242. Sandro Pitch An Idea For One Of The Semifinal Match

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"You got 11% of the 25%," Hugo revealed. "That makes you the fourth biggest shareholder in Spotify, right below Daniel Ek and their biggest investors." For a moment, Sandro just sat there, absorbing the weight of that information. It was one thing to know he'd made a solid investment, but to now be one of the most influential shareholders in Spotify? That was another level entirely.

A wide grin spread across his face as he let out a low whistle. "Damn, Hugo. That's better than I expected."

Hugo chuckled. "It's a huge win, no doubt. This kind of stake gives you serious leverage moving forward."

Sandro nodded, already thinking about the long term implications. But before getting lost in future plans, he focused on the present. "Listen, you did great work getting me in on this early. You'll be getting a hefty bonus for this success, I'll transfer it soon."

"I appreciate it," Hugo said. "I'll keep an eye out for any other promising investments that might interest you, not that you need it as you are very perceptive on that kind of thing."

"Haha, Good man," Sandro laughed and said. "We'll talk soon."

They ended the call, and Sandro let out a deep breath, still buzzing from the news. Just as he was about to lean back and let the reality of his growing fortune sink in, his phone rang again.

This time, it was Nicole, who had her flight yesterday to Tampa with Brianna.

A knowing smile crossed his lips as he answered, his voice automatically turning softer. "Hey, baby."

"Sandro!" Nicole's voice was full of excitement, practically bubbling over through the phone.

Sandro chuckled, already able to tell she was grinning from ear to ear. "What's got you so hyped up?"

"You are talking to an official WWE Superstar!" Nicole announced proudly. "Brianna and I just signed our contracts!"

Sandro's smile widened. "Damn, finally! That's amazing news to hear babe!"

"I know, right?!" Nicole gushed. "And guess what? We're making our debut on Monday Night RAW in a couple of weeks!"

Sandro could practically feel her excitement through the phone. He knew how much this moment meant to her and Brianna. They had been grinding in FCW for so long, waiting for their chance, and now it was finally happening.

"You're gonna kill it," he said, his voice warm with pride. "I never doubted it for a second."

Nicole sighed happily. "I just... I still can't believe it's real. Like, it's actually happening."

"It's real," Sandro assured her. "And you deserve it."

Nicole was quiet for a moment, and Sandro could sense that something was on her mind. He waited, giving her space to say whatever she needed to.

Finally, she spoke, her voice a little softer. "I just... I wish you were coming with me."

Sandro leaned back against the couch, understanding exactly what she meant. "I know," he admitted. "But it won't be long, you know it. April and I are making waves in FCW. We'll get called up soon enough. And if we aren't getting called up, I can pull some strings."

"You better," Nicole said, trying to sound teasing but not completely hiding the genuine longing in her voice.

Sandro smiled. "You know I will."

Nicole sighed again, this time more relaxed. "Alright, I won't get all emotional on you. I just wanted to call and tell you the news first."

"I'm glad you did," Sandro said. "Now go celebrate with Brianna. This is both of your moment."

"I will," Nicole said. "I love you."

"Love you too," Sandro replied without hesitation.

After the call with Nicole, Sandro sat back for a moment, still feeling the lingering warmth of their conversation. She was finally moving up to RAW, and while part of him wished they could take that step together, he knew this was just how things had to be for now. Besides, he had his own plans in motion.

With that thought, he stood up, grabbed his keys, and made his way to FCW Headquarters. He had an idea for the FCW North American Championship tournament semifinals, something that would not only shake things up but also further cement his new persona in the eyes of the fans.

He knew that both Dusty Rhodes and Steve Keirn were always open to good creative ideas, but this one? This one had to be pitched the right way.

Upon arriving at the FCW building, he headed straight toward the front desk and asked where Dusty and Steve were. The receptionist informed him they were in the creative department, currently in a meeting with the entire FCW creative team.

That made Sandro pause for a second, he hadn't expected to walk in on a full creative session. But then again, it might work to his advantage. If he could sell this idea in front of the whole creative team, it might gain even more traction.

With that thought, he made his way toward the creative department and leaned against the wall, waiting. It wasn't long before the meeting room doors opened, and out stepped Dusty and Steve, deep in conversation. The moment Dusty's eyes landed on Sandro, his face broke into a smile.

"Sandro, it's Wednesday," Dusty said with a chuckle. "Usually, you're at the training area or at home. What brings you here?"

Steve glanced at Sandro with a raised eyebrow, clearly intrigued as well.

Sandro grinned. "I've got an idea for the semifinal match between Nick and Roode. Something that could shake things up and, at the same time, bring more attention to my new persona."

At that, both Dusty and Steve exchanged looks before nodding. They knew Sandro had a sharp mind for the business, and if he was pitching something, it was always worth listening to and he had never disappointed them with any of his ideas.

"Alright," Steve said, motioning for him to follow. "Let's hear it."

They led him into an empty office room, closing the door behind them before turning their full attention to him.

Sandro wasted no time. "I want to be the special guest referee for Nick and Roode's match."

Dusty's brows furrowed. "The semifinal match? That's a big one, son. A lot of stakes was put on it."

Steve nodded, crossing his arms. "That's a high stakes match. What's the angle here?"

Sandro leaned forward slightly, making sure they understood exactly where he was coming from. "Look, we all know what Nick pulled in his match with Taylor was a story and the fans know it as well, as it was his character, a guy that plays dirty. My character, the persona I'm building, he's about fighting back against injustice in the industry as it's core persona. What better way to showcase that than by stepping into the ring and making sure this match is called fairly? No cheating, no shortcuts. Displaying the history Nick had done caused my character to not trust any match in lives him, especially such high stake match as this."

Dusty hummed, considering it, but Steve still looked skeptical. "We can't have you showing favoritism to Roode either to stay true to your persona. If you get involved in a way that tilts the match, it undermines the whole idea of your persona and the idea you pitched in."

"I get that," Sandro said quickly. "Which is why my character would be willing to put my FCW Florida Heavyweight Championship on the line. If I show any bias, if I do anything to favor Roode, I'll vacate my title."

That made both men pause. Sandro could tell they hadn't expected him to take his idea that far. Putting his own championship on the line just to prove he'd be impartial to the fans? That was a statement.

After a long moment, Dusty let out a low whistle. "That's a hell of a move, son."

Steve nodded slowly, rubbing his chin. "It does add another layer to things. If you screw Roode over, you lose your title. If you screw Nick over, same thing. Makes it high stakes, but in a different way."

Sandro smirked. "Exactly. It builds tension. The fans won't know what's gonna happen."

Dusty and Steve exchanged another look before finally nodding.

"Alright," Dusty said. "You've got yourself a deal."

Sandro grinned, feeling that familiar rush of excitement. But then Steve brought up a logistical problem. "The match is next week. We need a way to make it official, to show the fans why this is happening."

At that, Sandro's grin widened. "You guys forgetting something? We've got FCW's YouTube channel. We can drop a video there, making it official. And not just that, we can use FCW's official Twitter and forum to promote it. That way, it's not just some random decision, it's something that feels real."

Steve nodded, clearly seeing the value in that. "That could work."

"And to really sell it," Sandro continued, "we put out a training video, of me working with referees and officials, learning how to call and dictate a match properly. Show the fans that I'm serious about this, that my character isn't just talking, he's actually backing it up."

Dusty grinned. "Damn, son. You really thought this through."

"Always," Sandro said with a smirk.

Steve finally relented, nodding. "Alright. Let's do it."

With that, the decision was made. Sandro would be the special guest referee for the semifinal match between Nick and Roode, and the announcement would go out on FCW's YouTube channel and social media. They also schedule a video shoot for the footage of Sandro training with actual referees and officials, proving that he was taking the role seriously.

As Sandro left the office, he could already picture the fans' reaction. Some would love it, some would hate it, but one thing was for sure, it would get people talking.

And that was exactly what he wanted.

Two days passed by and the announcement went up on FCW's YouTube channel that very night. It was a simple but effective video, Sandro sitting across from Dusty and Steve in an official looking setting as they discussed his proposal.

The moment the stipulation was revealed, that Sandro would vacate his title if he showed bias, fan discussions exploded across FCW's forums and Twitter.

Some fans praised him for putting his title on the line, saying it proved he was serious about fairness. Others called it a self serving move, claiming he was just trying to keep the spotlight on himself.

And that was just the beginning.

The training videos that followed only added fuel to the fire. Footage of Sandro working with seasoned referees and officials, practicing how to count pinfalls, enforce rope breaks, and maintain control in the ring, it was unlike anything the fans had seen before. It made the whole thing feel more legitimate, more real.

Even in the FCW locker room, people were buzzing about it, of course except for Nick and Roode who already knew about it. One afternoon, Sheamus caught up with Sandro after a training session, smirking as he clapped him on the shoulder. "Man, you sure know how to stir things up, fella."

Sandro laughed. "Always."

"You really pitch the idea to put your title on the line for this?" Sheamus asked.

Sandro nodded. "Had to make it real for the fans right."

Sheamus whistled. "Gotta respect it."

Even Drew, who was usually more reserved, gave him an approving nod when they crossed paths. "Bold move, mate," he said simply. "Hope you're ready for whatever comes next."

Sandro grinned. "Always."

As the days passed and Monday was approaching, Sandro could feel the energy building, both for the fans and the entire wrestling section of the internet, and then days passed by to Monday for FCW daily live Monday program, and the arena was jam packed as fans can't wait to watch the semifinals involving Nick and Roode, with Sandro as it's special guest referee.

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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