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"If the ends justify the means, where does it stop? He might have meant well this time, but what about next time?"
"You can't fight injustice with more injustice. Buying the ref was the wrong move, no matter what his intentions were."
Some fans tried to play the middle ground, pointing out that this wasn't just a heel turn, it was something entirely new, something totally unique in their mind.
"He's not a villain, he's not a hero. He's something else. And that's why this is so damn interesting."
And despite all the arguments, one thing was undeniable: Sandro Zhang had everyone talking.
While fans were going to war online, Sandro himself had already peeled away the layers of his new persona.
As he walked back through the hallways of the FCW arena, the air around him was different. Moments ago, he had been on fire, passionate, aggressive, raw. Now, that fire had cooled, leaving only satisfaction. He had executed everything to perfection.
And the reaction? Better than he could have ever hoped.
Before he even made it to his locker room, a familiar voice called out.
"Oi! You sneaky bastard!"
Sandro turned, a smirk forming as he saw Sheamus striding toward him, clapping his hands with a massive grin. Behind him were Kofi Kingston, Bray Wyatt, Drew McIntyre, and Stu Bennett, all of them wearing various degrees of impressed expressions.
Kofi was the first to speak, "Man that really surprised me! I never thought you had such a thing hidden man!"
Bray let out a chuckle. "I agree Kofi, ain't that somethin'. You really pulled one over on 'em tonight, brother."
Sandro shrugged, playing it cool. "Had to keep you guys on your toes, too."
Drew shook his head, smirking. "We were sitting in the back, watching like the rest of the world, and let me tell ya, nobody saw that coming."
"Nobody," Stu emphasized. "Mate, you just set the wrestling world on fire. That was brilliant."
Before Sandro could respond, another set of footsteps approached. Nick Nemeth and Taylor Rotunda, both still sweaty from their match, walked up to join them. Nick, ever the showman, threw a mock salute.
"Gotta hand it to you, champ," Nick said, grinning. "You had me believing you were actually losing it out there."
Taylor, icing his ribs, chuckled. "And I was the one getting my ass kicked while you pulled off the biggest work of the year here in FCW."
Sandro crossed his arms, looking between his friends. "Had to keep it a secret. If even one of you knew, it wouldn't have worked as well."
Sheamus nudged him with an elbow. "So when did you decide to go on the 'rich revolutionary' persona fella?"
Sandro leaned against the wall, arms crossed, a small smirk tugging at the corner of his lips. He looked at Sheamus and the rest of the guys, his eyes scanning the amused yet intrigued faces in front of him.
"You want to know when I decided to go with this 'rich revolutionary' thing?" Sandro exhaled, then chuckled. "It was after I took your advice and went to talk to Dusty."
That caught everyone's attention. A brief moment of silence hung in the air before Bray let out a low whistle.
"Dusty, huh?" Bray said, rubbing his beard. "Now that explains a lot."
Kofi, who had been nodding along, grinned. "Man, that makes so much sense now. Dusty's got that magic, you know? Dude just knows how to make things work."
Sheamus folded his arms, looking genuinely impressed. "That's why he's one of the best in the business. It's not just his wrestling mind, it's how he gets inside your head and pulls out the best version of yourself."
Drew chuckled. "And let's be honest, if there's anyone who understands how to make controversy profitable, it's Dusty Rhodes."
Stu smirked. "Yeah, mate. The American Dream was always about stirring the pot just enough to make people invested."
Everyone nodded, and for a moment, they just stood there, absorbing the realization that Dusty had played a huge part in Sandro's evolution.
"So," Bray spoke up, tilting his head. "You had this conversation with Dusty… and that's when you decided to bribe a referee live on television?"
Sandro grinned, completely unapologetic. "You could say that."
That got a laugh from everyone, even Taylor, who was still icing his ribs.
"But that's what makes it work," Sandro continued. "People want to see someone shake things up. They're tired of the same old good guys and bad guys playing by the same rules. The fans want real. And if I have to bend the rules to fight against the system? So be it."
Drew let out a low hum of approval. "Controversial as hell, but also interesting as hell."
Stu nodded. "And controversy means attention. Attention means money. And money means more eyes on all of us, not just you and that's good for business."
Nick snapped his fingers. "Speaking of money… what's next? You just bribed a referee on live television. No way this just ends here."
Sandro let out a long breath, his smirk deepening. "Oh, this is just the beginning. You'll have to tune in next week to see what happens next for the new Sandro."
A collective groan erupted from the group.
"Aw, come on, man!" Kofi exclaimed.
"You really gonna leave us hanging like that fella?" Sheamus rolled his eyes.
"You bastard," Stu muttered with a grin.
Kofi exchanged a glance with the rest of the guys before smirking. "Alright, alright. You wanna be mysterious? Fine. But let's see if that smug face holds up when we mess you up a little!"
Before Sandro could react, Kofi gave a quick signal, and suddenly, everyone except for Nick and Taylor, who were still recovering from their match, swarmed Sandro, playfully roughing him up. Sheamus gave him a noogie, Stu ruffled his hair, Drew shoved his shoulder, and Bray grabbed him in a mock headlock, laughing the entire time.
"Hey, hey, alright!" Sandro protested, laughing as he tried to push them off. "I get it, I get it!"
As they continued their antics, a deep grunt echoed from the end of the hallways they were on.
The group immediately stopped and turned to see Dusty Rhodes and Steve Keirn standing there, watching them with amused expressions on their faces.
Dusty shook his head, a small smile on his lips. "Ain't nothin' wrong with a little camaraderie, but I do got somethin' important to talk about with young Sandro here."
Everyone straightened up, their playful demeanor shifting into respect.
Dusty then turned his attention to Nick and Taylor, giving them a nod. "First off, boys, hell of a performance out there tonight. Taylor, you held your own, and Nick, congrats on the win, son. You both made us proud."
Nick grinned, wiping some sweat from his forehead. "Appreciate that, Dusty."
Taylor nodded. "Thanks, boss."
Dusty then shifted his focus back to Sandro, his expression turning serious. "Now, as for you, son. You know damn well that what you pulled tonight ain't just some regular wrestling stunt. You changed the game, and you better be ready for what comes next."
Sandro met Dusty's gaze, nodding. "I'm ready."
"Good," Dusty said. "Because next week, you're defendin' that title again."
That got a reaction from the group.
"Already?" Kofi asked.
"Man ain't even had time to enjoy the chaos this fella had just caused," Sheamus chuckled.
Dusty held up a hand. "Oh, don't worry. Ain't nobody gonna let him enjoy it. There's a lotta folks backstage who got opinions about what he did tonight, and I expect he's gonna hear all about it."
Sandro simply smirked. "Let 'em talk."
Dusty grinned. "That's the spirit. But I do got one more thing for ya. If you're gonna be playin' this 'rich revolutionary' role, you need to look the part. That means new gear. I want you to have a new set of wrestling attire ready for next week to match this persona."
Sandro raised an eyebrow. "You want me to redesign my gear already?"
"Damn right I do," Dusty said. "You just pulled off one of the most talked about moments in FCW history. You ain't showin' up next week in the same old look. You gotta sell it, son."
Sandro exhaled, nodding. "Alright. I'll figure something out."
"And one more thing," Dusty added. "Your entrance music. You wanna change it?"
Sandro thought for a moment. His current theme, Cult of Personality, had been perfect for him so far. But did it fit this new version of himself?
Dusty seemed to read his thoughts. "I say you keep it. That song ain't just about one kind of character, it's about many personalities, all in one. No matter what path you take, that theme fits. It's you."
Sandro nodded slowly, then smiled. "Yeah. I think you're right."
Dusty clapped him on the shoulder. "Damn right I am. Now, get yourself ready, son. 'Cause next week? All eyes are gonna be on you."
As Dusty and Steve walked off, the rest of the group turned to Sandro.
"So," Kofi said, "new gear, new controversy, and another title defense next week. You sure you're ready for all this heat?"
Sandro smirked. "I live for it."
Bray chuckled. "Well, brother… you sure as hell got the world watching now."
After that, everyone went their separate ways. The energy of the night still buzzed in Sandro's veins as he walked through the dimly lit hallway of the FCW arena, his title slung over his shoulder, his mind already shifting toward the next step.
Dusty had made it clear, this wasn't just a one night thing. Sandro had started a fire, and now he had to feed it. He needed to think ahead. The persona he had introduced tonight was controversial, yes, but that was exactly the point. Now he had to refine it, sharpen it into something undeniable.
As he walked into the locker room to change, his thoughts drifted to something Dusty had said:
"You need to look the part."
That stuck with him. His current gear, while functional, didn't fully reflect this new version of himself. If he was going to be the "rich revolutionary," he had to sell the image completely.
Would he go the Ted DiBiase route? Walk down the ramp in a custom tailored suit, exuding wealth and arrogance, only to strip down to his in ring gear when the match started? It was classic, but maybe too close to what had been done before.
Or maybe JBL? Simple but effective, his entrance and ring gear screamed financial dominance, the kind of guy who made money off the suffering of others.
Or could he take both influences and make something new? Something unique?
Sandro sat on the bench, running a hand through his damp hair. He unwrapped the tape from his wrists, deep in thought. What would a modern version of that persona look like?
Maybe something sleek, high end, but still imposing. Custom designed, expensive looking, but made for fighting. He could incorporate sharp, clean lines, something that blended the style of a businessman with the ruthlessness of a fighter.
A black and gold color scheme? Gold represented wealth, power. Black represented something more dangerous, unpredictable.
Maybe he'd come down to the ring in an expensive designer coat, a blend of power and style, before revealing his custom gear underneath. Not just trunks, something different. Maybe compression leggings under his shorts, like a hybrid between an MMA fighter and a corporate powerhouse.
Something that told the audience: This man is untouchable.
He smirked to himself.
"Yeah. That could work."
He finished changing into his day clothes, black joggers and a simple FCW hoodie, before slinging his gym bag over his shoulder. With his title still in hand, he stepped out of the locker room and made his way toward the parking lot.
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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 & 1 FCW Florida Heavyweight Champion