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Stu and Kofi added their own power moves, while Taylor and Creed choreographed their own exchange to keep the intensity boiling. When they felt satisfied, they took a break to go over the whole sequence in their minds. Each of them was on the same page, confident in the performance they'd deliver next Monday.
After their intense training session, the six wrestlers finally parted ways, leaving each other with high fives and promises to be ready for Monday's big segment. Sandro lingered a bit longer, heading toward the lobby of FCW Headquarters.
As he waited for Nicole and April, he opened his iPhone, tapped the Twitter icon, and typed "FCW" into the search bar. The screen lit up with tweets, and his heart swelled seeing how immersed fans were in the storyline they had built together.
Fans were buzzing with excitement and theories about Creed's shocking partnership with The Empire, Sandro and Kofi's fiercest rivals. Some tweets speculated on Creed's motivations, others expressed disappointment in him for "betraying" his potential as an honorable fighter, while a few fans eagerly predicted the conflict would only intensify.
Most of all, fans were hooked, and each post showed that people couldn't wait for the next Monday's showdown. The response was everything they had hoped for.
As Sandro scrolled, he let out a smile. This level of fan engagement showed that all their hard work had paid off. Fans were speculating about the rivalry, passionately discussing the storyline, and the anticipation for next week's episode was through the roof. Sandro took pride in the story they were creating, and it reaffirmed to him that their efforts were in sync with what the fans wanted.
After enjoying the FCW fan reactions, Sandro searched for news about WWE, curious about developments in the industry. Instantly, his feed was filled with posts discussing an unexpected announcement: Vince McMahon, the Chairman of WWE, had recently opened the company to a significant investment from Nexum Core Enterprise.
The rising financial giant had acquired Marvel and UFC in the past, and now they had purchased a 14.5% stake in WWE, making them the second-largest shareholder after the McMahon family. Seeing this put a smile on Sandro's face, as the news of his father acquiring shares in WWE was finally publicized.
He then saw speculation in the comments that was rampant, with fans and analysts wondering about the implications of Nexum's involvement. Some speculated that WWE might shift its direction in storytelling or production values, while others worried that the move might bring drastic changes to its roster or format.
As Sandro scrolled through tweets and headlines, soaking up fan theories and industry speculation, he felt two hands on his shoulders, jolting him out of his thoughts. Startled, he looked up to find Nicole and April grinning down at him. His face softened immediately, breaking into a warm smile.
Nicole tilted her head with a playful smirk. "You looked so absorbed. We've been calling your name, you know. What's got you so hooked on that phone?"
Sandro chuckled and locked his iPhone. "Just reading fans' reactions to last night's show and catching up on some news about WWE." He stood up, pocketing his phone, and led Nicole and April out of FCW's lobby. Together, they walked toward the parking lot, slipping into Sandro's car before heading toward a small, cozy French bistro he'd been wanting to take them to.
As they drove, Nicole and April filled the car with a lively recap of last night show, praising the way Sandro, Kofi, Taylor, and Creed had kept the audience on edge. They exchanged their favorite moments from the storyline, adding their insights as fans and insiders.
Once seated at the restaurant, the three of them ordered their meals and settled into an easy conversation about last night's events. Between bites of French onion soup and delicate pastries, Nicole and April shifted the conversation to something that had been circulating backstage: a rumor that Sandro had personally influenced Dusty and Steve's decisions on some of the female talent being scouted for FCW. Nicole raised an eyebrow at him playfully, curious about his take.
Sandro laughed, shrugging modestly. "I wouldn't say I had a 'hand' in the choices, really. Dusty and Steve have their own vision for the women's division. But they asked for my input a couple of times. They're committed to finding not only talent but also people who bring something unique to the ring and beyond it."
April leaned in, intrigued. "So, do you feel like the division is moving in the right direction with the new additions that will come?"
"Oh, absolutely," he nodded. "Some of the talent coming through, whether they're wrestlers or trainees have a different kind of energy, a mix of experience and fresh perspectives. I think it's going to add so much depth to the FCW roster."
They continued talking over lunch, discussing the industry's changes, new talent, and even some friendly speculation about the WWE and Nexum deal. Sandro could feel his excitement bubbling as he shared more details about his ideas with Nicole and April. He'd spent countless hours envisioning ways to broaden FCW's appeal and bring in a fresh, dynamic roster that would stand out.
After they finished their meal, the trio decided to take a walk through a nearby park. The atmosphere was calm, and it was a pleasant change from the high-energy environment of FCW.
As they strolled through the park, savoring the fresh air and peaceful surroundings, Sandro, Nicole, and April were unexpectedly approached by a small group of fans. The group of four seemed genuinely thrilled to see them, their eyes lighting up as they recognized the trio from FCW. "Hey, it's Sandro, Nicole, and April!" one of them exclaimed, sparking a wave of excitement.
The fans eagerly gathered around, asking for autographs and pictures. Nicole, a heel character in the FCW storyline, smoothly slipped into her persona, feigning reluctance with a heavy sigh, as if signing autographs and posing for pictures were an immense inconvenience.
"Alright, alright," she muttered in a playfully begrudging tone, rolling her eyes just enough to stay in character. The fans loved it, chuckling and appreciating her commitment to the act.
Sandro and April, who were both faces, readily agreed with warm smiles, radiating friendliness as they signed programs and took pictures. Sandro enjoyed these moments, it reminded him of why he loved wrestling, the way it could bring fans so much joy and excitement.
He even exchanged a few words with the fans, thanking them for their support and promising more exciting storylines and matches in the coming weeks.
As they finished taking pictures, one of the fans, clearly a longtime follower of FCW, gave them a curious look and asked, "So, what brings the three of you out to the park together? Don't tell me we're about to see an unexpected alliance!"
For a moment, Sandro, Nicole, and April froze. They hadn't planned on revealing their close bond outside the ring, let alone any personal relationships.
The question hung in the air, and a quick glance passed between them as they silently wondered how to respond. But Sandro, quick on his feet, broke the silence with a smooth, easy grin.
"Actually," he began, "we're working on some ideas for the next segment. Just trying to get a change of scenery to keep the creative juices flowing, you know?" He gestured around the park with a casual wave. "Sometimes the best ideas come when you're outside the ring."
The fans bought it, nodding with understanding. April and Nicole both exhaled quietly, visibly relieved that Sandro had managed to divert the attention away from anything personal. They continued chatting with the fans, and eventually, after a few more questions and a round of high-fives, the fans waved goodbye and headed off, leaving the trio to continue their walk.
Once the fans were out of earshot, Nicole let out a small laugh, lightly smacking Sandro on the arm. "Nice save, Mr. Quick Thinking. I thought we were done for."
April chimed in, smiling, "Yeah, that was close. I guess we need to be a little more careful, or we're going to have some accidental spoilers!"
Sandro shrugged, grinning. "All part of the job, right? But seriously, maybe it's time we start thinking about how to handle things if our relationships become public. Fans are observant; they'll eventually pick up on things."
April's smile softened. "Yeah, I've thought about that too. I just… want to make sure we handle it on our own terms, not as part of some storyline twist or reveal. I want it to be real, you know?"
Nicole nodded in agreement. "I get that. Wrestling fans are smart. They know when something's genuine and when it's just for show."
They continued their walk, the conversation turning to their plans for the future. April shared a few of her goals for the next season in FCW, mentioning her hopes of expanding her character and exploring new in-ring styles.
Sandro and Nicole listened with interest, encouraging her and tossing out ideas they'd each found useful in their careers. They brainstormed potential feuds, new finishing moves, and different ways to engage with fans on social media.
Eventually, they found themselves back at Sandro's car, the afternoon sunlight casting long shadows across the parking lot. As they climbed into the car and headed back, they fell into an easy silence, each of them reflecting on their journeys and the paths still ahead.
After dropping off Nicole and April at their respective apartments, Sandro continued his drive home, his mind buzzing with thoughts.
He found himself reflecting on his unique position, he had memories from a previous life where he'd followed WWE closely, which had helped him recommend certain wrestlers to FCW. But as he thought about it, he realized a critical gap: he knew the talents of those who had entered WWE and the mainstream, but when it came to other wrestling promotions, he was lacking.
He'd been aware of TNA, ROH, and a few others, but he hadn't followed them deeply, and his exposure to international promotions like NJPW had been minimal.
As he drove, his mind drifted to the question of how he could stay on top of emerging wrestlers beyond WWE, not only within the United States but also from other countries and independent circuits. He knew that talent could be found anywhere, and he didn't want to miss out on promising wrestlers who could bring something fresh to FCW and WWE in the future.
Just as he reached a red light, inspiration hit him. The memory of the fans he, Nicole, and April had met in the park flashed in his mind. These fans were observant, passionate, and tuned in to everything happening in wrestling.
An idea began to take shape. What if he could utilize the collective insight of wrestling fans to keep an eye on up-and-coming talent, both local and international? He could create a network of dedicated fans who could act as scouts, providing information on wrestlers making waves in their local indie circuits or overseas.
Social media platforms like Twitter and Facebook could serve as the foundation of this network, allowing fans to easily share updates, and match results, and observations.
Sandro's mind raced with possibilities as he started thinking about what such a system might look like. Perhaps it could function as a sort of "fan agency" with a few core tasks. Fans could be tasked with tracking talent, documenting wrestlers who had the potential to rise through the ranks, and even doing some background checks to flag any red flags. After all, locker room harmony was crucial, and he wanted to ensure that any new talent FCW and WWE brought on board would only add to its positive culture.
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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