Cheers erupted as everyone clinked their glasses, and April couldn't help but smile, her cheeks flushed with both pride and a bit of embarrassment from the attention. She looked around at her friends, and her wrestling family, and felt a deep sense of gratitude. "Thanks, guys. It feels surreal, you know? I couldn't have done it without all of you. Especially you, Sandro," she said, locking eyes with him across the table.
Sandro nodded, feeling a swell of emotion. He had known about the plan for April to win the championship, but seeing it unfold and watching her take that moment for herself had been something else entirely. "You earned it, April. No one deserves it more than you," he replied, his voice steady but filled with warmth.
As the night wore on, the group reminisced about the show, their performances, and the hard work that had gotten them to this point. Kofi leaned over to Sandro, grinning. "Man, can you believe we're in the finals? Dragon Boom, baby! Hopefully, We're gonna take those titles home."
Sandro smiled, but there was a flicker of introspection in his eyes. "Yeah, it's crazy. Feels like everything's moving so fast, you know? But we've been killing it. I just hope we can keep this momentum going."
Kofi nodded, sensing Sandro's deeper thoughts. "We will. We've got something special, man. The fans love us, and we've got the skills to back it up. Just trust the process."
Sheamus, sitting next to them, overheard the conversation and chimed in with his signature Irish accent. "Ah, don't worry about it, Sandro. You've got this. Just keep doin' what you're doin', and you'll be fine. The fans are behind ya, and that's half the battle."
Drew raised his glass. "Here's to Dragon Boom. The next FCW Tag Team Champions, well that is if you can beat me and Stu! Haha!"
Laughter and cheers followed soon after Drew finished his word, and Sandro finally allowed himself to fully embrace the moment. He had always been driven, always thinking about the next step, the next challenge.
But tonight, surrounded by his closest friends and feeling the weight of their accomplishments, he realized that it was okay to take a breath and enjoy the journey.
As the conversation shifted and the night grew older, the group shared stories of their favorite matches, road trips, and the inside jokes that had formed between them. There was laughter, friendly teasing, and an unspoken understanding that they were all in this together.
Brianna, who had been relatively quiet during the evening, spoke up after a lull in the conversation. "It's kinda wild, though, isn't it? We're all part of something bigger than just ourselves. What we're doing now, it's going to leave a mark. People are going to remember this night—the first-ever FCW Divas Champion and Dragon Boom making it to the finals—it's all part of FCW wrestling history now."
Nicole nodded in agreement. "Yeah, when you put it that way, it's kind of overwhelming. But also amazing. We're doing something special here."
April, still beaming from the events of the night, leaned back in her chair, her championship resting beside her. "I think we're just getting started! This is only the beginning and I hope that more will come in the future."
Sandro looked around the table, taking in the faces of his friends—each of them talented, driven, and committed to their craft. He felt a deep sense of connection to them, not just as fellow wrestlers but as people who had been through the ups and downs with him, who understood the pressures of the business and the sacrifices that came with it.
The celebration continued late into the night, with more rounds of drinks, laughter, and stories. At one point, Stu stood up and suggested they all do a toast. "To the future," he said, holding his glass high. "To April, our first Divas Champion, and to Sandro and Kofi—our future tag team champions, if they can get through me and Drew!"
Everyone raised their glasses again, the clinking of glasses a symbol of their shared hopes and dreams. "To the future," they all echoed.
As the night began to wind down, the group slowly began to disperse, with some heading home while others lingered to continue chatting. Sandro found himself outside the pub, leaning against the wall, taking a moment to reflect. April came out shortly after, joining him in the cool night air.
"You okay?" she asked, her voice soft.
Sandro nodded, looking up at the stars. "Yeah. Just thinking."
"About?"
"Everything. Tonight. The future. What's next."
April smiled, her eyes filled with warmth and understanding. "You're always thinking ahead, aren't you?"
Sandro chuckled. "Can't help it. I guess it's just how I'm wired."
"Well," April said, stepping closer, "whatever the future holds, I know you're going to crush it. You've already done so much for FCW, and I can't wait to see what you do next."
Sandro turned to her, his expression serious but grateful. "Thanks, April. That means a lot coming from you."
She smiled again, her championship gleaming under the streetlights. "We're in this together, remember? No matter what happens, we've got each other's backs."
Sandro nodded, feeling a sense of reassurance wash over him. They stood there for a moment longer, sharing a quiet understanding and closeness between the two of them, before rejoining the others inside.
The celebration continued until the early hours of the morning, filled with laughter, drinks, and the kind of camaraderie only shared by those who had been through the highs and lows of wrestling together.
As the night wound down, Sandro noticed that April, Nicole, and Brianna were in no condition to go back home. The events of the last time they were harassed at the Mexican Restaurant back parking lot flashed in his mind, and he didn't want to take any chances, especially at this late hour after they'd all had a few drinks.
"Come on, I'll drive you all home," Sandro offered, grabbing his jacket. The three women were grateful for the offer, knowing that getting a ride from someone they trusted was the safest option.
The ride back was peaceful, with April sitting in the front seat while Nicole and Brianna dozed off in the back. April was quiet, staring out the window as the city lights blurred past them.
She seemed lost in thought, likely reflecting on the whirlwind of the past few days—winning the FCW Divas Championship, the outpouring of support from her peers, and the realization that this was just the beginning of a long road ahead.
"Hey, you alright?" Sandro asked softly, glancing at her.
April smiled but didn't turn her head. "Yeah, just thinking about everything. It's been such a crazy ride."
"It's only going to get crazier," Sandro said with a chuckle. "But you've got this. We all believe in you."
April looked over at him, her smile soft but sincere. "Thanks, Sandro. It means a lot. And thanks for everything tonight—for the ride, for everything you've done for the women's division. None of this would have happened without you pushing for us."
Sandro waved it off. "You earned that championship, April. I just gave you the platform. You took it and ran with it."
They arrived at their destinations, with Sandro dropping off Brianna and Nicole first, making sure they got into their homes safely before driving April to her apartment. By the time he finally returned to his own place, the clock was nearing 3 AM.
He was exhausted, but his mind was still racing from the night's events. After a quick shower and some water to stave off a potential hangover, he collapsed into bed and took a rest after a long day.
The next morning, Sandro's phone buzzed just as he finished his morning routine. It was his father, Jack, who he knew calling him with the results of his meetings with UFC and Marvel management.
Sandro felt a flicker of anticipation as he picked up the phone. He knew these meetings were crucial to their long-term plans. If everything went well, this could be the beginning of something massive.
"Hey, Dad," Sandro answered, sitting down on his living room couch.
"Sandro! How's my future tag team champion doing?" Jack's voice boomed with excitement.
Sandro chuckled, running a hand through his hair. "We're not there yet, but hopefully soon. How did the meetings go?"
Jack's tone shifted slightly as he dove into business mode. "Let's start with UFC. As you probably guessed, they're in need of serious liquidity right now because of the financial crisis. Dana and Lorenzo were upfront about the numbers—they need about 1.9 billion dollars to keep things running smoothly, paying staff and contracted fighters."
Sandro nodded, though he wasn't surprised by the figure. The economy was in shambles, and a lot of companies were struggling to stay afloat. "Did you manage to negotiate that down?"
Jack laughed, the sound full of pride. "Of course. I managed to get them down to 1.4 billion. Zuffa's owners are feeling the squeeze, and they're willing to take a hit to offload UFC and secure their other investments. So, we've reached a deal. We're looking at finalizing everything in the next two or three months, if all goes to plan."
A grin spread across Sandro's face. "That's amazing, Dad. 1.4 billion is a steal considering where UFC will be in a few years. They'll dominate the world of combat sports."
"That's exactly what I thought," Jack said, his voice buzzing with excitement. "There's so much potential there. We're buying low, and once the economy bounces back, UFC will be one of the biggest names in the industry. I'm glad we got in before anyone else had the chance."
Sandro let out a breath, feeling a sense of relief wash over him. "That's great to hear. So, smooth sailing from here?"
Jack paused for a moment before responding. "For the most part. There's always a bit of red tape to navigate, but we've got no real competitors, so I don't foresee any major issues."
"That's what I like to hear," Sandro said, leaning back into his couch. "And what about Marvel? How did that meeting go?"
There was a noticeable shift in Jack's tone as he moved on to the Marvel discussion. "Marvel's a bit more complicated. We hit an impasse with Ronald Perelman's group. They're quoting a price of around 3 billion dollars, which, frankly, isn't worth it when you factor in that they don't hold the full copyright to some of their key characters, like Spider-Man. They'd need additional funds to buy back those rights, and even then, there's no guarantee it'll go smoothly."
Sandro's brow furrowed, but he tried to keep his voice neutral. "3 billion seems steep, especially with everything tied up in licensing deals. But Marvel has so much potential, Dad. I mean, I've seen what they'll do in the future. The MCU is going to be huge."
Jack sighed. "I know you believe in that vision, son. And I get it—Marvel could be a goldmine. But right now, with the economy the way it is and their rights situation, it just doesn't make sense for us to pay that much. We could invest that money elsewhere and see quicker returns."
Sandro understood his father's hesitation, but he knew that Marvel was worth the gamble. He knew that, despite the challenges, the Marvel Cinematic Universe would become one of the most successful franchises in film history. Still, Jack was right—the timing wasn't ideal.
"I get where you're coming from," Sandro said after a moment. "But I still think it's worth it, especially if we can get control of the characters. Marvel has long-term value, even if it's not an immediate win."
Jack hummed in thought. "Tell you what—we'll keep negotiating. I won't pull the plug just yet, but I'm not moving forward unless we can get that price down and secure more of the character rights. There's no point in half-owning a brand if we can't use its biggest assets."
Sandro felt a wave of relief. "Thanks, Dad. I really believe in this. We'll make it work."
"We'll see," Jack replied, his tone thoughtful. "In the meantime, let's focus on UFC. That's a sure bet, and we've already got the ball rolling. You've got enough on your plate with wrestling and everything else. Once this deal is finalized, you'll be able to step in and make some big moves."
Sandro smiled. "Sounds like a plan."
The conversation wound down after that, with Jack filling Sandro in on a few more details about the UFC deal and how things would progress over the next couple of months. Sandro thanked his father for the update and hung up, feeling both excited and a little overwhelmed.
He sat on the couch for a while, processing everything. The UFC deal was a huge win, and he was confident that they'd turn the company into an even bigger powerhouse. Marvel, on the other hand, was a longer-term play, one that he believed in deeply but would take more time and effort to secure.
(A/N: For the amount of money needed to acquire UFC & Marvel, I had done several research and divided to quote such prices, before you ask, no I'm not an expert in this so I just thought of it, and if some feel that he prices ain't right please bear with it!)
_______________________
Name: Alessandro Zhang
Age: 18 (2008)
Birthplace: Orlando, Florida USA
Brand: FCW
Wrestling Style: Mixed Of All Style
Faction: Dragon Boom (Tag Team)
Championship History: 0