Becoming A Wrestler

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By the time Shane left, the pitch had evolved into a polished, comprehensive proposal that highlighted every potential angle: nostalgia, talent development, fan engagement, and long-term revenue opportunities. Stephanie and Triple H felt more confident than ever, knowing they had covered all their bases.

The following morning, Stephanie called Dusty to update him on their progress. "Dusty," she said, "we're almost ready to pitch this to Dad. Shane helped us refine the proposal, and we've added sections on nostalgia and long-term potential. If we play our cards right, I think we can get him to say yes."

Dusty's voice was warm and optimistic. "That's good to hear, darlin'. You've got my full support, and I know Sandro's been working on his end to make sure this is airtight. Just let me know when the meeting's set, and I'll be ready."

Stephanie promised Dusty she'd do everything possible to get her father on board with the War Games idea. After hanging up, she took a deep breath and began her next task which was reaching out to Jack, the CEO and founder of Nexum Core Enterprise.

As the second-largest stakeholder in WWE, Jack's support could be pivotal in swaying her father's opinion during the upcoming board meeting. Stephanie scrolled through her contacts and dialed Jack's number.

On the other hand, at Nexum Core Enterprise HQ, Jack was seated in his sleek, modern office, reviewing emails on his desktop. He had just wrapped up a series of meetings and was finally able to catch up on messages. One email stood out for Jack, its subject line read, "Idea that I hope you can pitch to Vince, Dad."

Curious and intrigued, Jack opened the email and began reading through the detailed pitch his son, Sandro, had drafted for an ambitious concept titled "The Forbidden Door."

The document was meticulously structured, with sections covering the concept, execution strategy, potential collaborators, financial projections, and fan engagement opportunities, something that he always could see in the document from Sandro.

Jack was impressed, not just as a father but as a business leader. Sandro had clearly done his homework, presenting a vision that balanced bold innovation with practicality.

The idea of a cross-promotional event where WWE talent could face off against wrestlers from other major promotions was groundbreaking. It was a concept that could redefine the boundaries of professional wrestling, appealing to both hardcore fans and casual viewers.

Jack leaned back in his chair, smiling. This kid has the potential to change the game, he thought. He was already considering how to position the idea during the board meeting, especially given that Sandro had wisely included detailed financial projections and fan engagement strategies that aligned with Nexum Core's focus on data-driven innovation.

As he contemplated the potential of the Forbidden Door, his phone rang. The caller ID displayed an unknown number, but Jack decided to pick it up.

"Jack speaking," he said.

"Hello, Mr. Jack, this is Stephanie McMahon. I hope I'm not disturbing you," came a polite yet determined voice.

Jack was momentarily surprised. It wasn't every day that Vince McMahon's daughter called him. Regaining his composure, he replied, "Stephanie, it's a pleasure. No disturbance at all. What can I do for you?"

Stephanie wasted no time diving into the purpose of her call. "I'm reaching out because Dusty Rhodes and a wrestler named Sandro pitched an idea for FCW, a War Games pay-per-view event, and it's something I believe could have a significant impact on WWE's future. Triple H, Shane, and I are preparing to present the concept to my father, but knowing how he operates, there's a strong chance he'll reject it outright."

Jack listened intently as Stephanie laid out the situation.

"We've drafted a comprehensive pitch," she continued. "But if Vince doesn't approve, we may need support from the board to push it forward. That's why I'm calling you, I'm hoping Nexum Core can back us up during the meeting."

Jack was impressed by Stephanie's forthrightness. "That's quite an undertaking," he said thoughtfully. "War Games… that's Dusty's old idea from WCW, right? Where there were two rings, one giant cage, and teams entering at staggered intervals. It has a lot of potential, especially if done correctly."

"Exactly," Stephanie replied, her enthusiasm evident. "Dusty and Sandro have modernized the concept to appeal to today's audience while still honoring its legacy. We believe it could be a game-changer, especially for FCW."

Jack's curiosity was piqued even further. Sandro's creativity and determination were shining through yet again. However, Jack chose not to reveal his connection to Sandro just yet.

"It sounds like a solid idea," he said. "I'd be happy to review the pitch you've prepared and provide feedback if needed. And if it aligns with Nexum Core's vision, you can count on our support during the meeting."

Stephanie's relief could be heard through her voice. "Thank you, Jack. That means a lot. I'll send over the details immediately. And if you have any suggestions for strengthening the proposal, we'd greatly appreciate it."

"Consider it done," Jack replied. "One more thing, did Sandro only pitch War Games, or has he been working on anything else?"

Stephanie hesitated, caught off guard by the question. "Actually… now that you mention it, Dusty did mention Sandro working on another idea, but I haven't seen or heard the details from Dusty. Why do you ask?"

"Oh, just curious," Jack said smoothly, hiding his amusement. "It seems like he's really coming into his own creatively."

After a few more pleasantries, the call ended. Jack leaned back in his chair, mulling over everything he had learned. The War Games concept was strong, but the Forbidden Door idea… that was revolutionary. He decided he'd wait until the board meeting to see how events unfolded before revealing Sandro's other pitch.

True to her word, Stephanie emailed Jack the War Games proposal that afternoon. She spent the rest of the night refining her presentation, incorporating insights from her earlier brainstorming session with Triple H and Shane.

The next morning, Jack reviewed Stephanie's pitch alongside Sandro's Forbidden Door proposal. Both ideas were strong, but Jack couldn't help but feel a sense of pride in his son's innovative thinking.

He called in his executive team to discuss the proposals, careful not to disclose Sandro's involvement just yet. "I want your honest opinions on these concepts," he told them. "Do you think they align with our strategy as WWE's second-largest stakeholder?"

The team was unanimously in favor of supporting War Games, citing its potential to boost FCW's profile and appeal to nostalgic fans. The Forbidden Door idea, however, sparked even greater excitement.

"This could be a landmark event," one executive said. "It's bold, but if executed properly, it could redefine WWE's relationship with other promotions and attract a global audience."

Several executives also share the same opinion as the executive who gave his opinion, saying that this will bring tremendous attention which in turn increase ratings and merch sales, while also opening a new global market and attracting hardcore fans from other countries.

Seeing the huge support given by his team, Jack nodded his head and leaned forward, addressing his team. "This concept isn't just about bringing something new to the table; it's about redefining how WWE connects with fans worldwide. The Forbidden Door can bridge gaps between promotions, create dream matches, and reignite interest in professional wrestling. I'll push this in the boardroom, but we'll need to be prepared for pushback. Make sure every number and projection in Sandro's proposal is airtight."

The room buzzed with activity as the executives began preparing for the upcoming board meeting. Jack, however, had another task on his mind. He needed to speak to Sandro before the meeting, not just as a father but as a mentor who recognized his son's growing potential.

After that, Jack wrapped up the meeting with his executive team. The overwhelming support for Sandro's "Forbidden Door" concept filled him with pride but also a sense of responsibility. He knew Vince McMahon wasn't the type to embrace change easily, especially when it involved collaboration with outside wrestling promotions.

However, Jack saw the potential in this idea, not only as a groundbreaking event but also as a strategy to cement WWE's dominance in the industry by evolving with the times, not allowing other promotions to destroy that dominance.

Back in Orlando, Sandro was immersed in learning from the wrestlers who signed with FCW last year whom he had recommended to Dusty and Steve.

The training area buzzed with activity as he sat with Tyler Black, Jon Moxley, Samoa Joe, Bobby Roode, James Storm, and Eric Young, soaking up their wisdom like a sponge.

"So, Sandro," Tyler Black began, leaning back against a bench, "what got you into this? You've got the fire, but it's not every day someone your age is recommending people, pitching pay-per-view ideas, and sometimes working behind the scenes while also a full time wrestler."

Sandro smiled sheepishly. "Honestly, I grew up watching WWE, but my focus was always on how the storylines were crafted, the psychology behind matches, and what made fans connect with certain moments. Now, I want to learn from people like you, guys who've been in the trenches and know the industry from all angles, not just from WWE and America industry point of view."

Jon Moxley smirked. "You're smart to ask. Too many people think they know this business just because they've watched it. But wrestling's not just about what happens in the ring. It's about connecting with the crowd, telling a story, knowing when to adapt, connecting with other wrestlers and people backstage, and lastly, WWE could be your ultimate dream but don't close your point of view from just WWE perspective."

Samoa Joe nodded. "Just like what Jon had said, the wrestling world outside WWE is a whole different beast. Promotions like ROH, NJPW, and Impact have their own styles. Learning how those differ can give you ideas WWE hasn't touched yet since this promotion tries to evolve so they could compete with WWE."

James Storm chimed in, "And don't neglect the power of promos. The best matches don't just happen in the ring; they start with the mic. If you can sell a match before it even happens, you've already won half the battle. From the way we have seen it, you have proved yourself to be an expert in promos."

Sandro took mental notes, appreciating the blend of perspectives. He asked about their experiences in promotions outside the U.S., and Eric Young shared stories of his time in Japan, where wrestling was treated almost like an art form and its extreme physical brutality.

Bobby Roode and James Storm added insights about how Impact Wrestling carved its niche through unique concepts and match stipulations.

"What about match types?" Sandro asked. "Is there anything you've seen elsewhere that WWE could use or improve?"

Tyler Black grinned. "Plenty. Ever heard of a ladder war? It's chaos but in a good way. WWE's ladder matches are great, but there's room to innovate, so it's not just stuck on ladder matches and TLC matches."

Jon Moxley added, "Or how about tournaments with actual stakes? Fans love a good underdog story, especially when it plays out over weeks. The underdog story was underappreciated in WWE, not many underdog stories happen and when it happens, not all receive support or big success."

The conversations were eye-opening. Sandro felt his mind expanding with ideas he could refine and pitch down the line. The Forbidden Door concept was his main focus, but now he was starting to think of ways to enhance FCW and WWE's storytelling and in-ring product across the board.

That evening, Sandro returned to his apartment in Orlando. He sat at his desk, poring over his notes from the day. The advice he'd received was invaluable, but it also underscored how much he still had to learn, not just from memory from his past life and WWE and mainstream point of view. Wrestling was more than just a business; it was a combination of many cultures, and to succeed, he needed to respect its nuances.

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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