Chapter 25
AEW Dynamite had just returned from commercial break. "Let's go to these pre recorded comments from Kenny Omega as he discusses his match with his good friend Riley Morgan," Jim Ross says throwing to the next segment. Kenny is seen backstage sitting on a sofa. The former IWGP champion holds up his phone on the screen is a picture of the entire Elite including Marty sitting on the porch of a Cracker Barrel it was a shot that had been seen many times on Being The Elite. "We used all be so close. Yet little by little the bonds between have frayed. Marty went his way, Cody has his own goals. Hangman and Matt can't get along and as much as I wish it wasn't that affects my relationship with Nick and Matt," Kenny says putting down his phone. Kenny looks right at the camera just before an old photo of Riley and Kenny in Japan than a clip from BTE and finally a clip of them teaming on Dynamite is shown.
The shot goes back to Kenny. "The one thing I never thought would happen would be where you and I Riley wouldn't be talking. And not just that you won't take my calls. You aren't talking to anyone. Hell even Mandy can't get you to open up. And I know where you are coming from. Because it wasn't that long ago I was the one in your shoes. I was that one that got so hung up on trying to beat Jon Moxley. And man you came closer than I did. But you are trying to charge right back into another match wit the guy. A match man your chest you battered, you are walking a a limp. I have tried to reach out to you and I still get nothing. My own hope now is maybe get through to you tonight," Kenny says before the promo ends.
Back in the arena Riley's music started to play. Riley comes through the curtain. "I am stunned he was even cleared," Tony Schivone says looking at Riley's battered chest and how slow he is moving. "He did meet with Doc Sampson before the show. The medical team debated it a bit but ultimately felt Riley could compete safely," Excalibur explains as Riley climbs into the ring. "I notice Mandy Rose who is here tonight did not come out with Riley," Jim Ross adds just as Kenny's music plays. Kenny comes out looking like he's got a millions thoughts on his mind. Kenny climbs into the ring and poses before taking off his vest and handing the AEW tag title over to the ringside attendant. Kenny looks over at Riley and offers his hand. Riley ignores it. Finally the referee calls for the bell.
Kenny and Riley move around the ring. Riley looks deadly serious clearly trying to find an opening to lock up or throw a strike. Kenny though is scuffling around with a fast herky jerky motion being a goof. Riley ignores him and dives for a single leg. Kenny jumps over Riley. Riley scrambles back to his feet and goes for a round house kick, Kenny ducks slips the kick. Riley charges. "Ole," Kenny yells as sidesteps Riley charging sending him hard into the corner. Riley slaps the top turnbuckle in frustration. He turns back and face Kenny who is smiling. "You think that is funny?" Riley yells. "Well it's kind of funny," Kenny says. Riley slaps Kenny right in the face. Kenny tosses Riley into the corner and goes to chop him but stops himself. Riley just takes this as his chance to reverse Kenny chops him hard and than hit back elbow. Snap mare by Riley and than a rolling neck snap.
"Huge mistake there by Kenny Omega. He is trying to joke around and than he up a chance for offence but stopped himself thinking about his friend," Tony says. "Well they aren't friends right now," Jim Ross adds. Kenny is back up. Lock up and Riley gets a side head lock take over. Riley with rabbit punches to the top of the head. Kenny fights his way free. Now it's clear Kenny is getting mad and about to strike at Riley but than he stops himself and rolls out of the ring. Riley waits for Kenny to get back but never breaks eye contact. Omega climbs back to the apron. "Ode to Chono and he sends Kenny flying," Excalibur calls as Riley kicks Kenny off the apron and crashing into the guardrail. Riley goes out of the ring and picks Kenny up. He acts like he's about to toss his fellow Elite member into the guard rail again but than throws him into the ring.
Riley goes for a cover, count of one, count of two Kenny kicks out. Chin lock by Riley but Omega gets to the ropes. The referee counts, "one… two… three… four." Riley breaks finally. "Big gut wrench suplex by Morgan. Its not a fancy move but it's effective," Ross calls. "Especially with the way Riley finishes it. Some guys let the gravity do the work on the way down, makes it a point to spike his opponent," Tony adds. Riley pulls Kenny up and whips him into the ropes. Riley looks for a back drop but Kenny stops himself and hits Riley with a knee lift. Series of chops by Kenny right to the chest this time he won't let up finishes with a hadouken knocking Riley down. Riley rolls to the floor. "Rise of the Terminator!" Excalibur yells as Kenny dives over the top rope knocking Riley down. Kenny puts Riley back into the ring he than climbs to the top rope and waits. Once Riley stands up Kenny hits a missile dropkick on him.
Kenny covers count of one count of two Riley kicks out. Kenny still mad does his chainsaw forearm right to Riley's face. The referee forces Kenny to break. Kotaro Krusher by Kenny, than a V trigger, and finally a snap dragon, he covers again count of one count of two Riley kicks out again. Kenny plays to the crowd and than picks Riley up looking for a cradle to back piledriver. Riley kicks his legs and gets free and lands a forearm smash. Charge right into an arm drag by Riley followed by Kenny charging right in an arm drag. Than Riley again than Kenny again, than Riley, than Kenny finally Kenny goes for an inside cradle when Riley charges once more. Count of one, Riley escapes. Both men are back up and move around the ring. Lock up and Kenny with a go behind. He attempts a back drop suplex but Riley lands on his feet.
Kenny takes a lariat to the back of the head. Scorpion death lock by Riley. "Very painful maneuver does a lot of damage to back and legs," Jim Ross explains. Kenny does a push up the takes some of the pressure off his back and than starts to crawl to the ropes. Riley pulls Kenny back to the center. The moving around has caused Riley to loses control of the hold allowing Kenny to get off his stomach onto his back. Kenny kicks Riley off into the corner. Both men are down for a second. V trigger by Kenny followed by a step up enziguri. Riley is stunned allowing Kenny to hit the Dr. Wily bomb. Riley crawls over to the ropes and uses them to get back to his knees. Kenny sets up for a V trigger to the back of the head.
"He couldn't bring himself to do it. He doesn't want to hurt Riley," Tony says. "Kenny Omega has a a big heart," Excalibur says as Kenny pulls Riley to his feet and lets Riley recover for a second. Riley looks at Kenny in shock and than spears him. "Again guys Kenny Omega is to worried about his friendship here," Tony says as Riley pulls Kenny up to give him a DDT. He doesn't let go and locks in a cobra clutch to hit a cobra bite suplex. Kenny is hurting and Riley follows right up with a Northern light bomb. Riley covers count of one count of two Kenny kicks out. Kenny staggers back to his feet allowing Riley to hit a spinning look kick that knocks him back down. Shinning wizard by Riley than he hits an over head belly to belly suplex sending Kenny crashing into the corner. Riley pulls him to the center and covers count of one count of two Kenny kicks out again.
"We know the two aces Riley Morgan keeps in his back pocket. Will it be the Final Wave or the Koji Clutch?" Jim Ross asks on commentary. Kenny tires to roll to the floor but Riley gets a hold his boot. Kenny is back to a foot as Riley is still holding onto his boot. Enziquri by Kenny. Croyt's Wrath by Kenny with a bridge count of one count of two Riley kicks out. Both men are down. Kenny gets up first and sets up for One Winged Angel but Riley escapes off the back. He gets a waste lock and goes for a German suplex. Kenny lands on his feet and hits a V trigger. Kenny sets up for the tiger driver ninety eight and hits it. Cover count of one cout of two the ref stops his count and points to Riley's boot being under the ropes. Both men get back to there feet. Lock up and the fight over a vertical suplex with Kenny eventually hitting the move. Kenny keeps hold of the wrist. "Rain Trigger," Excalibur yells as Kenny hits the move.
Again Kenny sets up for the one winged angel. Kenny gets a hold of the head and goes for it. "He rolled through," Jim Ross yells as Riley does rolls into a victory roll. Kenny's shoulders are down count of one count of two Kenny kicks out at the last second. Both men are back up but Riley is ready first. He jumps into the air and hits the Final Wave. Riley covers count of one count of two count of three. "The winner of the match The Dog of War RILEY MORGANNNNNN!" Riley stands up and gets his hand raised. Kenny is still down. The Young Bucks come out to check on him. Meanwhile Riley stays in the ring leaning ainast the ropes. Its not clear if he just needs time to recover or something else. Kenny is helped back to his feet. Riley looks over at this friends. "Well what is going to happen here?" JR asks.
Kenny steps away from the Bucks and towards Riley. Suddenly Hangman Page gets into the ring gets right into Riley's face and shoves him. "What are doing? Are you trying to hurt him? What kind of friend are you?" Hangman yells before shoving Riley again. This causes Riley to roll out of the ring and walk away. Now Hangman and Matt start to fight with Matt upset Hangman jumped in and drove Riley off.
Later That Night
Mandy was standing next to Lexy Nair. "Mandy Rose two weeks ago you were injured at the hands of Dr. Britt Baker. How are you recovering?" Lexy asks. "Well Lexy I had to be rushed to an emergency dental office. For over a week I couldn't eat solid food. I actually have a temporary..." "No one cares," Britt says walking into the shot. "Britt why did you feel the need ton injury Mandy Rose so severely?" Lexy asks trying to keep control of the interview. "I was doing a service to the world. See Mandy I am a dentist. Meaning I am someone spent years in college bettering myself with education. I don't even think you graduated high school," Britt mocks. "I did in fact I went to Iona college and graduated that as well," Mandy replies. "Well Iona not like it's a real college," Britt claims. "You know Britt I think I have you all figured out. You were the first woman signed to AEW," Mandy points out.
"Yes I was," Britt says proudly with a big smile. "You were supposed to be the one the division is built around. The face of it. Yet you weren't first champion that was Riho. You couldn't be the one that beat Riho that was Nyla. You have to brag about to try and distract from your failures so far in AEW. And maybe just maybe if you are loud enough it might work," Mandy taunts. "And what have you done?" Britt snaps. "Well right now I have the longest winning streak in the women's division. And I'm ranked higher than you," Mandy says. "That won't last much longer," Britt claims. Mandy smiles. "Great see you next week," Mandy says before walking off. "You are on... What?" Britt yells looking at Lexy. "I think you just agreed to a match," Lexy finally says. Britt looks real nervous but than puts on her game face. "She should have stayed at home and let that tooth heal."
Even Later That Night
The main event between The Young Bucks and SCU had just finished with the Jackson brothers scoring the win. Matt hops out of the ring and grabs a microphone. "I want to thank takes some business why have just a little bit of time left here on Dynamite. Riley buddy please come out here and lets talk," Matt says. The Bucks wait a second but no sign of Riley. Nick takes the microphone. "Riley come on you know this group is stronger together." Finally Riley appears on the big screen. Riley has changed and is now in jeans and wearing an AEW t-shirt. "Have I not been been the good friend? The good partner? The good brother? Guy you two, Kenny, Cody, even Hangman you are like.. not like you guys are my family," Riley says. Down in the ring Nick and Matt listen.
"But guys I need to be selfish. I need to worry about Riley and Riley only. Because I am facing Jon Moxley. I am facing the guy that has taken over over the business this past year. Think about since leaving the WWE the guy has beat Ishii, he beat Juice, he's beat Jeff Cobb, he's beat Pac, Kenny. The list keeps going, Shingo, Naito. Lance Archer the guy everyone is talking about in AEW. Moxley manged to beat him. Even the devil himself Minoru Suzuki looked that man in the eyes and it was Suzuki that blinked," Riley rants. After a long deep breath Riley starts again. "So guys I knew to face that man I had to find something dark within me. I knew I had to push beyond my limits. So I had shut out you guys and Mandy. Than there I was in the ring and I could feel it. I could beat him and I could become AEW world champion. Than he got me and wound up winning. Guys I need one more chance," Riley says.
Suddenly Sammy, Hager, Santana and Ortiz walk up to him. "Guys this is rich he thinks he should get a rematch," Sammy says to the other members of the Inner Circle. Riley raises his hands ready to defend himself. "Really Morgan," Hager says stepping in front of the other in his faction. "Think redneck you are all alone," Ortiz says. Riley starts to laugh. "It would really stupid for me to try and fight you guys," Riley says. The Inner Circle also start to laugh. Riley stops laughing. "Than again I can be really stupid," Riley yells before punching Hager. Santana and Ortiz attack Riley and pin him to the wall. Back in the ring The Bucks run out of the ring and to the back. Hager is back up and acts like he's about to hit one of running low blows. Suddenly Chris Jericho appears and hits the Judas Effect on Riley. "Let's make something clear Morgan. I'm the one getting a rematch with Moxley not you," Jericho says before he and the Inner Circle walk off. "We haven't seen Chris Jericho in weeks. But just like that he bursts back into the title picture. Nick and Matt arrive along with other officials to check on Riley as Dynamite goes off the air.