okay," Matt says still in Riley face. "Hey I made a mistake. I'm trying to talk to my wife about it. I don't need you two my friends jumping all over me. I got a the biggest match… the toughest match of my life coming up. I got laid out in the middle of the ring. I made a huge mistake but for god's sake back off," Riley rants as he storms off. The other three exchange looks. "I really don't like where this is going. I have never seen him like this," Nick finally tells the others. Matt just nods as he exits through a door off to the side. Nick soon follows his brother leaving Mandy alone. She looks like she's about to after Riley but than turns and walks off the other way.
Mandy and Riley's Home Days Later
"You have been asking what I wanted for the birthday," Riley says. "I thought you would say something like a new leather jacket or going to a concert. Not some special controller so you can play race car video games," Mandy says as she looks at the photo Riley pulled up on his phone. "Its called I-racing. And its safer and cheaper than buying me an actual race car," Riley says. Mandy is about to respond but draws a blank. Riley just laughs. "I'm not thinking about a full on simulator. Just a steering wheel and some pedals I can put on the PC. You are the one saying I need a hobby outside of wrestling," Riley says. "Can you get a hobby that allows you to spend more time with me?" Mandy asks.
Suddenly there is a loud knocking at the door. "I'm getting rid of the welcome mat for one the reads go the fuck away," Riley says. "Maybe its one of the neighbors," Mandy points out. Since they are already on the ground floor Riley doesn't bother checking the cameras instead he just uses the peep hole. "Who is it Mandy asks. Riley turns to his wife with a stunned face. "As God as my witness its Seth Freaking Rollins," Riley says confused. "No really who is it?" Mandy asks not believing him. More knocking. Riley opens the door and sure enough Seth is standing there. "Took you two long enough. Was starting to think you weren't home. Well aren't you going to invite me?" Seth says.
"I think you have the wrong house Rollins," Riley responded coldly. "You really need to drop the tough guy act Morgan," Seth warns. "Or what jackass? You are going to go on Twitter and rant about me or Mandy?" Riley taunts. "Riley calm down," Mandy says visions of her husband punching Seth in the face playing in her head. "Look Morgan you need to control that hair trigger of yours. How many times does it have to bite you in the ass?" Seth taunts. "What the hell do you even want Rollins?" Mandy says annoyed. "Can't I visit some old friends?" Seth asks. "I'm going to slam the door," Riley declares. Seth holds up his hand to block Riley from doing that. "Look I've come to make peace. May I come in?" Seth says. Mandy and Riley exchange a look and than both say, "no." "What ever you have to say say it out here," Riley finishes.
"Look Morgan that temper is why you never made it…" "To the big leagues. Except Seth I made it to New Japan. I am on a weekly show on TNT. And I actually got a pretty huge offer to work for the so called big leagues and I turned it down. But let me guess to you that just means me and my friends are to scared. Go post all the crap on your twitter," Riley says. "Its not crap Morgan. Its all facts. And the truth is you know it and worst of all you wrecked her career," Seth yells pointing at Mandy. "Are you done?" Mandy asks starting to get really mad. She always hated when assumed Riley made the choice for her to leave WWE and come to AEW. He had suggested it when her deal was coming up he didn't order her around. "AEW is a titanic Mandy. Than again you were never known for your brains Mandy," Seth says.
Riley fist balls up he is about so cave in Seth's nose. "Or maybe hitting your head after that one WrestleMania did some real damage," Seth says. Riley remembers that. It was the fall out from him punching Roman. Riley unballs his fist. "Go away Rollins. I don't know if this is some crazy pitch to get us to join the WWE. Or if you believe you can actually will the end of AEW into existence. But you need to leave," Mandy says. "I see the real issue... Morgan you are still just that scared kid that failed in ROH. You needed the Bucks and Kenny to get you into New Japan and back into ROH. Who would have have been without the Bullet Club?" Seth taunts. "I don't care Seth. I got to be a pro wrestler doing the kind of matches I like to do. I married a beautiful woman. Being the the kid who needs my friends worked out pretty well," Riley says seething.
"See you around Morgan," Seth says walking away. Mandy shuts the door before Riley decides to chase after Seth. Riley sits on the steps looking like he's just gone ten rounds in a boxing ring. "What the hell was that?" He finally says. Mandy sits next to him. "I was going to ask you that? I mean that almost came off like something for a story line. Thank your for not hitting him," Mandy says. "I was tempted. Its just when he brought you getting hurt that one time got me to pull back," Riley says getting up and looking out the window. "I think he's gone." "Good."
Seth and Becky's Place
"I thought you were going to go hang out with Charlotte after you were done at the gym," Seth says walking into his house and seeing Becky waiting for him. "I was but Charlotte called asked if she borrow one of my tops I swung home to pick it up," Becky says her tone saying there is something more going on. "Are you okay?" Seth asks. Becky gives him an icy look. "Seth you left the drawer open on my night stand just a crack. I know you think its just a drawer but I know what does where. Its pretty clear you went through my address book. I want to know why," Becky says. "Okay I'm not trying to be sarcastic when I say this... I needed an address," Seth tells her. "Whose?" "What?" "Whose address did you need Seth?"
He mumbles his response. "Damn it Seth Rollins don't make me behave like your bloody mother," Becky snaps. "Mandy Rose," Seth admits. "Seth why? You and Mandy were never close. I am pretty sure her hubby hates you," Becky rants. "I went over to try and work things out," Seth claims. "Work what out? Did you hit your head? Jon was your friend not Riley Morgan," Becky yells. "I am just sick of hearing about AEW or all the unfunny jokes Morgan and group of friends make about WWE. Its my company its my job to defend it," Seth claims. "Seth I love you. But you are insane. AEW is here to stay for the time being. You going after them won't change that," Becky says. Seth wants to respond but can't come up with something to say. "Seth worry about you stuff on Raw and NXT. But leave that shoot comments for you promos," Becky begs.