Becoming A Wrestler

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Dusty smirked. "You do that. But don't take too long, kid. The world is watching your every movement now." As Sandro left the office, he knew one thing for certain, his story in FCW was about to change forever. And this time, he was going to write it more perfectly.

Leaving Dusty's office behind, Sandro adjusted the strap of his FCW Florida Heavyweight Championship over his shoulder and exhaled. That conversation had gone about as well as he could've expected.

Dusty and Steve weren't mad, just blindsided. Hell, he was blindsided too. He had always known that one day his family's wealth and influence would come to light, but not like this. Not because of a public scene.

As he made his way down the hall toward the locker room, he could feel the weight of every glance. FCW talent, trainers, staff, everyone had heard by now, and just like before the whispers filled the air, some subtle, some not.

"Can't believe he hid that for so long man, I'm impressed really. At least he could act and that's why the fans loved him as well."

"Nexum Core, man. That's not just rich, that's billionaire-level shit."

"Is he even staying here, or is WWE gonna scoop him up now? Since you know Nexum Core was a large shareholder in WWE."

Sandro ignored the murmurs. He had always prided himself on being judged by his work ethic, not his bank account. He wasn't about to let that change now.

Reaching the locker room, he took a deep breath before pushing the door open. The second he stepped inside, the conversation died. All eyes were on him.

The usual background noise of pre show rituals, guys taping up their wrists, stretching, chatting, had all but stopped. Sandro could feel the shift.

Not hostility, just... curiosity. Maybe even skepticism. The air was thick with unspoken questions, and for a moment, it felt like a completely different locker room than the one he'd walked into every day for the past year.

Then, the door swung open again. Sandro turned to see Kofi, Taylor, Bray, Sheamus, Nick, Drew, and Stu filing in. Unlike the rest of the room, they didn't hesitate.

"Hey, what's up, champ?" Kofi grinned, clapping Sandro on the shoulder like nothing had changed.

"Fella, you could've at least hinted that you were a goddamn billionaire not just some above average well off family," Sheamus added, smirking. "Would've made things a lot more interesting while interacting with you."

Bray tilted his head, studying Sandro with amused curiosity. "You kept that hidden for a long time, brother. That's impressive in itself."

Sandro let out a breath and chuckled. "Look, I didn't want to be treated differently. I wanted to blend in, not be some guy people only saw as the rich kid in the locker room."

Nick crossed his arms, raising an eyebrow. "Yeah, well, that ship has definitely sailed very far now. You made a hell of a headline and hell of a surprise let me tell you."

Sandro shrugged. "Not my intention, but yeah... kind of hard to ignore now. Dam I should have known I shouldn't accept to do that speech."

Drew smirked. "It's funny, really. We bust our asses here, and turns out you could've just sat back on a yacht and done nothing this whole time."

Sandro laughed. "Yeah, but where's the fun in that?"

The tension eased a little. His friends were still processing the news, but at least they weren't treating him like some outsider now. That was all that mattered to him.

Bray leaned against the lockers. "So, what now? Dusty and Steve pulling you into some big storyline about this? Some new things?"

Sandro shook his head. "Not exactly. They want me to use it, though. Not in a 'rich snob' way, but... as something that sets me apart. Prove I belong, even with all of this."

Stu nodded. "Makes sense. People are going to talk regardless. Might as well control the narrative."

"Yeah," Sandro admitted. "Still figuring out how to do that."

Before anyone could comment further, he glanced around at the rest of the locker room, at the guys still side eyeing him, still treating him like some kind of anomaly. He exhaled and looked back at his friends and the rest of the guys in the locker room.

"Why don't we get ready instead of standing around staring at me like I grew a second head? We've all got matches or something to do tonight."

That was enough to break the moment. One by one, the guys nodded and went back to their routines. The tension wasn't gone, but at least it was settling into something manageable.

Sandro sat down on the bench, unlacing his duffel bag. He pulled out his gear and his wrist tape, his mind still running through possibilities. No matter what, tonight was going to be a statement announced by Dusty and Steve.

Several hours passed, and the atmosphere in the arena was electric. The FCW Daily Monday Program was about to start, and the fans had packed the venue, buzzing with anticipation. Word had spread fast since last week's announcement, Dusty and Steve were set to make a major announcement tonight, and no one knew exactly what it would be.

Backstage, Sandro laced up his boots, mentally preparing himself. He had a feeling whatever was coming would impact him directly, but he wasn't about to let that shake him. He'd built his reputation in FCW through hard work, and that wouldn't change no matter how many eyes were on him.

Then, the show's opening theme hit, and the crowd erupted. The lights flared, the cameras rolled, and FCW Monday Night was officially underway. After the usual opening hype package, a familiar tune filled the arena, the unmistakable entrance music of Dusty Rhodes.

The cheers grew louder as Dusty stepped out onto the stage, waving to the fans, a microphone in his right hand. Moments later, another theme hit, Steve Keirn's. The FCW President walked out with his own microphone, nodding to the crowd before both men made their way down the ramp and into the ring.

Once inside, they waited a moment as the crowd gradually quieted down, eager to hear what they had to say. Dusty raised his mic, his deep Southern drawl carrying through the arena.

"Ladies and gentlemen, welcome… to Monday Night FCW!"

The audience roared in response.

Steve followed up. "We want to take a moment to thank each and every one of you, both here in the arena and watching from home, for your continued support of FCW. Y'all make this place what it is."

Another pop from the crowd. Then, Dusty took the lead again, his voice brimming with enthusiasm.

"Now, we know y'all been hearin' some rumors. We know y'all been wonderin' what exactly we got in store for tonight. Well, let me tell ya, this one's big. It's a game changer for FCW, baby."

The anticipation in the crowd intensified, murmurs rippling through the arena.

Steve gestured toward the ramp, and a few members of the ring crew emerged, rolling a stand down to the ring. A black cloth covered whatever was on top, heightening the suspense.

Dusty smirked. "For a long time now, FCW has been home to some of the finest competitors in the world. We got men in that locker room who bust their asses night in and night out, lookin' for that next big opportunity. And as proud as we are of our FCW Florida Heavyweight Championship and its current champion, we realized… it's time to give some of these hungry boys another prize to chase."

Steve stepped forward, gripping his mic tightly. "That's why, starting tonight, we are officially introducing a brand new championship to FCW… The FCW North American Championship!"

The crowd exploded with cheers as one of the crew members dramatically pulled away the black cloth, revealing the newly minted FCW North American Championship belt.

The gleaming gold plate, emblazoned with the FCW logo in the center below and intricate designs of North America above it, caught the light perfectly, making it clear this was no secondary prize, this was a prestigious addition to the brand.

Even in the locker room, watching on the monitors, the reaction was loud. Nobody had seen this coming, well, nobody except Sandro who already knew about it.

Steve let the excitement settle for a moment before continuing. "And to crown the first ever FCW North American Champion, we're kicking off an eight man tournament, starting tonight!"

That sent another wave of excitement through the audience.

Dusty grinned. "That's right, baby. Eight of FCW's best are gonna battle it out over the next few weeks, and at the end of it, one man's gonna hold this title high and make history. And as for tonight? Well, we ain't wastin' no time gettin' started, 'cause, in tonight's main event, the first two lucky men who get the chance to fight their way toward history are…"

He paused for dramatic effect.

"… Bobby Roode and Eric Young!"

The arena exploded. Two of the most technically sound and respected names in FCW, both seasoned wrestlers in their own right, would be kicking off the tournament tonight.

The camera cut backstage, showing reactions from various FCW talent. Bobby Roode smirked confidently, stretching his arms. Eric Young cracked his knuckles, grinning.

Back in the locker room, Sandro sat on the bench, watching the screen with bright eyes and excitement. Another title meant more opportunities. More competition. More ways to for the items to prove themselves and possibly him as well in the future.

And he knew damn well he would be watching every second of this tournament.

After Dusty and Steve's bombshell announcement of the FCW North American Championship, the energy in the arena was still electric. Fans were abuzz, discussing the new title and the upcoming eight man tournament.

But there was no time to let the excitement die down, because the opening match of the night was about to begin and it was a big one.

The cameras cut to the commentary desk, where the two commentators sat, both grinning as they processed the huge news.

"What an incredible way to kick off Monday Night FCW! A brand new championship was introduced, a high-stakes tournament set to begin tonight, and now we have an FCW Florida Heavyweight Championship match right out of the gate!"

"Absolutely! Sandro Zhang has been a fighting champion since winning that belt, and tonight, he's got one of his toughest challenges yet. Ezekiel Jackson is no joke, he's big, he's strong, and he's looking to make a statement by dethroning the champ!"

The arena lights dimmed slightly, and the heavy, pounding beat of Ezekiel Jackson's theme hit. The crowd responded with loud boos as the powerhouse stepped onto the stage, his expression as intense as ever. Dressed in his black trunks and boots, his muscular frame looked even more imposing under the bright lights.

The ring announcer stood in the center of the squared circle, microphone in hand.

"The following contest is scheduled for one fall… and it is for the FCW Florida Heavyweight Championship!"

The ring announcer continued.

"Introducing first, the challenger… from Guyana, South America, weighing in at 290 pounds… Ezekiel Jackson!"

The boos grew louder as Jackson marched toward the ring, his eyes locked straight ahead. He climbed the steps, stepped between the ropes, and flexed his massive arms, letting out a deep roar. His confidence was undeniable, he knew this was his chance to take the gold. Then Jackson stood tall in his corner, rolling his shoulders, his gaze never leaving the stage.

As the noise settled, the lights cut out for a second before the opening riff of Cult of Personality blasted through the speakers. The crowd erupted in cheers as the FCW Florida Heavyweight Champion, Sandro Zhang, stepped onto the stage, the championship slung over his shoulder.

"And the champion… from Orlando, Florida, weighing in at 220 pounds… he is the FCW Florida Heavyweight Champion… Sandro Zhang!"

Sandro adjusted the championship on his shoulder as he made his way down the ramp, slapping a few hands along the way but keeping his focus sharp. He knew this wasn't just another title defense, this was a statement. With all the eyes on him after the revelation of his family's wealth and influence, he needed to remind everyone why he was the champion in the first place.

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Name: Alessandro Zhang

Age: 19 (2009)

Birthplace: Orlando, Florida USA

Brand: FCW

Wrestling Style: Mixed Of All Style

Faction: Dragon Boom (Tag Team)

Championship History: 1x FCW Tag Team Champions & 1 FCW Florida Heavyweight Champion