194. Celebration For Wind- No, Bray!

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The coaches murmured quietly, nodding in approval. Dusty's grin grew wider. Sandro lay on the mat for a second, catching his breath. He could feel it, the shift. Windham wasn't just playing Bray Wyatt anymore, he was Bray Wyatt. Every move, every expression, every unpredictable twitch was authentic.

Sandro kipped up, surprising Bray, and fired off a stiff forearm to the face. Bray stumbled back, laughing again, like he enjoyed the pain.

Sandro hit the ropes, going for a running kick, but Bray caught him mid stride with a sudden, snapping body avalanche, a move that would become one of his signatures. The impact sent Sandro sprawling.

Bray dropped to his knees beside him, his face inches from Sandro's. His expression twisted into something dark and sinister. He whispered something, inaudible to everyone else, but Sandro caught it.

"Follow the buzzards."

With that, Bray slammed Sandro's head to the mat and went for the cover.

"One!" Dusty counted out loud, slapping the mat.

Sandro kicked out at two, rolling to his side. The trainers clapped, impressed with the pacing and storytelling.

Back on his feet, Sandro changed tactics. He started working Bray's legs, targeting his base with quick strikes and a well-executed dragon screw. Bray sold it brilliantly, limping slightly but never dropping the unhinged persona. Even in pain, he made it part of the character, twitching, laughing, grimacing all at once.

Sandro locked in a single leg crab, wrenching back hard. This was a test, to see how Windham would react under submission pressure. Bray clawed at the mat, then did something unexpected.

Instead of crawling to the ropes in a traditional escape, he twisted his body unnaturally, almost dislocating his shoulder in appearance (but not really), and kicked Sandro off with a wild, desperate burst.

Both men were back on their feet. The exhaustion was starting to show, but so was the chemistry.

Sandro charged, but Bray countered with his signature move in the making, a sudden uranage slam, driving Sandro into the mat with brutal force. The trainers gasped slightly at the impact.

Bray didn't waste time. He popped up, did the signature spider walk bridge (albeit less fluid than it would eventually become), which sent a visible shiver through the room. Then he transitioned back to his feet.

Bray pulled Sandro up, whispered again, "It's time," and hit what would later be known as Sister Abigail, although at this stage, it was more of an improvised swinging reverse STO.

Bray went for the cover, hooking Sandro's leg deep.

"One! Two! Three!"

Dusty slapped the mat, signaling the end.

The room erupted into applause, louder than before. The trainers were nodding, exchanging glances that spoke volumes. Steve smiled, arms crossed, clearly impressed.

Sandro lay on the mat for a second, breathing heavily, then sat up with a grin. He looked over at Windham, no, Bray Wyatt, who was still kneeling, breathing heavily, his face drenched in sweat but lit with triumph.

Sandro reached out, offering his hand. Bray stared at it for a moment, his head tilting slightly as if considering whether Bray Wyatt would accept such a gesture. Then, in a moment that blurred the line between character and reality, he clasped Sandro's hand, pulling him up.

Dusty climbed into the ring, his grin wide, his eyes gleaming with pride.

"Well, I'll be damned," Dusty said, looking Bray dead in the eye. "Kid, you've got somethin' real special here. You didn't just wrestle, you performed. You told us that your character was alive. You made us believe."

Steve nodded, stepping forward. "That's the hardest part, Windham. Anyone can learn holds and moves. But this? This is magic."

Bray, still catching his breath, smiled, but this time, it wasn't the eerie, sinister grin of his persona. It was genuine. Pure pride.

Sandro clapped him on the back. "Told you," he whispered with a wink. "You had it all along."

As they left the ring, Sandro felt that same swell of pride he'd felt during the promo, but even more so. Windham had found his path. Not just as a wrestler, but as something more, as Bray Wyatt.

The moment Bray and Sandro stepped out of the ring, they were immediately swarmed by Taylor, Ettore, Ashley, and Alexis. The group was buzzing with excitement, their faces lit up with pride and admiration for Bray's performance. Taylor was the first to speak, clapping Bray on the back with a wide grin.

"Man, Bray, that was incredible!" Taylor exclaimed, his voice filled with genuine enthusiasm. "You had everyone in the palm of your hand. That promo? That match? You killed it, bro. Absolutely killed it."

Ettore, agreeing with what Taylor had jut said, nodded vigorously. "Yeah, Bray, you were amazing. The way you carried yourself, the way you moved, it was like you weren't even Windham anymore. You were Bray Wyatt. It was unreal."

Ashley and Alexis chimed in, their voices overlapping as they showered Bray with praise. "You were so creepy in the best way possible," Ashley said, her eyes wide with excitement. "Like, I was actually a little scared of you, and I know you!"

"And that spider walk thing?" Alexis added, shuddering dramatically. "That was so cool but also so unsettling. I loved it!"

Bray, still catching his breath, looked a bit sheepish under all the attention. He ran a hand through his damp hair, his face flushed with a mix of exhaustion and pride. "Thanks, guys," he said, his voice a little hoarse. "I… I didn't expect it to go that well, honestly. I was so nervous, but once I got out there, it just… clicked."

He turned to Sandro, his expression softening with gratitude. "And I owe a lot of that to you, man. You're the one who suggested this persona in the first place. If it wasn't for you, I don't know if I'd be standing here right now."

Sandro smiled, waving off the praise with a humble shrug. "Hey, don't give me too much credit. I might've given you the idea, but you're the one who brought it to life. A great idea is nothing without someone who's willing to put in the hard work to make it real. And you? You've been grinding for this, man. You earned every bit of that applause."

Bray nodded, his eyes shining with appreciation. "Still, I couldn't have done it without you. You've been there for me every step of the way, and I'll never forget that."

Before the conversation could continue, Dusty and Steve approached the group, their expressions a mix of pride and excitement. The room fell silent as everyone turned to face them, anticipation hanging in the air.

Dusty was the first to speak, his trademark grin spreading across his face. "Well, Bray, I gotta say, you impressed the hell out of us today. That promo? That match? You didn't just pass the tryout, you blew it out of the water."

Steve nodded in agreement, his arms crossed over his chest. "We've been talking with the coaches and trainers, and after some consideration, we've decided to offer you an official FCW wrestler contract. Your training contract period is over, Bray. You're one of us now."

The group erupted into cheers, the sound echoing through the room. Taylor clapped Bray on the back so hard it nearly knocked him over, while Ettore, Ashley, and Alexis cheered loudly. Sandro stood back, a proud smile on his face as he watched his best friend take in the moment.

Bray's eyes widened, his breath catching in his throat. "Wait, seriously? I… I passed?"

Dusty chuckled, nodding. "You sure did, kid. You've got somethin' special here, and we're excited to see where you take it."

Steve stepped forward, his tone more businesslike but no less enthusiastic. "Now, before you get too comfortable, there's a lot of work ahead. Your debut match is next week on FCW Daily Live Monday Program. You'll be facing Sebastian Slater, so I suggest you meet with him soon to talk about the match. As for your contract signing, we'll handle that next week as well, before your debut."

Bray nodded, his mind racing with a mix of excitement and nerves. "Got it. I'll make sure to meet with Sebastian and get everything sorted."

Dusty clapped a hand on Bray's shoulder, his grin widening. "And one more thing. Head over to the wardrobe department and get your in ring gear designed. We want you to look as unique as you are. As for your entrance music, we'll find something that fits your persona, but if you've got any suggestions, let me or Steve know."

Bray's eyes lit up at the mention of his entrance music. "Actually, I've been thinking about that. I've got a few ideas that might work. I'll let you know."

Dusty nodded, clearly pleased. "Good. We want this to be as much yours as it is ours. Now, go celebrate. You've earned it."

As Dusty and Steve walked away, the group surrounded Bray once more, their excitement palpable. Taylor was practically bouncing on his heels. "Dude, this is huge! Your debut match next week? Against Sebastian Slater? That's gonna be awesome!"

Ettore grinned, his usual quiet demeanor replaced with genuine excitement. "And your gear? Your music? This is your chance to really make Bray Wyatt your own. I can't wait to see what you come up with."

Ashley and Alexis were already brainstorming ideas, their voices overlapping as they threw out suggestions for Bray's entrance music and gear. "What about something dark and haunting for your music?" Ashley suggested. "Like, something that gives off creepy carnival vibes."

"Ooh, or maybe something with a southern gothic feel," Alexis added. "Like, something that makes people feel like they're in the middle of a swamp at midnight."

Bray laughed, shaking his head. "You guys are amazing. I'll definitely keep those ideas in mind."

Sandro stepped forward, his expression serious but kind. "Bray, this is just the beginning. You've got the character, the skills, and now the platform. The next step is to make Bray Wyatt unforgettable. And I know you will."

Bray met Sandro's gaze, his eyes filled with determination. "Thanks, Sandro. I won't let you down."

The Florida evening air was warm, filled with the faint scent of palm trees swaying lazily under the dimming sky as Sandro led the group out of the FCW headquarters.

As they laughed and recounted moments from the bout, they nearly collided with a group coming around the corner, Kofi, Nick, Drew, Sheamus, and Stu. The group had clearly just finished their own training sessions, sweat still glistening under the harsh overhead lights of the facility.

Sandro's face lit up with a grin. "Hey! Look who it is!"

Kofi was the first to respond, his infectious energy impossible to ignore. "Man, if it isn't the champ himself! What's good, man?"

Without missing a beat, Sandro clasped Kofi's hand in a firm shake, pulling him in for a quick bro hug. "We're heading out to celebrate. This guy," he motioned toward Bray, who was still slightly flushed from both exertion and the emotional rollercoaster of the day, "just crushed his tryout. Officially part of FCW now."

Drew arched an eyebrow, smirking. "Did he now? Well, congrats, mate. That's no small feat."

Bray chuckled sheepishly, rubbing the back of his neck. "Thanks, man. Still processing it, honestly."

Nick gave Bray a friendly slap on the shoulder. "Better get used to it. Once you're in, it's a whole different grind. But tonight? Yeah, you deserve to celebrate."

Sandro's grin grew wider. "That's exactly why I'm inviting all of you. Mexican spot down the street, come on, it's on me."

Sheamus perked up instantly. "Did you say Mexican, fella? Say less."

Laughter echoed as the enlarged group made their way to the restaurant, the energy buzzing with camaraderie and the ease that comes from shared struggles and triumphs.

The Mexican restaurant was lively, filled with the rich aroma of spices, sizzling fajitas, and freshly made tortillas. They found a large table tucked in the corner, enough to accommodate the growing party. Pitchers of margaritas, baskets of chips with vibrant salsas, and plates piled high with tacos, enchiladas, and nachos soon filled the table.

The conversations flowed easily. Stories from the road, wild matches, and training mishaps had everyone laughing until their sides hurt. Taylor and Ettore tried to out eat each other on spicy challenges, their faces turning red as the heat kicked in. Alexis and Ashley debated over who had the better entrance theme ideas for Bray, tossing exaggerated insults across the table.

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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