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Sandro slipped the phone face down on his thigh, still listening with half an ear to the suits droning on. "Adjustment to developmental contract duration," one lawyer said. "Clause regarding exclusive footage rights," another murmured. He caught a phrase about travel reimbursements, another about performance evaluation structures.
All of it mattered, but none of it needed his spark. That part of the meeting was over.
He tapped his phone again, scrolling idly, but kept his ears open. Even in boredom, he didn't dare check out completely.
It was then that one of Stephanie's legal staff cleared their throat and announced, "With that, I believe we can close today's negotiations. All major and minor points have been agreed upon in principle. Our team will draft the formal contracts tonight and tomorrow morning. Signing will take place here at FCW Headquarters."
The words pulled Sandro back fully into the moment.
The energy of the room shifted again, a subtle but real release of pressure. Everyone exhaled, relieved that the hardest part was behind them.
Chairs shuffled as people stood. A ripple of polite applause filled the room. Sandro stood and clapped with them, his palms echoing alongside Stephanie's measured rhythm, Steve's hearty smacks, and Dusty's deliberate thumps.
The tension that had hung over the table was gone now, replaced with something lighter, history had been set in motion.
At the far end of the room, a banner had been rolled out, the FCW logo standing proudly beside the WWE emblem. A perfect backdrop for a photo. Stephanie and Triple H moved to stand shoulder to shoulder with Dusty and Steve. Sandro, lingering in the middle, was waved forward by Steve.
"C'mon, kid. You're part of this too."
So he stepped in, standing between the legends and the executives, smiling faintly as the cameras clicked. It wasn't the roar of an arena crowd, but it was history all the same.
When the photos were done, Steve clasped his hands together and looked at Stephanie, Hunter, and Sandro with the ease of a host shifting gears. "So… any of you want to stick around and catch tonight's house show? Got some of the kids working matches, card's solid. Would be a damn shame if you all left without watching."
Stephanie's smile widened. "Of course. I'd love to. It's been too long since I've seen one of your shows live."
Triple H nodded. "Same here. I want to see how the system's evolving. Always good to watch talent on the rise."
Sandro gave his own easy nod. "Yeah, of course. I'd love to stick around. Honestly, I'd like to use the chance to catch up with some of the boys and girls here. I haven't been able to talk with them much since I went up to the main roster. Schedules got crazy, you know how it is."
Steve laughed, a hearty, genuine sound. "Good, good. Then I'll prepare the best seats in the house for the three of you. You'll get the perfect view."
It was then, from the side of the room, that Dusty leaned forward with that mischievous spark in his eye. "Or… maybe we don't just sit you in the crowd. Sandro, how'd you feel about making a surprise appearance tonight? Maybe a promo, maybe even a match if you're up for it."
The room paused, all eyes drifting back to Sandro.
His brow arched, the corners of his mouth twitching. He hadn't planned on stepping into the spotlight tonight, but the thought… oh, the thought was tempting. The hum of the air conditioner filled the silence as everyone waited for his answer.
Sandro stayed silent for a while, his eyes drifting down toward the polished wooden table as the hum of the air conditioner filled the quiet. Everyone was watching him now, Dusty with that expectant gleam, Steve with a proud grin, Stephanie and Triple H both waiting to see if he would take the bait.
It wasn't an easy decision, not for him. He hadn't come to Tampa expecting to lace up his boots, not today. He'd come here to make history in the boardroom, not in the ring.
But as he sat there, the thought of walking out in front of that FCW crowd again, the same place that molded him, the place that made him who he was, sent a spark down his spine. The energy, the smell of the mats, the sound of that small but passionate crowd… it all came rushing back.
Finally, Sandro looked up at Dusty with that familiar smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth.
"Yeah," he said, voice low at first, but steady. "Yeah, I'd like to do that. Preferably a match, though. Maybe with someone I know well, like Taylor, Nemeth, Wyatt… one of the old crew."
The room broke into light laughter, the tension dissolving instantly. Steve chuckled as Dusty clapped his hands together, nodding with satisfaction.
"Well, we can do that, son," Dusty said with that trademark grin. "As a matter of fact, Nemeth's here tonight. He doesn't have a match booked, but I know he'd be over the moon to wrestle his best friend again."
Sandro let out a small laugh, rubbing his palms together like a man warming up before the storm. "Yeah? Then hell, I'm in. I'm pumped already."
He leaned back in his chair, but just as the excitement began to sink in, something else struck him. A mischievous glimmer flickered in his eyes as he turned his gaze toward Stephanie and Triple H.
"Wait," he said suddenly, his tone shifting into something serious. "Would it be okay if I… raised the stakes a bit?"
Stephanie arched an eyebrow. "Raised the stakes?"
Sandro nodded. "Yeah. I mean, if I'm going to make an appearance, let's make it mean something. Let's give it some real weight."
Stephanie folded her arms. "What did you have in mind, Sandro?"
The words came without hesitation. "I'll put my WWE United States Championship on the line."
The silence that followed was almost comical. You could've heard a pin drop.
Triple H blinked. Steve's jaw literally fell open. Dusty's eyes widened, and Stephanie's head tilted as if she wasn't sure she'd heard right.
"You'll what?" she asked, incredulous.
Sandro didn't flinch. He leaned forward, eyes sharp and confident. "You heard me. I'll defend my United States title right here in FCW, against Nic. No scripts, no politics, no corporate red tape. Just two guys who came from this place putting on one hell of a show."
The executives exchanged glances. It was bold, maybe reckless, but undeniably brilliant.
"I want to do this because it's symbolic," Sandro continued. "It'll bring more attention to FCW. It shows the world and the industry, that this acquisition between WWE and FCW isn't just corporate talk. It's evolution in motion. If we do this right, we make headlines. We build anticipation for NXT before it even launches. And, honestly, it's a signal, we're taking this seriously. This isn't just developmental anymore. This is the future."
For a moment, the room was silent again, but this time the silence wasn't disbelief. It was consideration.
Stephanie looked at him, really looked at him, and her expression softened. What he was saying made sense. It was risky, sure, but it was also an opportunity. A real marketing spark.
Triple H finally broke the silence, rubbing his chin thoughtfully. "It could work," he admitted. "It's risky, but the potential's massive. Vince will probably blow a gasket when he hears about it, but…" He grinned. "After he sees the reaction and what it does for business, he'll come around. He always does. After a few grumbles."
Dusty and Steve burst out laughing, their voices echoing off the boardroom walls.
"Boy, ain't that the truth," Dusty said between chuckles. "Old Vince'll bark and bite for a bit, but once those numbers roll in, he'll be calling it his idea by next week."
Stephanie laughed too, shaking her head. "You two aren't wrong." She looked back at Sandro, her professional poise returning. "Alright, Sandro. You've got my approval. But remember this, if you're putting a WWE title on the line, you can't look weak. Not even for a second. This match needs to elevate both of you, not make the main roster look vulnerable."
"Understood," Sandro said, nodding. "I'll make sure it's done right."
Stephanie turned toward Dusty. "By the way, Dusty, does Nic hold any title right now?"
Dusty rubbed his chin and nodded. "He sure does. The kid's holding the FCW Florida Heavyweight Championship at the moment. Top dog around here. But since it's a house show, it won't mess with the official prestige if he loses. After all, it's Sandro's WWE United States title that's actually on the line."
Sandro blinked, a little taken aback. "Wait, Nic's the FCW Florida Heavyweight Champion right now?"
Dusty grinned proudly. "That's right. Kid's come a long way. You'd be proud."
Sandro's surprise melted into a wide smile. He couldn't help but feel a sense of pride himself. In his past life, he remembered how Nic or Dolph Ziggler as the world knew him, had been underutilized, overlooked for years. But here, in this alternate timeline, Nic Nemeth had reached the top of FCW. He'd become the face of the brand.
It was poetic, in a way, two best friends, both champions, about to clash not for ego but to create history.
"Well," Sandro said finally, chuckling. "That changes things. Guess I'll have to bring my A game tonight."
Dusty smiled. "That's the spirit, son."
With that, things moved quickly. The meeting adjourned fully, and Steve personally led them out of the boardroom. Dusty immediately went to inform the creative team of the last-minute change. The buzz spread like wildfire through the hallways of FCW.
By the time Dusty found Nemeth in the locker room, word had already begun circulating.
"Nic," Dusty said, stepping inside. "Got a surprise for you tonight. You're main-eventing."
Nemeth looked up from lacing his boots, one brow cocked. "Main eventing? I wasn't even booked."
Dusty chuckled. "That's changing now. You'll find out who you're facing soon enough, but I'll say this, it's gonna be one hell of a surprise."
Nemeth grinned. "Alright then. Whatever it is, I'm ready."
Back in the locker room area, wrestlers whispered among themselves. A main event change this late in the night was rare, and it had everyone guessing. Some thought it was a visiting WWE veteran, others believed it was an angle to set up a title unification. Nobody suspected what was really coming.
Meanwhile, Sandro made his way to a private dressing room. Inside, a familiar sight greeted him, his old FCW gear. The same black and gold tights and jacket he'd worn during his heel run before his main roster call up. He hadn't seen it in quite some time, but it was still there, neatly folded in a trunk like a relic of who he used to be.
"Guess it's time to dust off the old look," he muttered with a grin.
He suited up, adjusting the wrist tape, the knee pads, the jacket. For the title, Dusty had arranged a replica of the WWE United States Championship, since the real one was locked away in Stamford. It gleamed under the light all the same, carrying the illusion of legitimacy that would make the moment perfect.
By the time he finished gearing up, the arena was buzzing. The show had already started, and he joined Stephanie, Triple H, Steve, and Dusty in a private viewing box overlooking the small FCW arena.
They watched match after match, each one showcasing the future of WWE. Stephanie commented on certain talents, who had presence, who needed polishing. Triple H scribbled notes now and then, clearly scouting. Steve and Dusty just sat back, proud of the product they'd built.
Sandro, though, was quiet. He watched the ring with a nostalgia that hit deep. Every slam, every pop, every cheer brought memories flooding back. He'd bled on that canvas, sweated under those lights. This place wasn't just a stepping stone, it was his foundation.
Finally, the ring announcer's voice boomed. "Ladies and gentlemen, your main event of the evening!"
The crowd erupted, the FCW loyalists clapping and cheering.
"And it will be for the WWE United States Championship!"
The roar turned into a shocked gasp. People exchanged confused looks. Even the commentary team at ringside looked at each other, clearly not briefed on the twist. Dusty grinned from the booth. "That'll get their attention."
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Name: Alessandro Zhang
Age: 20 (2010)
Birthplace: Orlando, Florida, USA
Brand: WWE - RAW
Wrestling Style: Mixed Of All Styles
Faction: The Undisputed System
Championships History: 1x FCW Tag Team Champions, 1x FCW Florida Heavyweight Champion, 1x TNA World Heavyweight Champion, 1x TNA X Division Champion, & 1x WWE United States Champion
Other Achievements: 1x Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royale Winner
Wrestlemania Record: 1 - 0