Chapter 229: 213. Show Finished & Reaction
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But Roode moved! Young hit the turnbuckles chest first, and Roode wasted no time grabbing him from behind, lifting him up, and planting him with a thunderous spine buster! The impact hooked across the ring.
The commentary team erupted in excitement.
"What impact! That could be it!"
Roode immediately hooked the leg.
ONE! TWO! TH—NO!
Young barely got the shoulder up!
Roode didn't let frustration take over. He knew he had Young where he wanted him. He signaled for the end, pumping up the crowd as he positioned himself for his finisher.
Young, groggy, pulled himself up using the ropes. Roode grabbed him and set him up for the Roode Bomb, but Young countered, rolling through and driving Roode face first into the turnbuckle!
Seizing the moment, Young yanked Roode backward into a bridging German suplex!
ONE! TWO! THR—NO!
Roode kicked out at the last second!
The crowd was on fire, appreciating the back-and-forth war between these two warriors. Both men lay on the mat, breathing heavily, exhausted from the intense match. Slowly, they began to stir, using the ropes to pull themselves back up.
Young was the first to strike, landing a forearm. Roode fired back with a chop. Another forearm from Young. Another chop from Roode. They continued trading blows until Roode ducked a wild swing and caught Young with a fisherman's suplex!
But instead of going for the pin, Roode knew it was time to put Young away for good.
He pulled Young up, took a deep breath, and lifted him onto his shoulders—
ROODE BOMB!
The crowd exploded as Young's body bounced off the canvas from the devastating finisher! Roode immediately covered him, hooking both legs tightly.
ONE! TWO! THREE!
DING! DING! DING!
The bell rang, and Roode rolled off of Young, his chest rising and falling rapidly as he stared at the ceiling, victorious but exhausted.
"Here is your winner, and advancing to the next round of the FCW North American Championship tournament… BOBBY ROODE!"
The referee raised Roode's hand as his theme music played once again. The commentary team praised both men for an incredible match, but in the end, it was Roode who moved one step closer to championship gold.
Roode climbed the turnbuckle, looking out at the fans. He knew there was still a long way to go, but tonight, he proved that he belonged in the conversation for FCW's newest championship.
Meanwhile, Young rolled to the outside, frustration evident on his face. He held the back of his neck, shooting one last glare at Roode before walking up the ramp, knowing he had given it his all but fallen short.
With Roode standing tall in the ring, the first round of the FCW North American Championship tournament had officially begun with a bang, setting the tone for what was sure to be an unforgettable journey to crown the first ever champion.
Meanwhile, on the FCW Official Forum Website and FCW Official Twitter account, the fanbase was buzzing with excitement. The night had been nothing short of spectacular, with shocking announcements and high- quality matches that had fans on the edge of their seats.
The first major surprise was the announcement of the FCW North American Championship and the tournament to crown the first ever champion. Fans immediately flooded the forums with discussions, theories, and dream match ups they hoped to see unfold in the coming weeks.
Many praised Dusty Rhodes and Steve Keirn for bringing in a new mid card championship, something they felt was long overdue. As the FCW roster was filled with great talents, and from the looks of it Sadro will have a long reign so the main title wouldn't change any time soon, the addition of a new one was a great choice.
The second highlight that had social media ablaze was the opening contest between Sandro Zhang and Jackson. Fans raved about how both competitors delivered a hard hitting, back and forth match that set the tone for the night. Some called it one of the best FCW matches in recent memory, while others praised Sandro's resilience and Jackson's raw power.
The debate over whether Jackson should get another shot at the title quickly took over various discussion threads, proving just how much the match had resonated with the audience.
And then there was the main event. Bobby Roode vs. Eric Young had exceeded all expectations. The two veterans put on a wrestling clinic, showcasing their technical prowess, hard hitting offense, and deep knowledge of each other's styles.
The fans had been fully invested in the match, reacting loudly to every near fall and momentum shift. By the time Roode secured the victory and advanced in the tournament, the crowd erupted in approval, showing their appreciation for both men.
Many fans expressed how they felt spoiled by FCW tonight, joking that Dusty and Steve must have read their minds. Others noted that this night felt like a new era for FCW, one that could elevate the brand to new heights. The hashtag system wasn't in place yet, but if it were, "#FCWElevated" would have been trending worldwide.
While the online world continued to explode with reactions, backstage at FCW Headquarters, Sandro was in the locker room, unwinding after his grueling title defense. He wasn't alone, though, his close knit group of friends had gathered around him, their conversation buzzing with excitement.
Kofi, Taylor, Bray Wyatt, Sheamus, Nick, Drew, and Stu were deep in discussion about the bombshell announcement of the North American Championship.
"That was insane, man," Kofi said, shaking his head with a wide grin. "I did not see that coming."
"The timing is perfect," Taylor added. "It's a huge opportunity for guys like us. Another title means more chances to get noticed."
Bray stroked his hair, his usual eerie smirk appearing. "And the belt's design? Absolutely beautiful. It stands out."
Sheamus nodded. "Not to mention, it's the first time a championship with this name has been introduced in the wrestling business. Makes it even more unique."
As the discussion continued, Sandro mostly listened, a smile playing at the corner of his lips. Every so often, he'd nod or add a quick comment, but for the most part, he let his friends do the talking.
However, as the minutes passed, his friends began to pick up on something. Kofi was the first to narrow his eyes slightly at Sandro, watching his reaction or lack thereof.
"Hold on a second," Kofi said, crossing his arms. "You're way too calm about all of this, man."
Drew tilted his head. "Yeah… shouldn't you be just as shocked as we are?"
Nick Nemeth smirked, catching on quickly. "Wait… Sandro, did you know about this?"
Sandro chuckled but didn't answer immediately, his silence making them all suspicious.
Bray leaned in, his smirk growing. "You knew."
Sheamus laughed, nudging Sandro with his elbow. "Oi! Spill it, fella. Did you have something to do with this?"
Sandro finally let out a short laugh and shrugged. "Maybe."
His friends erupted into groans and playful complaints.
"Of course he did!" Kofi exclaimed. "I should've known. Sandro's got the inside track with Dusty and Steve."
Stu Sanders smirked. "What exactly was your involvement, mate?"
Sandro leaned back against the locker, a glint of amusement in his eyes. "Let's just say… I may have pitched an idea or two about introducing a mid card title and the name. Dusty and Steve took it from there."
"Unbelievable," Nick said, shaking his head with a grin. "You sneaky bastard, if Kofi doesn't pick it up we would never know about this."
Bray chuckled. "I gotta admit… that's some good work. This title is gonna change FCW and maybe the business in a big way."
Sandro simply smiled, knowing he had played a small part in something that could shape FCW's future. His friends continued to poke fun at him for keeping it a secret, but at the end of the day, they were all thrilled about what this meant for their careers.
As the conversation continued, the excitement in the room was palpable. They weren't just talking about the championship, they were talking about the future. The tournament would push them all to their limits, and each of them knew that this was a once in a life time opportunity to etch their names into FCW history.
Elsewhere in the building, Bobby Roode was still cooling down from his victory, standing in the hallway near the production area. He was approached by Dusty, who gave him a firm pat on the back.
"Hell of a match, kid," Dusty said, nodding approvingly. "That's how you set the tone for this tournament."
Roode smiled. "Thank you, sir. Feels like we're building something special here."
Dusty nodded. "We are. And this tournament? It's gonna be the proving ground. Only the best of the best are gonna make it through."
Roode, still catching his breath, straightened his posture. "I plan on being one of them."
Dusty grinned. "I like that attitude."
As Dusty walked away, Roode turned back to the monitors where replays of his match were playing. He had made his mark tonight, but he knew the road ahead was only going to get tougher. And that was just the way he liked it.
The first round of the FCW North American Championship tournament was off to an explosive start, and the entire wrestling world was taking notice.
With Sandro still reigning as the Florida Heavyweight Champion, a new championship in the mix, and a roster full of hungry competitors ready to prove themselves, FCW was entering a new golden era. One thing was certain, things were only going to get more intense from here in FCW.
After the show was finished and everyone slowly went back home, Sandro was in the car waiting for his girlfriends April and Nicole. Unlike before, when he waited for them in the lobby and they walked to the parking lot together, this time he opted to wait in the car to reduce the chance of paparazzi snapping pictures of them.
He didn't care if he was the only one caught on camera, but he didn't want to involve the two of them, especially since their relationship wasn't public yet.
Sandro also felt that his influence wasn't strong enough yet to handle entertainment reporters labeling him as a "rich playboy" and twisting the narrative to shame April and Nicole.
Even though polygamy was legal, society still looked down upon it, and he didn't want the two women he cared about to be put in the middle of unnecessary controversy.
As he was lost in thought, the back door of his car suddenly opened, and in climbed April and Nicole, dressed to the nines in oversized coats, sunglasses, hats, and masks that covered most of their faces. Seeing them in such an over the top disguise, Sandro couldn't hold back his laughter.
"You two look ridiculous," he said between chuckles. "You do realize dressing like this will only make people look at you more, right? Just wear normal clothes and cover your face with a simple mask, no need to be this dramatic."
Nicole huffed, adjusting her hat. "Well, excuse us for being cautious. Do you know how fast gossip spreads? If someone spots us together, all hell could break loose."
April nodded in agreement. "Exactly! We have to be careful. We're just thinking ahead, babe."
Sandro sighed with amusement, shaking his head as he started the car. "Alright, alright. But next time, let's be a little less conspicuous, yeah?"
As they drove away from the venue, the mood inside the car was lighthearted, but there was an underlying awareness of the risks they were taking. April and Nicole weren't just FCW wrestlers, they were rising stars in the industry, and any controversy surrounding them could impact their careers. The last thing Sandro wanted was for his personal life to overshadow their professional accomplishments.
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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