Chapter 12: 11. Tryout Match Opponent For Taylor Rotunda
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Back in his hotel room, Sandro lay in bed, reflecting on the day's events. He thought about the camaraderie he had already begun to build with his fellow wrestlers, the guidance and encouragement from Dusty and Steve, and the unwavering support of his parents. "This is just the beginning," he thought to himself. "I'm going to give it everything I have and make them all proud." With that final thought, Sandro closed his eyes, drifting off to sleep with a smile on his face.
The next day, Sandro woke up in the early morning to do his usual morning run. Returning to his hotel room, he received a call from his mother, who told him that they would do some apartment hunting for him after his training today, so they would pick him up at the FCW Headquarters.
Sandro agreed and ended the phone call after saying, "I love you too," to his mother. He took a speedy shower, changed into his workout clothes, grabbed his sports bag, and left his hotel room, heading toward the FCW Headquarters by taking a metro bus.
Once he arrived, he entered the building and immediately headed toward the training area, where he saw Nick, Kofi, Drew, and Sheamus training together. He joined them after putting down his sports bag.
Seeing Sandro, the four of them greeted him, and they began some light exercises together to warm up and reduce the chance of injury. As they exercised, they talked about various topics, including education.
When Sandro revealed his double bachelor's degrees in business and law, Nick, Kofi, Drew, and Sheamus looked at him as if they were looking at a monster. They were astonished not only by Sandro's rich background and physical talent but also by his academic achievements.
"A genius freak I say! Two bachelor degrees at once and graduated at 18 years old?! That's the craziest thing I heard in me life!" Drew said full of astonishment, combined with his Scottish accent caused it to sound like a television news in Scotland.
Nick, Kofi, and Sheamus nodded their head agreeing with what Drew had just said, never expecting that Sandro would be a genius which put them who were much older to shame.
After that, They asked how he managed his time between classes, working out, and training in several martial arts. Sandro explained that it was all about meticulous planning, a strong work ethic, and to never give up even when you feel tired mentally and physically.
As they were talking, they were suddenly interrupted by two female wrestlers whom Sandro recognized immediately. They were the Bella Twins. The older, bustier one was Nikki Bella, currently known as Nicole Bella, and the younger, smaller one was Brie Bella, currently known as Brianna Bella.
Sandro knew they would become WWE Hall of Famers in the future, though he personally thought there were many more deserving female wrestlers than them when they were inducted, who had much more impact in the business.
Both Nicole and Brianna greeted the four of Nick, Kofi, Drew, and Sheamus before turning their attention to Sandro. Seeing his unfamiliar and young face combined with his handsome appearance, immediately caused them to be intrigued.
"Hey, who's the new guy?" Nikki asked, her eyes scanning Sandro with interest.
"This is Sandro," Nick introduced him. "He just started yesterday, and Nicole go easy on him don't look with such eye please."
"Nice to meet you, Sandro," Brianna on the other hand said with a friendly smile. "How are you finding it here so far in FCW?"
"It's been great," Sandro replied, trying to keep his focus despite the youthful beauty the twins had comored to when he saw them on WWE in his most life. "Everyone's been really welcoming, especially Nick, Kofi, Drew, and Sheamus."
"That's good to hear," Nicole said, her smile a bit more flirtatious. "We need more good looking guys around here you know, especially one young hunk like you."
Sandro chuckled, a bit embarrassed by her words because the one praising him was people he saw on television in the past. "Thanks, I guess. The two of you are also very stunning, at least compared to my teammates in my university and some of my classmates."
Nicole and Brianna giggled when they heard what Sandro said, "Why thank you Sandro. We truly appreciate that compliment, not only handsome but had a glib tongue as well." Nicole replied giving him a saucy wink.
"Don't let it get to your head, Sandro," Drew teased. "She's just being nice, you need to get in the line if you wanted to be with either of them."
"Or maybe not, seeing as both of them showed interest, maybe it's going to be a three way for Sandro," Kofi added with a wink.
The group shared a laugh when they heard what Kofi said, even more laughter when they saw Sandro's face turned red. After talking for a while, the twins eventually moved on to their own training before giving Sandro a parting wink. Sandro resumed his exercises, feeling a mix of amusement and flattery.
Training that day was intense. Dusty and Steve pushed everyone hard, running them through a series of grueling drills and practice matches. Sandro worked closely with Nick, who continued to offer valuable guidance and encouragement.
After training, Sandro grabbed a quick shower and changed into fresh clothes. As he was about to head out, his phone buzzed with a message from his mother. They were outside, waiting to pick him up. Sandro quickly made his way to the entrance, where he found his parents in a fancy sleek black BMW.
"Ready for some apartment hunting?" Jack asked Sandro opening his window, with an eager look across his face.
"Definitely," Sandro replied, climbing into the back seat.
They spent the afternoon touring various apartments in the Tampa area. Sandro had a clear idea of what he wanted, a place close to the FCW facility, with enough space for a home gym and a comfortable living area.
After visiting several options, they found a modern apartment complex that seemed perfect. It had a spacious layout, state of the art amenities, several bedrooms, two bathrooms, and was just a short drive from the training facility.
"I think this is the one," Sandro said, feeling satisfied as he looked upon the fully furnished apartment of his choosing.
Taylor smiled, pleased with his choice. "It's a great place, Sandro. It had a safe neighborhood and close to several restaurant as well, I think you'll be very happy and content here."
Jack agreed. "Let's get the paperwork sorted out then."
They spent the next hour finalizing the lease with the agent, and by the end of the day, Sandro had a new place to call home. They returned to the hotel to celebrate with a nice dinner at the hotel restaurant.
As they sat down to eat, Taylor raised her glass. "To Sandro, and his bright future in wrestling. We're so proud of you."
"To Sandro," Jack echoed, clinking his glass with Taylor's and Sandro's.
"Thanks, Mom and Dad," Sandro said, feeling a wave of gratitude. "I couldn't have done any of this without you."
After a shared celebratory dinner, Sandro packed his things with the help of his mother while his father stepped outside to call his secretary, arranging for a moving company to transfer some of Sandro's belongings from Orlando to his new apartment in Tampa.
Once everything was packed, they checked out of the hotel, loaded up Jack and Taylor's things, and headed to Sandro's new apartment to spend the night.
Several days passed in the blink of an eye. Jack and Taylor had to return to Orlando for work, so they said their goodbyes to Sandro, leaving the BMW for him to use in Tampa. After they left, the apartment felt emptier, and Sandro realized how much he missed their presence.
Determined not to let loneliness get to him, he decided to take a walk to the FCW Headquarters instead of driving the BMW, wanting to avoid drawing unnecessary attention.
As Sandro approached the FCW building, he was surprised to see IRS and Blackjack Mulligan, who had returned to Brooksville the day after his tryout. Standing with them was Taylor Rotunda, who caused Sandro to remember that he would be joining FCW after his graduation.
It seemed Taylor was here for his tryout, and since graduation was around the corner he woudk do his tryout first and after officially graduating he would move here to Tampa and officially join FCW.
Sandro greeted the trio from afar. IRS, Blackjack Mulligan, and Taylor returned his greeting warmly. Sandro approached them, and IRS was the first to speak.
"Good to see you again, Sandro," IRS said with a smile. "How's everything going?"
"Really well, thanks, Mr.Rotunda" Sandro replied. "I just moved into my new apartment, and I'm ready to dive into training today."
"That's great to hear, kid," Blackjack Mulligan said, giving him a pat on the back. "Keep up the hard work, and you'll go far in this business."
Sandro nodded, then turned to Taylor. "Hey Taylor, nice to see you again, good luck with your tryout! I'm sure you'll do great so no need to be nervous."
"Thanks, Sandro," Taylor replied with a grin. "I've been training hard for this and I can't wait to join you in FCW!"
They chatted for a few more minutes before Sandro headed inside to start his training. The day's session was rigorous, as usual. Dusty and Steve had them running drills and working on various techniques.
As he was taking a break and chatting with Nick and Kofi, Sandro was approached by Dusty who informed him that he would like to have a word with him. After Nick and Kofi left, Dusty turned to Sandro with a serious yet encouraging look.
"Sandro, I've been keeping an eye on your progress," Dusty began. "And I think you've got a lot of potential. That's why I want you to be Taylor's competitor for his tryout match."
Sandro was taken aback. "Are you sure, Dusty? I mean, I've only been here for 2 weeks. Are you sure I'm ready and qualified for this?"
Dusty smiled warmly. "Absolutely. You're one of the safest wrestlers we've got here in FCW. I've watched your sparring matches with Nick, Kofi, Drew, and Sheamus. You've got the skills, and more importantly, you understand the importance of keeping your opponent safe. I believe you'll be a great fit for this."
Hearing this filled Sandro with a sense of pride and responsibility. He nodded, accepting Dusty's trust in him. "Alright, Dusty. I'll do my best."
Dusty led Sandro to the ring area, where Steve, IRS, Blackjack Mulligan, and Taylor Rotunda were waiting. As they approached, IRS and Blackjack Mulligan smiled, clearly approving of Dusty's choice for Taylor's opponent.
"Alright, boys," Dusty said, clapping his hands together. "Let's get this tryout started. Taylor, you've been working hard for this. Sandro, show him what you've got."
Sandro and Taylor entered the ring, shaking hands before taking their positions. They locked eyes, both understanding the importance of this match. For Taylor, it was his gateway into FCW. For Sandro, it was a chance to prove himself and help a fellow wrestler get his start.
The match began with a series of lock-ups and chain wrestling, showcasing their technical skills. Sandro was mindful of keeping the pace steady, ensuring Taylor could showcase his abilities without risking injury.
The back and forth continued, with Sandro allowing Taylor to get in some impressive moves, making him look strong and capable while at the same time keeping Taylor safe.
At one point, Taylor executed a perfectly timed dropkick, sending Sandro to the mat. Sandro sold the move, making it look impactful while staying safe. The few observers, including IRS and Blackjack Mulligan, nodded in approval.
As the match progressed, Sandro noticed that Taylor was starting to get more confident. He started calling for more complex spots, which Sandro executed with precision. A high flying crossbody from Taylor was caught and turned into a powerslam by Sandro, followed by a near fall that had everyone on the edge of their seats.
The culmination of the match came when Sandro set Taylor up for a suplex. Taylor countered, slipping behind Sandro and rolling him up for a quick pin. Sandro kicked out at two, but the crowd's excitement was palpable. Taylor capitalized on the momentum, hitting Sandro with a spinning spinebuster before going for the pin again. This time, Sandro stayed down for the three count.
The room erupted in applause as Taylor stood victorious. Sandro got to his feet, shaking Taylor's hand and raising it in the air, signaling his approval and respect for Taylor.
Dusty, Steve, IRS, and Blackjack Mulligan entered the ring, all smiles. Dusty clapped Taylor on the back. "Great job, kid. You're welcome to FCW after you finish your high school graduation."
IRS and Blackjack Mulligan shared a proud look, knowing their boy had made it. They turned to Sandro, offering their thanks. "You did good, Sandro," IRS said. "Taylor couldn't have asked for a better opponent for his tryout." "Thanks," Sandro replied, feeling a sense of accomplishment. "I'm glad I could help."
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Name: Alessandro Zhang
Age: 18 (2008)
Birthplace: Orlando, Florida USA
Brand: None
Wrestling Style: None
Faction: None
Championship History: 0