Chapter 15: 14. Sandro's First Live Event At FCW Arena
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One evening, after an intense training session, Sandro received a call from his father. Jack's voice sounded more relaxed this time. "Sandro, I have good news. Our strategy is working. We've managed to minimize our exposure to the collapsing sectors, and our portfolio is holding strong. The investment team has done an excellent job."
Listening to what his father said, Sandro heaved a sigh of relief and told his father that this was excellent news and suggested his father pay the team a large bonus to keep their loyalty and also to keep them quiet about the news.
Jack laughed when he heard what Sandro said and told him that he had already done that, proudly noting how similar their thinking was when it came to business. Jack then continued, saying that many of his business friends in their circle laughed at him for dumping his stocks.
He didn't care, though, because he had already made hundreds of millions of dollars from the stocks he sold due to the increasing price of the stock even though its internal problems becoming much worse, and he continued to buy and sell shorts to impact the price of the stocks while his business friends had agreed to buy his shares.
"Even though they're friends, business is business," Jack remarked. "When the crash comes, I'll be ready to acquire their companies. Maybe I'll even create a business group with our resorts as the main focus."
Hearing the ambition in his father's voice, Sandro just shook his head with a smile etched across his face. He knew that it was partly because of him that his father, who had been content with several resorts, now wanted to expand further.
After that they talked about other things, including Sandro teasing his father about maybe having a little sister or brother because both of his parents were in their late thirties and early forties, Jack just jokingly scolded Sandro before ending the call. Unknown to Sandro, however, a seed had been planted in Jack's mind.
During the training sessions, Sandro noticed that his focus and determination were sharper than ever. He channeled the stress and excitement from the financial world into his wrestling, pushing himself to new limits.
In the afternoon, while taking a break from training, Sandro received a call from his mother, Taylor. Her voice was filled with pride as she spoke about how well things were going at home and how Jack had been handling the financial crisis.
"Sandro, your father and I are so proud of you," Taylor said warmly. "You've shown incredible maturity and foresight, and your advice has been invaluable. We're all in a much better position because of what you predicted in the past."
"Thanks, Mom," Sandro replied, feeling a swell of pride in his chest. "I'm just glad everything is going well. How are you and Dad holding up, everything is okay at home right?"
"We're doing well," Taylor assured him. "Your father is as you always know, driven as ever. Meanwhile, I've been keeping things steady at home and work. We're both looking forward to seeing you soon."
After chatting with his mother for a bit longer, Sandro hung up and returned to his training with renewed energy. The support from his family meant the world to him, and it gave him an extra push to keep striving for success in both his wrestling career and their financial endeavors.
After the intense training session, Sandro went to the shower area, took a hot shower, and changed into fresh clothes. As he left the locker room, he bumped into Nick and Sheamus, who were discussing plans to watch the FCW Wrestling show live at the arena tonight.
When Sandro heard about the live event, he asked if he could join them. Both Nick and Sheamus immediately agreed, happy to have another friend to watch the show with.
With their plan set, Sandro decided to stay around the building and wait for the live event to start in about two hours. They had time to kill, so they decided to grab dinner at a nearby Mexican restaurant.
On their way to the restaurant, they ran into Kofi, who eagerly joined them for dinner and the live event. The group found a cozy booth at the restaurant, ordered their food, and settled in. As they waited for their meals, Sandro asked about the match card for the night.
Nick leaned forward, excited to share the details. "Tonight, we've got six matches lined up. The ones you don't want to miss are Drew and his partner, Stu Sanders, forming The Empire. They're going up against Gabe Tuft and Joe Hennig, the current FCW Tag Team Champions, for the titles."
Sheamus nodded in agreement. "Yeah, that's going to be a hell of a match, fella. Drew and Stu have been on a roll lately, and they're hungry for those belts. Here's hoping for them to win the titles then treat us to drinks tonight!"
Nick continued, "Another big match tonight is Nicole, with Brianna in her corner, facing off against Maryse. That one's going to be intense, especially with the Bella Twins involved and of course, beautiful women fighting was always a thing of beauty to watch, haha!"
Sheamus and Sandro join in Nick's laughter, knowing that what he said is right. Of course, it's not that they are looking down on the female wrestlers but please two beautiful women fighting in tight and open clothes were a bit arousing.
After the laughter, Sandro absorbs the excitement from his friends. This was his first time watching live FCW wrestling matches since he started training. Between his intense focus on training, becoming Taylor's opponent on Taylor's tryout match, the altercation with Caylen, and the news from his father about Lehman Brothers, he hadn't had the chance to attend a live event.
Their food arrived, and they dug in, enjoying the delicious Mexican cuisine while continuing to talk about wrestling. The atmosphere was relaxed, and Sandro felt a sense of companionship with his friends.
As they finished their meals and headed back to the FCW arena, the anticipation for the live event grew. They arrived at the arena and found their seats, which offered a great view of the ring. The arena was buzzing with energy, filled with fans eagerly awaiting the start of the show.
The lights dimmed, and the announcer's voice boomed through the speakers, signaling the beginning of the event. The first match featured two up and coming wrestlers showcasing their skills. The crowd cheered loudly, and Sandro even though not recognizing who they were, found himself caught up in the excitement, cheering along with everyone else.
Match after match, the action in the ring was intense and exhilarating. Sandro was particularly impressed by the athleticism and showmanship of the wrestlers. He studied their moves and techniques, gaining new insights and inspiration for his training.
When it was time for Drew and Stu Sanders, The Empire, to face Gabe Tuft and Joe Hennig for the Tag Team Championship, the arena reached a fever pitch. The match was a hard-fought battle, with both teams giving it their all.
The Empire's cohesive teamwork and sheer determination were evident as they executed powerful moves and strategic tag ins. Drew utilized his strength and height to launch heavy attacks on Gabe and Joe, meanwhile, Stu opted to do calculated powerful strikes and grapple moves throwing his opponent around.
Gabe and Joe, as the reigning champions, didn't hold back either. The match was a back-and-forth struggle, with near falls and dramatic moments that had the audience on the edge of their seats.
In the end, Drew and Stu's relentless pursuit of victory paid off. They managed to pin Joe Hennig after a devastating finisher they called The Conquest, which was Stu lifting their Joe into a powerbomb being combined with a reverse STO that Drew executed by jumping from the top corner post, securing the win and becoming the new FCW Tag Team Champions after the referee counted to three.
The crowd erupted in boos as Drew and Stu were the heel tag team as they were handed the championship belts by the referee. Sandro and his friends don't care about the crowds and cheers in celebration, applauding the new champions.
The joy and pride on Drew and Stu's faces were clear as they held their belts high, each standing in the middle rope left and right side, while taunting the crowds basking in the jeers of the fans.
After the thrilling tag team match, it was time for the highly anticipated showdown between Nicole and Maryse. Nicole, with Brianna by her side, exuded confidence as she made her way to the ring. Maryse, equally confident and determined, entered with a fierce look in her eyes.
The match was intense from the start, with both competitors displaying their impressive skills and resilience. Nicole's strength and quick thinking were matched by Maryse's agility and cunning.
Throughout the match, Brianna provided moral support from the ringside, encouraging her sister and keeping an eye on Maryse's every move, as Maryse was the heel and the Bella Twins were the face.
There were several close calls and dramatic moments, with both wrestlers pushing themselves to the limit. In the end, Nicole managed to outmaneuver Maryse, executing a brilliant finishing move she had called the Bella Buster which was a situation facebuster that secured her the victory. The crowd went wild, and Brianna rushed into the ring to celebrate with her sister.
Sandro couldn't help but be impressed by the talent and dedication of the wrestlers. He felt a renewed sense of motivation, eager to apply what he had learned from watching these incredible matches to his own training.
As the event came to a close, Sandro and his friends left the arena, still buzzing with excitement. They talked animatedly about the matches they had seen, each sharing their favorite moments and highlights.
"Man, that was incredible," Sandro said, grinning. "I can't wait to get back to training and work on some new moves man. I had so much inspiration by watching the matches tonight."
Nick nodded in agreement. "Yeah, tonight was a great night for all of us, especially Drew and Stu with winning those tag team championships."
Kofi clapped Sandro on the back. "You've got the right attitude, Sandro. Let's try some of those inspirations you had together tomorrow, you're a great training partner to warm yourself up before a match."
Sheamus smiled and as the oldest in the group of friends, he was focused on one thing right now, "Alright fellas, let's stop out talking and find ye bastards Drew and Stu to treat us to drinks tonight to celebrate their victory!"
Sheamus's words caused Sandro, Nick, and Kofi to laugh out loud in agreement. The four of them headed backstage to meet with Drew and Stu, who were posing and taking pictures with their tag team titles, photographed by FCW photographers to update the FCW website. Seeing Sandro and the others, Drew smiled and called them to come closer, which ended the photo session Drew and Stu had.
Stu immediately greeted Nick, Kofi, and Sheamus as he knew them and could be considered normal friends since they worked together, but Sandro was a new face for him and Drew acted as the bridge for the two of them to get to know each other.
Sandro inwardly couldn't believe that he was talking with the younger version of Wade Barrett, who was called Stu Sanders currently, so he showed normal enthusiasm in introducing himself to Stu.
"Hey, I'm Sandro. Great match tonight. You guys really brought the house down!" Sandro extended his hand, which Stu shook firmly.
"Thanks, Sandro," Stu replied with a smile. "Drew's been telling me about you. Says you've got a lot of potential."
Drew nodded, clapping Sandro on the shoulder. "This guy's been tearing it up in training. You'll see him in the ring soon enough."
Sheamus jumped in, "But for tonight, we're here to celebrate your win! Drinks are on you two, right fellas?"
Drew laughed, "Yeah, yeah, drinks on us, mate. Let's hit the town tonight with our glory!"
The group of six, now including Drew and Stu, left the arena together, their friendship evident in their easy banter and shared excitement. They found a nearby bar that was a favorite among wrestlers, a place where they could unwind and celebrate without too many prying eyes.
As they settled into a large booth, drinks were ordered, and the conversation flowed naturally. Stories of matches, training sessions, and future ambitions filled the air. Sandro, who had initially felt a bit starstruck, quickly felt at ease among the group. Stu leaned over to Sandro during a lull in the conversation. "So, Sandro, what got you into wrestling?"
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Name: Alessandro Zhang
Age: 18 (2008)
Birthplace: Orlando, Florida USA
Brand: None
Wrestling Style: None
Faction: None
Championship History: 0