331. What's Next?

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Just cold focus. He mouthed the words, "We're taking everything." And then he left the ring. Nemeth stirred, groggy, crawling toward the ropes, clutching his jaw and muttering to himself. He had given everything, but tonight, even perfection wasn't enough to stop the machine that was Drew McIntyre.

As Drew disappeared through the curtain, the arena lights dimmed slightly and then the titantron lit up.

A backstage segment flickered onto the screen, and the moment it did, the fans inside the arena booed, loudly.

There they were.

The Undisputed System.

Sandro stood front and center with his arms folded, his jaw tight with determination. Alexa Bliss stood to his side, her eyes gleaming with satisfaction, lips curled into a sly, knowing smile.

Behind them, Big E and Ryback stood like stone guardians, silent and imposing. Wade Barrett leaned against a flight case, towel around his neck, smug grin carved into his face like it was permanent.

The whole unit was watching the monitor, Drew's hand being raised still fresh on the screen. As the sound of the crowd played in the background, the camera slowly panned to capture their reactions.

Drew walked into the frame, still dripping sweat, adrenaline still coursing through his veins. His eyes met Sandro's, and at that moment, no words were needed but Alexa spoke anyway, stepping slightly forward.

"The first step of your plan works beautifully, my King," she said softly, her voice honeyed with pride as she looked toward Sandro.

The line echoed the very words Sandro had whispered to her just nights ago.

Drew didn't say a word.

He gave a single, heavy nod.

That was all.

The message had been sent.

The Undisputed System was winning.

Match by match. Division by division.

And now, with Drew standing as the new number one contender for the FCW North American Championship, the pieces on the board were shifting fast.

Wade Barrett was climbing the ranks toward the Florida Heavyweight Title. Big E and Ryback had just put the tag team division on notice and were now looming large over Erick Rowan and Luke Harper. Alexa had quietly entered the orbit of the Divas Championship picture after showcasing that she could go toe to toe with Davina.

But that raised one very loud, very pointed question.

What about Sandro?

As FCW went off the air that night, Twitter ignited into a wildfire. The FCW Official Forum had threads stacking up by the second. Fans were speculating wildly.

Some believed this was Sandro's way of waging war, a cold, methodical payback against Bray Wyatt for stealing the FCW Florida Heavyweight Title from him months ago. They theorized that instead of going straight for Bray himself, Sandro had dispatched his generals.

He was the mastermind. The architect. The sovereign behind the curtain.

So what prize was worthy of him?

Rumors began swirling that he had set his sights beyond FCW. Many pointed to Sandro's unfinished business in TNA. After all, he had once held the TNA World Heavyweight Championship. And who had dethroned him and held it until now?

Bobby Lashley.

A man who was just as dominant and just as feared as Sandro, but not for his persona but for his strength. Was this Sandro's revenge story?

Others speculated that Sandro would turn his attention to the TNA X Division Championship, currently held by AJ Styles after his incredible match against Amazing Red. A legacy title, a wrestler's belt. Sandro had the technical skill and aerial versatility to match AJ blow for blow. Was that the route?

Or perhaps he would team with one of his Undisputed brothers to target the TNA World Tag Team Championships, now held by the British Invasion, Brutus Magnus and Doug Williams, who had recently defeated Beer Money Inc., Bobby Roode and James Storm.

Theories spread like wildfire. One Twitter thread received over 70,000 retweets in two hours, and fan polls raged all night long. Nobody knew the answer, but one thing was certain, that something big was coming.

And behind closed doors, at that very moment, Sandro was on a confidential phone conference with Steve Keirn and Dusty Rhodes alongside two voices from TNA Wrestling, Dixie Carter and Jeff Jarrett.

The mood was serious.

"The creative needs to be bold here," Dusty Rhodes had said earlier in the meeting, his voice low and gravelly. "You need to bring the Undisputed System into TNA to show that you're planting a damn flag in terms of the story direction."

The call had stretched over ninety minutes.

Ideas were floated. Pros and cons weighed. Concerns about the politics between promotions. Branding. Match quality. Even who could realistically take the loss when the time came?

And in the end, a decision was reached.

A plan. A calculated risk that would send shockwaves across the industry.

Sandro will appear live this Thursday on TNA Impact in the Impact Zone.

He would compete in a match.

And after that match, he would publicly announce the title he would chase next.

The announcement went live the next morning on TNA and FcW Official Twitter accounts, and it immediately exploded.

Hashtags like #SandroInTNA, #UndisputedInvades, and #ImpactTakeover trended worldwide.

Three days passed in the blink of an eye.

When Thursday came, the world turned its eyes to Nashville.

The Undisputed System, Sandro, Alexa, Drew, Big E, Ryback, and Wade Barrett, touched down at the airport under a flurry of flashing cameras. Reporters hounded Sandro and Alexa in particular, the buzz around their public relationship still white hot in the media.

Paparazzi chased them from the terminal to the SUV convoy that Sandro had quietly arranged. Two black rentals. Two drivers. Windows tinted dark. Security was tight, coordinated, and professional.

The convoy pulled into one of the most prestigious hotels in downtown Nashville. Their luggage was whisked away by bellhops, and for an hour or so, the group rested, regrouped, and prepped.

Then, in the early evening, the SUVs rolled out again, this time heading straight toward TNA Headquarters.

The moment they arrived, a ripple spread across the backstage area.

TNA talent turned their heads as the Undisputed System strode through the hallway. Sandro led the way in a sleek black leather coat, his eyes hidden behind sunglasses, Alexa beside him in jet black clothes trimmed in crimson. The others followed like a formation of soldiers. Every step is choreographed.

Backstage producers tried to play it cool, but even the long-tenured ones could feel the shift. This wasn't just a crossover appearance.

It was the beginning of something.

Sandro met briefly with Jeff Jarrett and Dixie Carter. He shook their hands firmly, but didn't linger in pleasantries.

"Where's my match card?" he asked, simple and blunt.

Jeff handed him the final rundown sheet. Sandro's name was listed in the final match of the night, a showcase bout against an opponent that they had agreed upon during the conference.

This man was chosen because he could be a test, an invitation, and a warning all rolled into one in terms of the story direction Sandro was on now. From there, he would grab a mic and speak to the TNA faithful and the world.

The air carried that undeniable pre match electricity, thick with anticipation, laced with speculation. Inside their private locker room, the Undisputed System was preparing for what would be one of the most watched moments of the night.

Sandro had already changed into his custom black and gold ring gear, the subtle but sharp lines of gold threading through his attire like lightning across a dark sky. It was sleek, clean, and powerful, just like the man wearing it.

Beside him, Alexa was already in her entrance outfit, a sharp, fashionable black blazer with gold trim, tailored to perfection, paired with a matching short skirt and boots. She looked every bit the queen she'd been dubbed, not just by Sandro, but by fans, commentators, and now even media outlets.

The rest of the Undisputed System matched in formal black suits with crisp cuts and gold armbands. Wade Barrett leaned against the locker with his arms crossed, Drew McIntyre laced his wrists with quiet focus, Ryback and Big E shared a brief joke that earned a low laugh between them, but there was no doubt that behind the smiles was pure intention.

Once fully suited, there was a knock at the door.

"Come in," Sandro called.

The door opened, and in walked familiar faces, Bobby Roode, Chris Sabin, Alex Shelley, and James Storm.

There was a pause, then smiles all around.

"About time you brought your empire back here," Storm said with a smirk, extending a hand.

Sandro shook it firmly. "Thought I'd remind Nashville what real control looks like."

Sabin laughed and clapped him on the back. "Y'all look like walking out straight from the godfathers movie. What's the plan, Godfather?"

Sandro grinned. "You'll find out when the bell rings."

The locker room was suddenly a buzz of laughter, handshakes, and old stories. Despite the tension of the night ahead, there was something grounding about being surrounded by peers and friends from past battles.

As showtime crept closer, the group slowly quieted. The large monitor fixed to the wall above them came to life with the opening credits of TNA Impact. The intro music blasted through the locker room, and everyone turned to watch.

The show opened strong, an intense tag match between The Young Bucks and The Dudley Boyz that had the crowd on their feet. Then came a passionate in ring promo by Mr. Anderson, who teased a challenge to Lashley. A surprise return by Gail Kim brought the crowd into a frenzy again.

Segment after segment delivered.

But through it all, you could feel it building. The fans knew what was coming. It was all just foreplay for the moment they were waiting for.

And finally, the time came.

The lights in the arena began to flicker, gold and black beams strobing across the crowd. The murmurs turned to noise. Then:

SHOCK. THE. SYSTEM.

The Undisputed System's theme erupted across the arena.

The boos came instantly, tidal and deafening.

Out came Sandro first, standing tall and calm at the top of the ramp. His black and gold gear glinted under the lights. Behind him emerged Alexa, arm linked with his, dressed like power personified. Then came the rest of the System, Wade, Drew, Ryback, and Big E, all in their tailored suits, each one a symbol of dominance and control.

They stood together at the top of the ramp, five men and one woman, and in that moment it felt like the company itself paused. The arena, though echoing with disdain, couldn't deny the presence they commanded.

The camera zoomed in as the ring announcer stood mid ring, lifting the microphone with poise.

"Ladies and gentlemen, the following contest is scheduled for one fall… and it is your main event of the evening!"

The crowd roared, half booing, half buzzing.

"Introducing first… accompanied by Alexa Bliss, Wade Barrett, Big E, Drew McIntyre, and Ryback… representing the Undisputed System… from Orlando, Florida… weighing in at 220 pounds… SANDRO ZHANGGGGG!"

The jeers became louder, feral, almost. Chants of "Undisputed sucks!" and "Go back to FCW!" rang out. But Sandro didn't even blink.

He led the faction down the ramp, slow and deliberate, like generals marching into conquered territory.

At the foot of the ramp, Sandro walked up the steel steps with Alexa right beside him, entering the ring with fluid grace. Inside the ring, he stood center stage as Alexa took his hand and spun into place beside him. Behind them, the other four stood like a wall of muscle and menace.

After a synchronized pose, Sandro raised his fist to the sky while Alexa smirked out at the crowd and alongside the rest of the System exited the ring, forming a line around Sandro's corner.

And then… the mood shifted.

The lights dimmed once more, this time bathed in blue.

Christopher Daniels' music hit and the crowd erupted with cheers.

The Fallen Angel walked through the curtain with all the grace and presence of a veteran who still wanted to accomplish many things and had a lot to showcase.

He pointed toward the sky, then brought his hands together, bowing toward the ring. As he made his way down, the fans reached out to him, patting his shoulders, and shouting encouragement.

"And his opponent… from The City of Angels… weighing in at 215 pounds… CHRISTOPHER DANIELS!"

Inside the ring, Daniels looked across at Sandro. He knew exactly who he was up against, not just the man, but the machine behind him that stood at his corner as well. The referee stepped between them, checked both competitors ensuring they were ready, and then, with a nod, pointed to the timekeeper for the bell.

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Name: Alessandro Zhang

Age: 20 (2010)

Birthplace: Orlando, Florida, USA

Brand: FCW

Wrestling Style: Mixed Of All Styles

Faction: The Undisputed System

Championship History: 1x FCW Tag Team Champions, 1x FCW Florida Heavyweight Champion, & 1x TNA World Heavyweight Champion