Worlds End

With major changes in AEW going on, Riley and Mandy face a crossroads. And Riley deals with a loss.

Well this wound up being an very interesting week to publish this story. Frankly Mandy is one of thew few people in WWE I was still a fan of and find her release some major league BS. Now as I said in my last story this will be end of the Mandy and Riley stories I started in Two Worlds One Love. I do plan to than resume work on Crimson and my other stories. As always I am greatful to anyone who reads my work and I have thankful for any follows or reviews I get.

Chapter 1

It had truly stated at AEW Full Gear. Although some eagle-eyed fans had noticed a small message that had flashed on the screen after the reveal The Elite were returning. It was brief show of a figure seen from the back wearing a black hood. During Full Gear itself a short video aired of the figure walking into an old fashied gym. On the black wall the world Rebirth! was written in white spray paint. The first Dynamite post the pay per view showed the figure clearly a male working out. The hood was still up to hide his head and his face was never shown. Again the word Rebirth was shown at the end. Of course some fans thought it had to be CM Punk but many other fans pointed out the body type didn't match. The next week the figure was still working out this time a tractor tire with a sledgehammer. Just as the video was ending a clearly female form was shown in shadows watching.

Any speculation it was Punk ended when the end of Being The Elite featured another video with the figure. This time he was doing Hindu squats a puddle of sweat could be find below him. The female figure was off to the side was watching. The shot panned over to the wall but Rebirth was crossed out. But now SOON was written next to the crossed out Rebirth.

At Winter is Coming MJF and Ricky Starks were in the main event. Starks was putting up a valiant fight the recent injures had caught up to him. Every chance he got MJF he went after the various injures. Starks had managed to gain control when he back body dropped MJF when the champ went for a piledriver. Going over MJF had wound up hitting his foot on the turnbuckle. Ricky was looking for the spear but at the last second MJF side stepped the move. The challenger hit the corner with his bad shoulder hard. Right away MJF grabbed the salt of the earth armbar. Ricky tried to get the ropes but finally had to tap out. MJF made it a point to wrench the hold a few times. Finally he let the hold go and booted Ricky out the ring. Grabbing the triple B and a microph9one MJF sneered at the fans. On commentary both Excalibur and Tony express there disappointment and disgust. "I really wish someone would come out and pop him in the mouth," Tony says.

"Quite down! Quite down!" MJF demanded. The fans only booed louder. "It's like I said when I became champion the reign of terror..." Before he can go on loud music starts to play. "The world champion is talking!" MJF yells. On the big screen the word Reborn written just like it was on the gym wall. The lights do down except for a single spotlight on the stage. The figure walks into the light the hood still up. After taking a second he pulled it down. "It's Riley Morgan!" Excalibur exclaims. Riley takes off the shirt he is wearing. "Clearly Riley spent his time off in the gym," Taz seeing the shape Riley is in. He looks leaner and more cut than he's been in years. The lights have come up. Mandy has come up behind Riley on the ramp. In the ring MJF is fuming. Riley walks to the ring and gets climbs in.

MJF gets right in Riley's face. "Look Morgan you missed your cue. The Elite were the jerking the curtain. Now maybe if you are real good you can replace Cutler and come rock out to some mid song. Right now you are taking away from the top man in the company's time," MJF says. "YES!" Tony yells after Riley drops MJF with a stiff right hand. MJF staggers to his feet only to eat a spinning hock kick by Riley. MJF is down and not moving. Mandy hands Riley the microphone. Riley stands over MJF and picks his head up by the hair.

"You have always been this arrogant prick! Now I won't lie because you are in fact that generational talent. But you are also very human and I just knocked you out cold. So Max don't worry about 2024. Because 2023 starts with me making the EX world champion," Riley says before tossing dropping Max's head and tossing the microphone onto him. As Winter Is Coming ends Riley picks up the title belt and poses with it. "Guys "I'm getting word from Tony Khan this Friday on Rampage, Riley Morgan will face Konsuke Takeshita," Excalibur says as the wraps up.

The fans in the arena are loudly chanting Riley! Riley! Riley! He smiles as he walks up the ramp. "How did it come off?" He asked Mandy. "Great listen to the fans," She told him. Once they are backstage Tony Khan comes oup to them. "Riley that was great! Perfect ending to the show. You had the people hooked... I go to and warm up the crowd for Rampage and I need to talk to Max," Tony says all in one breath. "Thanks boss," Riley says. "See," Mandy says with an I told you so tone.

AEW Rampage

Konosuke Takeshita was already in the ring. Riley and Mandy were waiting for their cue. As part of "Rebirth" Riley was getting a new entrance. "Cue the music!" Tony yells. Mikey Rukus who did the original music for AEW had worked hard to come up with something different from Riley's old music. In the past Riley's music up tempo rock. For this Rukus had slowed things down it was still a rock song but it slower tempo and more moody. The music stated and lights in the arena went down. The same spotlight was used from his return were used. There would be some changes. For one Riley wouldn't be wearing a hood. That had only been used to cover his identity. Mandy leads him up the steps to the tunnel.

Mandy in a tight red top with black pants. She stepped aside as Riley appeared in the light. Most of his career Riley had kept it his gear simple usually black long tights with different color acting as accents. But for this set of gear went with some graphics. If fans looked they would see a sword be created by blacksmith on the back with his last named spelled out in what appeared to be chains. "This seems to be a very different Riley Morgan. A more focused version." Jim Ross says on commentary. The referee has checked both men and calls for the bell. Riley and Takeshita walk to the center of the ring and have stare down. Finally the nod and start to exchange elbows. At first it's even it appears the exchange is even. But after about six it becomes clear Riley's blows are more powerful as he's rocking Takeshita and forcing him back. Riley whips Konosuke into the ropes and than hits a running knee right to the gut that drops him.

Takeshita gets back up just as Riley hits a stiff roundhouse kick right to the chest that knocks him back into the corner. Riley hits the Ode to Chono kick in the corner. Konosuke stumbles out of the corner and Riley grabs him hitting a tiger suplex with a bridge. Count of one count of two, Takeshita kicks out. Both men get up and lock up. "This might be where Takeshita needs to keep this match. So far exchanging strikes has not paid off for him," Jim Ross says on commentary. As if hearing JR, Takeshita goes for a top wrist lock and than moves into a hammerlock and goes for a takedown. Riley reverses and winds up and top and moves to a front face lock. Takeshita spins free and gets back to his feet. Konosuke goes for a jump knee but Riley avoids it. Back to the lockup and Riley takes him down and lock in a shoulder hold. Takeshita goes to the ropes for a break. Riley waits till four to break.

Konosuke Takeshita has a growing looking of frustration on his face. He swings wildly with a larait. Riley ducks it and goes for a kick but Takeshita blocks the attempt and hits an enziguri. Takeshita grabs a front facelock and hits a vertical suplex. Takeshta floats over for a pin count of one, Riley gets his shoulder up. Riley grabs a hold of Takeshita's hands and get up a Roman knuckle lock. Riley powers back to his feet, breaks the lock and gets a firemen's carry takedown. "Now that was impressive. To come out like that postion that way takes a lot of strength and technique," Taz tells the fans at home. Boot to the gut by Riley and he grabs a waste lock before going for his gut wrench power bomb. Takeshita lands on his feet and gives Riley a belly to belly suplex."Takeshita Line!" Excalibur calls as the DDT star hits his jumping clothesline. Riley rolls to the floor to break his opponents momentum.

Climbing back in he circles. Lock up and Takeshita with a hip toss but Riley lands on his feet and lands a hard kick to the leg than one to the chest than another kick to the leg. Riley goes for one more kick to the chest but this time Takeshita catches it and hits a dragon screw leg whip. The tide turned again Takeshita finally hits the jumping knee and cover count of one count of two Riley kicks out. Takeshita hits the Blue Thunder Bomb and another cover count of one count of two, Riley kicks out again. Takeshita sets up for his rolling German suplex but on the first roll Riley comes out on top and grabs a dragon sleeper. Takeshita fights to his feet but that jsut lets Riley hit an inverted suplex. Riley holds on and moves into a cobra clutch. "The Cobra bite and a bridge," Excalibur calls on commentary count of one count of two Takeshita kicks out.

Riley set up for a backdrop suplex but Takeshita block and hits leg sweep. Even with hitting the last move Takeshita is slower to get up than Riley. Both men start to exchange chops and elbows. Takeshita leps up looking for a rana but Riley blocks it and hits a folding powerbomb count of one count of two. Takeshita kicks out. Don Callis is shown watching up on the ramp commentary notes he's been doing this with every Takeshita match lately. Riley is looking for another ode to Chono kick but misses. He winds up with his boot hung up over the ropes in the corner. Takeshita nails the running Yakuza kick instead. Riley slumps and than falls to mat. Takeshita hits a brain buster and covers count of one count of two Riley kicks out. Jumping knee by Takeshita. He covers again count of one count of two Riley pops hiis shoulder up. Takeshita climbs the ropes and comes off looking for a missal dropkick but Riley moves. Riley grabs the legs and rolls through for a jackknife pin count of one. Takeshita bridges up but Riley spins and picks him up to hit an air raid crash. "We are seeing some different moves out of Riley. The time off he took he's clearly made some major chagnes," Taz says on commentary with both men down. "And Taz we have seen how tough Konosuke Takeshita is. Just last week he went toe to toe with Jon Moxley but this week it's mostly been Riley in control," Excalibur adds. "If we scored it on points Riley would be a head but in the pro ranks it's about a pin or submission," Jim Ross finishes.

Riley pulls himself back to his feet and hits a spinning hook kick. Riley than hooks both of Takeshita's arms. "Tiger Driver 91!" Excalibur calls as Riley hits the move dropping Takeshita on his head. He covers count of one count of two count of three. "We have seen the rebirth of Riley Morgan and you have to be impressed with what he did tonight," Jim Ross says. Mandy gets in the ring and raises Riley's arm. The fans are cheering and pop huge when Riley helps Takeshita to his feet. Takeshita leaves first leaving the ring to Mandy and Riley to celebrate a bit during the commercial break.

Like earlier during the filming of Dynamite, once they got to the back Tony was waiting for them. "You are fully back Riley," The CEO tells them. Riley just nods. "Show stealer coming through," Kenny says coming down the hall. Riley and he hug quick. "I know the feeling. I've done it twice lately," Kenny says. "Yeah but you aren't making major changes," Riley says. "Yeah well those changes are already paying off," Kenny says holding up his phone. "Okay the reaction to my return on Dynamite is good. But this was step one," Riley says. "Well babe step one was a huge success and what you did out there was step two another success," Mandy says. "You can say that again," Hangman says walking up. "You ready to go brawl with Moxley again?" Riley asks. Hangman just nods. "Speaking of Moxley... well I guess Mrs. Moxley... Anyway, Tony wants you and Mandy to do that sit down with Renee if you are still okay with it," Kenny says.

Riley took a deep breath. "So soon?" He finally asks. Having overheard Tony Khan gets up from the table. "Yeah Riley I feel it's better the sooner fans know the full story. But if you aren't ready we can still call it off," Tony assures him. Mandy takes his hand for support. "No hey I understand. I want people to know. I think knowing everything will add a lot of context to things. If nothing else it will explain why I didn't come back with the rest of you guys," Riley finally says.