247. Sandro's New Story Direction From Dusty

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Meanwhile, eerie occurrences had begun taking place on FCW's titantron. Over the last two weeks, the screen would randomly flicker to life during shows, displaying quick, distorted images of Bray Wyatt and Forest, intercut with static. No explanation had been given. No one knew what it meant. But fans knew Bray Wyatt was up to something, and whatever it was… it was coming.

It was the third week of this whirlwind month when Sandro finally took a rare night off from his relentless training schedule. Sitting beside April on his couch, he watched Monday Night RAW on the television in the living room of Sandro's apartment.

She was curled up against him, her head resting on his shoulder, absently tracing patterns on his arm with her fingers. "You know," she mused, "you could stand to relax a little more. You've been in beast mode for weeks now."

Sandro smirked but said nothing as the TV screen cut to the latest match, Nicole and Brianna Bella's official debut on RAW.

Or, as the WWE universe now knew them as Nikki Bella and Brie Bella.

Sandro leaned forward slightly, watching the screen with interest. This was different. In his past life, Brie would be the one debuting first alone, with Nikki then introduced later through their signature Twin Magic deception that was found out. But this time maybe due to his butterfly effect, WWE had opted to bring them in as a duo from the start.

The twins squared off against Jillian Hall and Layla, showing surprising chemistry for newcomers. Their Twin Magic tactic confused the referee, allowing them to score the victory in a way that had the crowd buzzing.

April raised an eyebrow. "So, what do you think?"

Sandro took a slow breath before answering. "They did great. Nikki and Brie showcased their talent to the fullest. I was worried Nikki might outshine Brie, but WWE seems determined to keep them together as a package for now." His gaze flickered with amusement. "And honestly? I wouldn't be surprised if Vince and Steph are paying extra attention to them because of their connection to me, as we are close friends in their eyes."

April nodded her head and then nudged him. "You know, at some point, you should probably check in on her. She's been asking for you to come and visit her."

Sandro's lips curled into a small smirk. "Maybe I will, in the near future."

Beyond that in the last week of the passing month, Sandro also called his father and informed him that he had successfully become the fourth largest shareholder in Spotify, ensuring that Nexum Core could now shift its focus toward music agencies and studios. His father of course surprised by the news, but applauded his son and agreed to his request.

Now back to the present time, Sandro had just finished doing a morning run and his breakfast, and was going to take a shower when his iPhone buzzed on the coffee table.

The name Dusty Rhodes flashed on the screen.

He picked up immediately. "Hey, morning Dusty."

"Morning k id," Dusty's voice came through, warm and steady, "got a minute?"

Sandro took a seat on his couch and leaned back, sensing something important. "Of course. What's up?"

Dusty chuckled. "I got somethin' big for ya. You up for an upgrade?"

Sandro's eyebrows furrowed slightly. "An upgrade?"

"Mhm," Dusty confirmed. "I'm gonna introduce Bray and the Wyatt Family next Monday as they are ready, and I want 'em to make a hell of an impact. No slow builds, no 'wait and see' nonsense. I want them hitting the ground running, and there's no bigger name in FCW right now than you."

Sandro's interest was immediately piqued. "Go on."

"I want The Wyatt family debut was made as Bray paints a target around you. His whole character is about control, manipulation, and being the one true leader, so he's comin' in swingin' with the idea that he wants to rule FCW and turn everyone into his sheep, while introducing Thoruf and Brodie, or called Erick Rowan and Luke Harper now."

Sandro rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "So I would become his ultimate target to cause fear and use it to control FCW?"

"Exactly," Dusty affirmed. "Here's how it plays out, Bray and his boys show up, and they target you. You're still holdin' that title, which means you're the biggest threat to his 'vision.' It's a statement, he wants to take everything from you."

Sandro listened intently as Dusty continued.

"You're fightin' 'em off, and just when it looks like you were overwhelmed and might not stand a chance, Kofi and Taylor come out for the save. But here's the twist, they get neutralized by Bray and his family."

Sandro's lips pressed into a thin line. That was a bold move. It meant that Bray and his family would immediately be established as dominant forces.

"Wait," Sandro interjected, "so Kofi and Taylor are gonna be 'out of action' for a while?"

"Yep," Dusty confirmed. "Gives 'em a couple of weeks to rest, lets the Wyatt Family build some real credibility, and more importantly? It leaves you outnumbered."

Sandro exhaled, letting the scenario settle in his mind. It was a perfect storm. But then Dusty's voice carried a hint of amusement. "And here's where your upgrade comes in."

Sandro smirked slightly. "I'm listening."

"We're gonna debut Ettore as your bodyguard."

Sandro blinked.

Dusty continued, "You bring him in as your enforcer, the man who keeps the playing field even, fights against systemic injustice, and most importantly? He's your muscle against the Wyatt Family."

Sandro couldn't stop the grin from spreading across his face. He had been thinking about this exact idea himself. He had been finding the perfect chance to pitch in the idea of Ettore debut as his bodyguard, now Dusty himself has pitched it in, so he doesn't have to pitch the idea anymore.

"I love it," Sandro said immediately. "Ettore's perfect for this role."

"Damn right he is," Dusty said with a chuckle. "And with Kofi and Taylor takin' a breather, it makes sense for you to bring in reinforcement. Ettore steps up, and suddenly, we got a new dynamic, Sandro Zhang, the fighting champion that combat against unfairness and system injustice, now have a stoic powerhouse watchin' his back."

Sandro nodded, his mind already racing through possibilities. "And where does this lead?"

There was a brief pause before Dusty spoke again. His voice carried the weight of something monumental.

"Eventually, I wanted for Bray to take the title from you." Sandro fell silent for a beat, processing the implications.

Bray Wyatt.

The next FCW Florida Heavyweight Champion.

And Sandro would be the one to pass the torch.

A slow smirk formed on Sandro's face. "You really believe in him that much, huh?"

"Damn right I do," Dusty said firmly. "Bray ain't just another guy. He's special and his persona was intriguing. He has put in hard work every week in house shows and live televised matches. And you? You're the only man who can make this feel real. You're the only one who can set the stage for him."

Sandro exhaled, then grinned. "Alright. Let's do it."

Dusty chuckled. "I knew you'd say that. Meet me at the training area tomorrow, we'll run through the details with Ettore. As for Kofi, Taylor, Bray, Erick, and Luke? I'll handle them. You just be ready."

Sandro smiled. "Will do," he said, his excitement barely contained.

After ending the call, he stretched his arms, feeling a surge of anticipation run through him. The plans Dusty had just laid out were huge. Bray and the Wyatt Family were going to explode onto the scene, and Sandro would be at the heart of it.

The idea of facing them, of being the main force resisting Bray's mind games, had his blood pumping. And then there was Big E, Ettore Ewen, finally making his FCW debut.

Sandro let out a deep breath, rubbing the back of his neck before heading toward the bathroom. He needed a shower to clear his head, though his mind was already racing ahead to tomorrow. Sandro grinned. This was going to be fun.

The next day, Sandro walked into the FCW training facility, feeling a familiar buzz in the air. The energy was always high in this place, but today had an extra charge. He spotted Dusty Rhodes near the ring, chatting with Ettore, whose eyes lit up the moment he saw Sandro approaching.

"There he is!" Ettore grinned, shaking Sandro's hand. "Man, Dusty just told me the plan! You have no idea how hyped I am right now."

Sandro smirked. "Oh, I can tell. You look like you're about to run through a brick wall."

Dusty chuckled. "That's exactly the kinda energy we want, kid." He turned back to Ettore. "Now, listen here, big man. We need you to be a damn wreckin' ball. You ain't just another debutin' talent, we're bringin' you in as a powerhouse, an equalizer. And for that, you need a name that hits like a hammer."

Sandro leaned in slightly, already curious.

Dusty smirked. "From now on, you're Big E Langston."

Sandro blinked. He hadn't expected that. In his past life, Ettore wouldn't get that name until he debuted in NXT much later. WWE's creative team had been the ones to come up with it, but now, Dusty was pulling it forward.

Hiding his surprise, Sandro mulled it over before speaking. "Why not shorten it?"

Dusty raised an eyebrow.

Sandro crossed his arms. "Big E Langston sounds intimidating, yeah, but 'Big E' alone? That's catchy. Easy for fans to chant. It sticks in your head. People don't need a last name to remember you if you're a dominant force. Just look at guys like Batista, Edge, or Goldberg."

Dusty rubbed his chin, considering it. Then he grinned. "I like that. Simple, strong, and easy to market. What do ya think, Big E?"

Ettore, well now Big E, nodded enthusiastically. "Hell yeah. 'Big E' it is."

Dusty clapped his hands together. "Perfect! Now, let's talk finishers."

Big E stepped forward. "I've been working on something. It's an over the shoulder facebuster. I could show my strength as well through it."

Sandro's eyes glinted with recognition. He knew what this would become.

"What's the name?" Dusty asked.

Big E hesitated. "I… don't have one yet."

Sandro immediately spoke up. "Call it the Big Ending."

Both Dusty and Big E turned to him.

"It ties into your name," Sandro explained. "It's simple, but powerful. And if done right, it'll catch on with the fans like wildfire."

Dusty whistled. "Damn, kid, you're just full of ideas today." He turned to Big E. "Whaddya think?"

Big E grinned. "I love it. 'The Big Ending.' Sounds like it's gonna leave people flat on their backs."

Sandro nodded. "That's the point."

With that settled, the three of them spent the next few hours going over Big E's character, ring attire, and entrance music. His look was set, a black and gold singlet, to show his muscle while at the same time making him look like a tank.

Days passed in a blur of training, preparation, and finalizing every detail. And soon enough, it was time as Monday come.

Inside the arena, the crowd was buzzing. The night had already been filled with explosive matches, but the moment the arena lights flickered, an unsettling hush fell over the fans as they were wondering what happened.

Suddenly the titantron crackled with static before distorted images of Bray Wyatt and the eerie figures of Erick Rowan and Luke Harper flashed on the screen, like they were demented cultist.

Then the lights cut out entirely.

A haunting, flickering lantern appeared on the screen.

Then, Bray's voice blared from the speaker. "We're here." A sudden, eerie transition to live feed showed Bray standing at the top of the ramp, lantern in hand, his ominous silhouette framed by the glow. Behind him, Rowan and Harper loomed, their hulking figures barely visible in the dim light as they wear sheep mask.

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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