26. Success & Being Honest

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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.

With everything decided, Sandro could only wait for the result after wiring the money needed to create the women's title while Dusty and Steve handled the rest of the matter. He focused on doing his matches that had been booked and also on training and workouts to keep his body fit.

A week passed by, and as the month entered September, Sandro had won two more matches, defeating Ted Dibiase Jr. and Byron Saxton, both who were heels, the former son of Ted Dibiase and the later would unsuccessful as a wrestler but became a successful commentator and interviewer in the future at WWE.

These victories solidified Sandro as a top babyface in FCW, a position that gave him credibility not just with the fans but also with the other wrestlers in the locker room. The momentum was on his side, and that gave him the confidence to push forward with his plans for the women's division.

During the week, Sandro received numerous calls from his father, Jack, informing him of the progress being made in their acquisition plans. Sandro had been closely involved in these plans, offering suggestions to his father, who valued his input.

The business aspect of his life was something Sandro took seriously, and he appreciated that his father kept him in the loop despite the physical distance between them.

Balancing these responsibilities with his wrestling career was challenging, but Sandro had always thrived under pressure. However, the success of the acquisition plan was only one of the many things on his mind. His primary focus remained on FCW and the women's title, a project he had poured his heart and soul into.

Unbeknownst to Sandro, Dusty and Steve were navigating a far more challenging environment at WWE Headquarters in Stamford, Connecticut. They had just left a meeting room after a tense and heated discussion with Vince McMahon and the WWE Board of Directors. The subject? The plan they had crafted to introduce the FCW Women's Championship, and Sandro's surprising decision to fund it out of his own pocket.

Dusty and Steve had walked into that meeting fully aware that they would face resistance. Vince McMahon was not known for easily green-lighting ideas that came from outside his inner circle, especially those involving financial implications.

The board members were equally cautious, each of them bringing their own opinions and concerns to the table. They had debated fiercely, scrutinizing every detail of the proposal. The questions were relentless: Why should they allow an FCW trainee turned wrestler to fund a title? What would the long-term implications be? Would this set a dangerous precedent, allowing wrestlers to exert undue influence by using their own money?

Dusty had anticipated these questions and came prepared with answers. He emphasized that Sandro's involvement was not a power play, but rather an expression of his passion for the business and his commitment to seeing the women's division thrive.

"This kid isn't doing this to gain leverage," Dusty had argued, his deep voice resonating with conviction. "He's doing it because he believes in what the women can bring to the table. He believes they deserve a platform to showcase their talents, and he's willing to put his money where his mouth is."

Steve added his voice to Dusty's, pointing out that the women in FCW had been working tirelessly, and that this title could be the spark that ignited a new era in women's wrestling within WWE as well in the future if it's successful in FCW.

"This is about investing in the future," Steve had said, his tone measured but firm. "If we don't give these women a chance now, we might be missing out on the next big stars. Sandro's funding gives us the opportunity to make something special without any risk on WWE's part."

Despite their compelling arguments, the room remained tense. Vince McMahon listened intently, his expression inscrutable as Dusty and Steve laid out their case. When they finished, he remained silent for what felt like an eternity. The board members exchanged uneasy glances, waiting for the chairman to speak.

Finally, Vince leaned forward, his piercing eyes locking onto Dusty. "You're telling me this kid is willing to pay out of his own pocket for this title, and he doesn't expect anything in return?" His voice was low, almost a growl.

Dusty met Vince's gaze without flinching. "That's exactly what I'm saying. Sandro loves this business, Vince. He's not doing this for himself. He's doing it for the women who have been busting their asses day in and day out, and for the fans who want to see more from the women's division."

Vince sat back in his chair, his fingers steepled under his chin. He seemed to be weighing the pros and cons in his mind, his expression unreadable. After another long pause, he finally spoke.

"Alright," he said, his voice breaking the tension in the room. "Let's see what the kid's got. I'm giving you the green light to go ahead with this, but I want weekly updates. I want to know exactly how this is playing out. And if I see any sign that this is going off the rails, we're pulling the plug. Understood?"

Dusty and Steve exchanged a look of relief before nodding in unison. "Understood, Vince," Dusty said.

As they left the meeting room, the weight of what they had just accomplished settled in. Vince McMahon's approval wasn't easy to come by, and they knew they had just taken a significant step forward in bringing the FCW Women's Championship to life.

Now, it was up to them, Sandro, and the FCW Women's division to ensure that the project succeeded by delivering one of the best matches they would ever see.

Back in FCW, Sandro was unaware of the developments in Stamford. His days were consumed with training and preparing for his upcoming matches, but his thoughts often drifted to the women's title.

He wondered how things were progressing on Dusty and Steve's end, and whether they had managed to secure the necessary approvals from WWE. The wait was agonizing, but Sandro knew better than to rush things. Dusty had assured him that they were handling it, and Sandro trusted them completely.

On a particularly hot afternoon, after finishing a grueling training session, Sandro was sitting in the locker room, toweling off the sweat from his face when his phone buzzed with a message from Dusty. It was a brief message, but it carried the news he had been waiting for:

"We're good to go. Vince gave us the thumbs up. The FCW Divas Championship is happening."

After receiving Dusty's message, Sandro felt a wave of emotions wash over him—relief, excitement, and a profound sense of accomplishment. He knew that this was only the beginning, that the real work was yet to come, but for now, he allowed himself a moment to savor the victory.

The FCW Divas Championship was happening, and it was largely due to his efforts. However, he also understood that this was not a solo endeavor. Dusty, Steve, and the women of FCW had all played crucial roles in bringing this project to life.

Sandro looked around the empty locker room, his mind racing with thoughts of how to share the news with his friends. They deserved to know, especially April, Nicole, and Brianna who spearheaded the momentum and had worked so hard for this opportunity.

But there was also a nagging doubt in his mind. He had invested a significant amount of his own money into this title, and he hadn't told anyone except Dusty and Steve. He worried that some might see his actions as a way to curry favor with management or to buy his way up the ladder, rather than as a genuine attempt to support the women's division.

Taking a deep breath, Sandro decided to address these concerns head-on. He quickly sent out a message to all of his friends, asking them to meet him in the locker room. He wanted to share the news in person, to look them in the eye and explain why he had done what he did.

Within the hour, the locker room was filled with Sandro's friends, Nick, Kofie, Drew, Sheamus, Stu, April, Nciole, and Brianna, all curious about why Sandro had called them together. The atmosphere was full of anticipation, with everyone exchanging curious glances as they waited for Sandro to speak.

Sandro stood at the front of the room, feeling the weight of everyone's eyes on him. He took another deep breath, steadying himself before he began.

"Thank you all for coming," he started, his voice strong but sincere. "I wanted to share some important news with you all, and I felt it was best to do it face-to-face."

He paused for a moment, collecting his thoughts before continuing. "As some of you might know, for the past few weeks, I've been working closely with Dusty and Steve on something that I believe is incredibly important for the future of FCW—and for the future of women's wrestling as a whole."

The room was silent, everyone hanging on his every word. Sandro could see the curiosity and anticipation in their eyes, and it fueled him to keep going.

"We've been working on introducing a new title for the women in FCW—the FCW Divas Championship," he announced, watching as a ripple of excitement spread through the group of his friends. "This title is going to give our incredible women wrestlers a chance to showcase their talents and compete at the highest level. It's something that I believe is long overdue, and I'm incredibly proud to have been a part of making it happen."

He could see the smiles spreading across the faces of April, Nicole, and Brianna who was in the room, their excitement palpable. Nick, Kofi, Drew, Sheamus, and Stu let out a cheer of excitement, congratulating Sandro and their female friends.

But Sandro knew he needed to address the elephant in the room which is the fact that he had funded the title himself.

"There's something else I need to tell you all," Sandro continued, his tone becoming more serious. "I invested my own personal funds to make this title a reality. I did it because I believe in the women of FCW, and I believe in giving them the opportunity to shine. But I also want to make it clear that I didn't do this to gain favor with Dusty, Steve, or anyone else in management. I didn't do it to climb up the ladder or to get any special treatment."

Sandro paused, letting his words sink in before he continued. "I did it because I love this business. I love wrestling, and I believe that the women in FCW deserve every bit as much of a chance to succeed as the men. I hope that you all can understand that, and that you don't see this as me trying to buy my way into anything. I just want to see this division succeed, and I want to see all of us—men and women—continue to grow and succeed together."

The room was silent for a moment, all of Sandro's friends processing what Sandro had just said. He could see a mix of emotions on their faces—surprise, respect, maybe even a little bit of doubt—but he stood firm, ready to face whatever reactions came his way.

Several minutes of silence go by, and it was April who spoke up first. She stepped forward, her expression a mix of admiration, determination, and also gratitude could be seen.

"Sandro," she began, her voice steady but emotional. "I think I speak for all the women here when I say thank you. What you've done… it means the world to us. We've all been working so hard, and to know that someone believes in us enough to put their own money on the line… that's something special. I can't speak for everyone, but I don't see this as you trying to buy anything. I see it as you standing up for something you believe in, and that takes guts."

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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