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"I asked Dusty and Steve to let me face him in the ring. Just me and him. No show, no drama. Just a chance to remind him what consequences feel like."
Her eyes searched his face, her voice dropping to a whisper. "And they agreed?"
"Yeah. The match is set for next week after I'm back from Nashville. They know I'm serious. And they know if they didn't let it happen my way, I'd find another."
April looked both impressed and worried. "Sandro… that's dangerous. I mean, I get it, I really do. But you know how quickly that can go south. What if Barry tries something worse? What if Smash gets involved?"
"If Smash gets involved I handle him," Sandro said quietly. "Steve warned me. But I don't care. Barry crossed a line when he made Alexa feel unsafe in her own locker room. When he made her feel watched and hunted. That kind of poison doesn't get fixed with a slap on the wrist."
April reached over and took his hand in both of hers, squeezing gently. "You're really doing this for her, huh?"
He nodded. "Yeah. She doesn't need more trauma and more disruption on her back. She needs peace to be able to work properly, since it's because of me that she was accepted to train as a wrestler. I'll do whatever it takes to give her that."
They sat together in silence for a few moments. The TV played on in the background, but neither of them was watching anymore.
April leaned into him again, her voice soft. "You're a good man, Sandro. I know you don't like being called a hero or anything like that… but this? This means you show that you care for others and would do your best to help someone in need."
Sandro gave a small smile, brushing a strand of hair from her face. "Thanks. That means a lot."
The night stretched on, warm and quiet. Eventually, April fell asleep curled up next to him on the couch, and Sandro just sat there, watching the lights of the city flicker through the window, his mind already running through the coming week.
The next morning began quietly, with the early rays of the sun creeping in through the large living room windows. The city outside was just beginning to stir, and inside Sandro's apartment, the air was still warm with the comfort of last night.
Sandro stirred slightly, eyes fluttering open to find April still nestled against him on the couch, her head resting on his chest, her hair cascading softly over his shoulder. She looked peaceful, her features relaxed in sleep.
He allowed himself a few more moments of stillness, watching the steady rise and fall of her breathing, then carefully shifted his arm and untangled himself from her hold, making sure not to wake her. She murmured faintly in her sleep but didn't stir much, rolling slightly to one side as Sandro rose to his feet.
Padding barefoot into the kitchen, Sandro began preparing breakfast, opting for something light and comforting. Scrambled eggs with spinach and cheese, buttered toast, and two mugs of fresh coffee. The familiar aroma began to fill the apartment, blending with the morning light as it filtered through the curtains.
After placing the plates and mugs on the table, Sandro made his way to the bathroom to shower. The warm water cascaded down his back, loosening the tension that had built in his shoulders over the past few days.
By the time he stepped out of the bathroom, towel slung over his shoulder, hair still damp, he found April sitting at the kitchen table, sipping from one of the mugs he'd left out.
She wore one of his oversized t shirts, her eyes still heavy with sleep but warm with gratitude. A smile spread across her face as she looked up at him.
"Morning," she said softly, her voice still slightly husky from sleep.
Sandro smiled back and crossed the room to her, leaning down to give her a slow, deep kiss. "Morning," he whispered against her lips. "Coffee good?"
She nodded and gestured to the food. "And the eggs smell amazing."
They sat down and ate together, the quiet intimacy of the moment stretching out comfortably between them. No talk of wrestling, no talk of danger or matches or backstage politics. Just the sound of forks on plates, the occasional clink of mugs, and soft chuckles shared over stolen glances.
After breakfast, Sandro stood and glanced at the clock. "I've got to head to the airport soon. Rebecca and the Beer Money guys are probably already on their way."
April stood as well, her eyes flicking to his packed bags near the door. "How long will you be gone?"
"Should be back Saturday night or Sunday morning, depending on the show's wrap time and business discussion I have," he replied, moving to grab his suitcase and duffel bag.
April followed him to the door, and when he turned to face her, she wrapped her arms around him tightly. He returned the embrace, pressing a kiss to her temple.
"You can stay here while I'm gone," he murmured. "Mi casa es tu casa. Help yourself to anything you want."
"Thanks," she said softly, looking up at him. "Be careful, alright?"
"I will."
He gave her one last kiss, then grabbed his bags and rolled them out the door, ordering a taxi that arrived just minutes later. After loading his luggage into the trunk, he slid into the backseat, gave the driver the airport details, and leaned back with a long sigh as the cab pulled away from the curb.
The ride was uneventful, the usual buzz of city life beginning to pick up outside the window. When they arrived at the airport, Sandro paid the fare, grabbed his bags, and headed inside to check in.
.He didn't have to wait long Rebecca was already there, chatting with James Storm and Bobby Roode in the airport lounge. The two Beer Money members were in good spirits, cracking jokes with the lounge staff while sipping on some bottled water.
"There he is," Bobby called out as Sandro approached.
Sandro gave them a nod and a grin, then greeted each of them with a handshake before turning to Rebecca and giving her a brief hug.
"Hope y'all don't mind," Sandro said, "but I'm buying the next round. One iced latte each?"
"You know how to make an entrance," James chuckled.
Sandro returned a few minutes later with drinks for everyone. They talked for a bit, small stuff, light banter, casual updates on training and schedules until the boarding call echoed through the lounge. They made their way to the gate, then onto the plane, settling into their seats as the engines roared to life.
The flight passed without incident. Rebecca dozed off with her eyes blocked with an eye mask, while Bobby and James debated over who was the better tag team of the Attitude Era, Edge & Christian, The Dudley Boyz, or the Hardy Boyz.
Sandro spent most of the time staring out the window and then got a little bit of sleep.
Hours later, they landed in Nashville.
As they moved through the terminal toward baggage claim, Bobby pointed toward a rental car sign across the terminal. "That's the one we usually use. They know us there, and the rates are solid."
Sandro nodded. "I'll cover it."
"You sure?" James asked.
"Yeah. I got it."
He paid for the rental, a sleek black SUV with enough room for them and their gear. Bobby took the keys and slid behind the wheel. Sandro sat up front while James and Rebecca took the back.
The drive to TNA Headquarters was short but scenic, Nashville's blend of modern city and southern charm rolling past the windows. When they arrived, the building stood tall with a large TNA logo emblazoned near the top.
Inside, the lobby was polished and quiet, the receptionist giving them a polite nod as they entered. They didn't have to wait long, Jeff Jarrett and Dixie Carter were already there, standing near a large mural of past champions.
"Well, look who finally made it," Jeff grinned, stepping forward. He shook each of their hands firmly, but when he got to Sandro, he held the handshake a little longer, his eyes sharp with approval.
"So this is the kid Dusty and Steve keep raving about," Jeff said, giving him a nod. "Glad to finally meet the genius behind FCW's recent rise personally. You've made quite the impression."
"Appreciate that, sir," Sandro said humbly.
Dixie smiled warmly. "We're very excited to have all of you here. This collaboration is something special."
They led them down a hallway to a glass walled conference room, sunlight streaming in through the windows. Bottled waters and printouts were already laid out on the table, along with folders labeled with each of their names.
"Alright," Jeff began once they were seated. "Let's get to it. Tomorrow's show is going to be big. We're following up on the Forbidden Door excitement, and we want every match to be unforgettable."
He turned toward James and Bobby first. "Beer Money Inc. as FCW and TNA Tag Champs, you're opening the show with a bang. You'll be defending the TNA World Tag Titles in a rematch against Scott Steiner and Booker T."
James nodded. "We have worked together many times with Booker and Steiner. Our chemistry will be big, no problem."
Bobby smirked. "We'll make 'em regret ever thinking they could take those belts back."
Jeff then looked at Rebecca. "You're defending the TNA Knockouts Championship against Velvet Sky. We want this match to highlight your dual reign, FCW Divas Champ and TNA Knockouts Champ, and we're expecting something fierce."
Rebecca gave a confident nod. "She won't know what hit her."
Finally, Jeff turned his attention to Sandro. "And you, my man, you've got the spotlight tomorrow. Your promo segment will set the tone. We want you to talk about your first appearance here in TNA, introducing yourself to the fans, and why you're the face of FCW and now, becoming the new face of TNA."
Sandro listened intently, his expression focused.
"Midway through your promo," Jeff continued, "Brutus Magnus is going to interrupt. That's your opponent. He's going to challenge you, and we're greenlighting a double title match, the FCW Florida Heavyweight Championship and the TNA World Heavyweight Championship, both on the line."
Sandro arched a brow. "You want me to defend both?"
"Absolutely," Dixie said. "This is about more than titles. It's about message. You standing as the champion of both promotions? It's history that we wanted to capitalize on."
There was a beat of silence, and then Sandro nodded slowly.
"Alright," he said. "I follow the plan."
They spent the next hour finalizing details, run ins, match lengths, and possible surprises. The energy in the room was electric, the sense of something new, something bold taking shape.
When the meeting ended, Jeff clapped Sandro on the back. "Rest up. Tomorrow, you remind the world why you're the future of this industry."
As they left the building and headed to their hotel to check in, Sandro felt the weight of the moment settle on his shoulders, not as a burden, but as a mantle.
After checking into their hotel room, Sandro dropped his duffel bag and his suitcase beside the bed, letting out a low breath as he took in the quiet space. The day had been long, travel, meetings, plans, pressure. He reached into his pocket and pulled out his phone, quickly typing out a message to Aprik.
"Landed and checked in. All good so far. Big day tomorrow."
He hit send, then tossed the phone on the bed and made his way to the bathroom for a much-needed shower. The hot water hit his skin like a wave of relief, washing away the tiredness clinging to him.
The steam filled the room, and for a moment, it was just him and the sound of water. No promos. No titles. No expectations. Just a young man who once sat on his couch watching TNA, now preparing to step into its spotlight. After toweling off and changing into a fresh set of lounge clothes, he called down to room service and ordered a hearty meal, steak, mashed potatoes, and a side of green beans.
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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, 1x FCW Florida Heavyweight Champion, & 1x TNA World Heavyweight Champion