Becoming A Wrestler

Chapter 27: 25. The Preparation



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As the meeting came to a close, Sandro felt a sense of purpose and determination that he hadn't felt in a long time. He knew that this was just the beginning of a long and challenging journey, but he was ready to face whatever obstacles came their way. He had made his decision, and now it was time to follow through. The future of the women's division depended on it.

Returning from Dusty's office, Sandro felt the weight of his recent decision settling in. The gravity of what he'd just agreed to—personally funding the FCW women's title—wasn't lost on him.

The consequences, both positive and negative, were already swirling in his mind. He knew he was stepping onto a path that could define not only his career but also the future of the women's division in FCW. As he walked down the hallway, his thoughts were interrupted by the sound of familiar voices.

"Sandro!" Nick Nemeth called out, his voice filled with a mix of anticipation and concern.

Sandro turned to see Nick, Kofi Kingston, Drew McIntyre, Sheamus, and Stu Bennett approaching him. Behind them, April, Nicole, and Brianna followed their expressions hopeful yet tinged with anxiety. It was clear that they were all waiting for news, and Sandro could guess what was on their minds.

"Hey, guys," Sandro greeted them, forcing a smile even though his mind was still reeling from the meeting with Dusty and Steve.

"Did you get any updates on the women's title?" April asked, her voice betraying the hope she was clinging to.

Sandro hesitated for a brief moment, his mind racing. He didn't want to reveal the details of his offer to fund the title just yet.

The plan was still in its early stages, and he knew that once word got out, it could create a whirlwind of reactions, both positive and negative. It wasn't just about the money—there were complex dynamics at play that he needed to navigate carefully.

Shaking his head, Sandro replied, "No, not yet. I was just discussing the trajectory of my future matches with Dusty and Steve. We're still waiting on word from WWE about the budget."

He hated lying, especially to people he cared about, but he knew it was necessary for now. The disappointment was palpable, especially among the women. April's shoulders slumped slightly, and Nicole and Brianna exchanged a glance, their expressions mirroring the frustration that Sandro felt deep down.

Nick sighed, running a hand through his hair. "That's rough, man. I know you've been pushing hard for this. We all have."

Sandro nodded, feeling the weight of their collective hopes and expectations pressing down on him. He needed to change the subject, to steer the conversation away from the women's title before they asked any more questions that he wasn't ready to answer.

"So," Sandro said, his tone deliberately lightening as he shifted gears, "did you guys hear about the Lehman Brothers collapse?"

The change in topic was immediate, and Sandro could see the surprise on their faces. It was clear that not everyone was aware of the full scope of the situation, and the financial crisis had not been a primary concern among the wrestlers.

"Lehman Brothers?" Drew asked, frowning slightly. "Isn't that one of those big financial banks and firms right mate?"

Sandro nodded. "Yeah, they just announced their bankruptcy. It's already sending shockwaves through the economy. Prices are going to fluctuate like crazy, and the markets are a mess right now. I wanted to check in with you guys—how are you all holding up? Any financial issues should be worried about?"

There was a brief silence as they processed the news. Sandro watched their reactions carefully, relieved that the topic had successfully diverted attention from the women's title. One by one, they began to speak up.

"We're okay," Kofi said first, offering a reassuring smile. "It's definitely going to be a tough time, but I think as long as we're careful, we should be able to ride it out."

Sheamus nodded in agreement, his expression serious. "We'll have to tighten things up a bit, means less drinking but nothing we can't handle, fella. I've been through rough times before—this is just another storm to weather."

Stu added some words of his own, "It's all about being smart with what we've got. No splurging on luxuries, just keeping things steady until this blows over. We'll manage."

Nick looked thoughtful, his usual carefree demeanor replaced with a more contemplative expression. "It's crazy to think about how something like this can affect everyone, even us. But yeah, we'll tighten up our wallets and make sure we're not doing anything stupid with our money."

April, Nicole, and Brianna also chimed in, expressing similar sentiments. The women were determined to stay focused on their careers, even in the face of economic uncertainty. It was clear that they were resilient, and Sandro felt a surge of admiration for their resolve.

The discussion continued for a few more minutes, with the group sharing tips on how to cut costs and save money during the crisis. Sandro listened intently, grateful that his friends were all in relatively stable positions. The last thing he wanted was for anyone to be struggling financially on top of everything else.

As the conversation wound down, Sandro felt a sense of relief wash over him. He had successfully navigated a potentially difficult situation, and for now, the focus was on the women's title.

But he knew that this was only a temporary reprieve. Sooner or later, he would have to reveal his plan to fund the title, and when that time came, he would need to be prepared for the reactions it would elicit.

After exchanging a few more words, the group began to disperse, each of them heading off to their respective training sessions or other commitments. As Sandro watched them go, he felt a mixture of emotions—relief that the immediate crisis had been averted, but also a lingering sense of unease about the future.

In the days following his conversation with his friends, Sandro found himself buried in meetings with Dusty and Steve, ironing out the details of their plan to introduce the FCW Diva's Championship.

The stakes were high, and Sandro knew that they needed to execute everything flawlessly to ensure that WWE's higher-ups wouldn't push back against the idea of using his personal funds.

The first order of business was crafting the perfect narrative that would make it clear Sandro's involvement was solely about supporting the women's division, not undermining the established order. Dusty, make sure that he emphasized the importance of framing Sandro's actions as a passionate investment in the future of the sport rather than a power play.

"We need to make sure they see this as you putting the division first, not your ego," Dusty said during one of their strategy sessions. "WWE's not going to care where the money comes from as long as the story is solid, the fans are on board, and no one challenges their authority. We just need to make sure it's clear that this is about the women and their talent."

Sandro nodded, understanding the delicate balance they needed to strike. Steve chimed in, adding his thoughts on the logistics of the tournament. "We'll want to keep things tight. No room for filler matches or anything that might dilute the impact of the championship tournament. The fans need to feel like every match is critical, like it's all leading to something big."

Dusty leaned back in his chair, his mind already working through the possibilities. "We've got nine women lined up for this, right? That gives us room to really build some anticipation. And if we present this right, the fans won't just be tuning in for the title—they'll be tuning in for the stories behind the matches."

"Right," Sandro agreed. "That's why we should start with a battle royale. It'll give the fans a reason to get invested right from the beginning. And if we showcase the right talent, it'll set the tone for the entire tournament."

Steve nodded in agreement. "The battle royale's going to be key. It's a chance to showcase everyone's skills and give the winner a real sense of momentum heading into the finals. We'll have to think carefully about who gets that spot."

Sandro already had a few names in mind, but he knew they needed to keep things fluid. The dynamics of the division were constantly shifting, and they had to be ready to adjust based on who was connecting with the fans.

"Whoever wins that battle royale," Sandro said thoughtfully, "needs to be someone who can carry the momentum through to the finals, but we also need to make sure the other matches are just as compelling. The two women who advance through the tournament have to be seen as real contenders."

Dusty grinned, clearly relishing the challenge. "That's where we come in. We've got to structure this thing so that every match feels like it could go either way. The fans need to believe that any of these women could take it all."

The conversation shifted to the designs for the FCW Diva's Championship. Dusty and Steve had been working with the belt makers to come up with a few different concepts, and now it was time for Sandro to weigh in.

"We've got a few options here," Steve said as he laid out several designs on the table. "We've been leaning towards something that's flashy but still has a sense of prestige. It needs to feel like a big deal, like something the women would be proud to hold."

Sandro examined the designs carefully. Each one was unique, but they all shared certain elements glittering stones, intricate metalwork, and a sleek, modern look that fit with the FCW brand while in line with WWE requirements.

He could tell a lot of thought had gone into the designs, but he wanted to make sure the final product was something that truly represented what they were trying to achieve.

"This one," Sandro said, pointing to a design that was the same as the FCW Diva's title he saw in his last life sharing the pink strap and gold plate with the FCW logo alongside Divas Championship engraved. "It's bold, it's eye-catching, but it's not over the top. I think it strikes the right balance."

Dusty nodded in approval. "Good choice. It's got that 'wow' factor without being too much. The fans are going to love it, and more importantly, the women will feel like they're fighting for something special."

With the design chosen, the next step was to finalize the structure of the tournament. They decided on a straightforward, eight-woman knockout format leading to the finals, where the winner of the battle royale would face the last two standing in the tournament in a triple threat match.

It was a setup that would allow for maximum drama, with the battle royale winner having the advantage of fresh legs but also the pressure of living up to that early victory.

Sandro knew that executing the plan was going to be tricky. The fans would be watching closely, and any misstep could undermine the entire project. But he also knew that they had a solid foundation, and with the right build-up, they could create something truly memorable.

"We're going to need to build the anticipation for this," Steve said, voicing what they were all thinking. "We can't just drop it on the fans out of nowhere. We need to start hinting at it, getting people talking."

Dusty grinned, his eyes gleaming with excitement. "Leave that to me. I'll start working it into my promos, and we'll get the buzz going. We'll make sure that by the time we announce the tournament, the fans are already invested."

Next, they made one of the key decisions which was who would win the battle royale. It was a crucial choice, as this wrestler would go straight to the finals, skipping the grueling tournament matches. They needed someone who could carry that momentum, someone who could deliver in the finals after the fans had already seen her dominate the battle royale.

"April's a strong candidate," Steve suggested. "She's been killing it lately, a champion caliber as the current WSU tag team champion, and the fans are really starting to get behind her. Plus, she's got the experience to carry the finals."

Dusty nodded thoughtfully. "She's definitely got what it takes, but we don't want to make it too obvious. We need to keep the fans guessing."

Sandro considered the options. April was a safe bet, but he knew that sometimes the best stories came from unexpected places. "What about Nicole or Brianna? Both of them have been working hard, and they have that underdog vibe. The fans love an underdog story and we could also insert a betrayal story where either of the twins who lose would betray the winner."

Steve smiled at the suggestion. "That could work. Both Nicole and Brianna got the heart, and if we book them right, they could really surprise people. It'd make for a hell of a final match. And the configuration story you put would also add more drama to the inaugural champion reign which will attract attention."

Dusty agreed. "Alright, let's keep that in mind. We'll see how things play out over the next few weeks. We've still got time to make the final call."

As they wrapped up the meeting, Dusty gave Sandro a reassuring pat on the back. "You're doing a good thing here, kid. Don't lose sight of that. It's not just about the title or the tournament—it's about giving these women a chance to shine. You're helping to build something that's going to mean a lot to a lot of people."

Sandro nodded, feeling the weight of Dusty's words. He knew that what they were doing was important, not just for the women involved, but for the future of wrestling as a whole. It was a responsibility he didn't take lightly, and he was determined to see it through.

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Name: Alessandro Zhang

Age: 18 (2008)

Birthplace: Orlando, Florida USA

Brand: FCW

Wrestling Style: Mixed Of All Style

Faction: None

Championship History: 0


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