Becoming A Wrestler

If you want to read 20 Chapters ahead and more, be sure to check out my Patreon!!!

Go to https://www.patreon.com/Tang12

___________________________

A smile spread across Stephanie's face as she pulled out her phone to send the necessary messages. Triple H exchanged a satisfied glance with her, knowing they had just secured a major win for FCW.

As Vince gave the green light, social media exploded with chatter about the War Games announcement. Twitter was ablaze with words like FCWWarGames, WarIsComing, and DustyRhodesLegacy trending within hours. Fans flooded FCW's official forum, eager to discuss the monumental announcement.

Older fans who had watched the original WCW War Games shared nostalgic memories, recounting brutal matches involving legends like Sting, Ric Flair, and The Road Warriors. They speculated on how FCW would adapt the iconic concept for a new generation.

"War Games is back! Dusty Rhodes' brainchild is returning, and it's going to be EPIC," one fan wrote.

Meanwhile, younger fans who had never seen a War Games match were filled with curiosity and excitement. "I've only seen clips of WCW War Games on YouTube," another fan posted. "But seeing this announced live was something else. Who do you think will be the fourth and fifth members of each team?!"

The discussion quickly shifted to the mystery surrounding the rosters for the match. With Dragon Boom and Taylor needing two more allies, and The Empire alongside Creed also down two members, speculation ran rampant. Names from both FCW and even WWE were thrown into the mix, with some fans suggesting shocking debuts or returns to raise the stakes.

Back in Tampa, Dusty Rhodes and Steve Keirn sat in the makeshift FCW office, reviewing the match's fallout. Steve couldn't help but grin. "Did you hear that crowd tonight? We've got lightning in a bottle, Dusty."

Dusty leaned back, his eyes twinkling with excitement. "That's what wrestling's all about, Steve. Storytelling, drama, and givin' the fans somethin' they'll never forget. War Games is gonna be the biggest thing FCW's ever done."

Steve's phone buzzed, and he quickly scanned the message. "Well, it just got bigger. Stephanie McMahon says Vince approved extra funding. We're moving this to a stadium."

Dusty let out a hearty laugh. "Hot damn! A stadium? Now we're talkin'. I'm already picturin' two rings side by side, that steel cage loomin' over it, and thousands of fans watching it with electricity!"

Dusty leaned back in his chair, a broad grin plastered across his face as he stared out the window of the FCW office. "Steve, you feel that?" he asked, his voice filled with excitement. "That's the wind shiftin'. FCW ain't just a developmental brand anymore, we're about to rise above the rest of those small-time promotions. We're talkin' TNA, NJPW... Hell, maybe even top them and just be the one below WWE."

Steve chuckled, nodding in agreement. "This War Games announcement has lit a fire under everyone, Dusty. The fans are buzzing, the locker room's electric, and now Vince has greenlit extra funding. Moving to a stadium? We've hit the jackpot."

Dusty's grin grew wider. "Ain't no limit to where we can take this now. But before we get ahead of ourselves, we've got work to do. We've got three weeks to build the best damn story FCW's ever seen. That War Games match? It's gonna be our masterpiece, Steve. And you know what they say, Rome wasn't built in a day."

The two men sat back, their excitement giving way to focused determination. Dusty grabbed a notepad and pen, his old-school mindset still thriving even in a world of digital planning. "Alright, let's map this out week by week. First thing's first, how we gonna fill out these teams?"

Dusty tapped his pen against the table thoughtfully. "First week, we need to show both sides gearing up for war. Let's have some backstage segments. Each team's gotta find their fourth and fifth members, but we'll stagger it. Let The Empire and Creed get their fourth first, makes 'em look strong out the gate as the heel faction."

Steve nodded. "Agreed. So who's their fourth?"

Dusty grinned as he told the name of the fourth member. "Joe would be the fourth member of the Empires team."

Steve's eyes widened. "Joe? The champ? It will definitely bring the attention and power balance to the Empire and Creed."

"That's right," Dusty said, leaning forward. "Joe's the perfect wild card. He's got that badass aura, and fans'll lose their minds seein' him side with The Empire and Creed. But it can't be easy. Joe's not a lackey, he's gotta resist at first as he was the champ and his heel persona was of arrogance and confidence in his own skill. Stu's gonna need to work some of that snake-like persuasion on him."

Steve raised an eyebrow. "What kind of persuasion?"

Dusty waved him off. "We'll iron that out later. Maybe somethin' personal. Either way, Joe joins the team by the end of the night, and the fans'll be on edge, wonderin' how Dragon Boom and Taylor are gonna counter."

Steve scribbled notes on his tablet. "What about Dragon Boom's response to this news?"

Dusty smiled. "That's where Sheamus comes in. He's got beef with Joe, losin' the title to him still eats at him. Sheamus'll approach Dragon Boom and Taylor, lay out his case, and join their side. Just like that, we've got four-on-four by the end of week one."

Steve nodded in agreement, the pieces falling into place. "That'll hook the fans right there. But we can't let 'em settle. Week two's gotta turn the heat up."

Dusty leaned forward, his pen scratching across the page. "Week two, we bring the teams face-to-face. No more sneak attacks or backstage talkin'. Both teams hit the ring for a promo battle."

Steve grinned. "The fans love those. Sandro's a natural on the mic, and Stu has the experience to keep up with Sandro. Taylor and Sandro can play off each other too. It'll be gold."

Dusty nodded. "And after the war of words, we follow it up with a singles match, a preview of what's to come. One guy from each team steps up, and the winner earns their side the War Games advantage."

Steve tapped his pen thoughtfully. "Who do we put in that match?"

Dusty paused, considering. "Let's keep it unexpected. Creed vs. Taylor's too obvious. Maybe Sandro will step up for the Dragon Boom team. And for The Empire teams? Drew's their muscle, and Stu was the leader. I think Joe would be the perfect one to face Sandro, It'll showcase a new fresh match as both had never faced one another which will bring excitement."

Steve scribbled it down. "Good call. And Joe wins with some underhanded tactics done by the Empire and Creed, right? Gotta keep that heel heat strong for them."

Dusty chuckled. "You know it. Empire gets the advantage, and the fans are left seething where at the same time, Joe is happy that he was almost beaten by Sandro and needed the Empire's help. At the same time, we don't stop there. The promo and match should hint at their desperation to find fifth members, plantin' seeds for week three."

Dusty tapped the notepad again. "Third week, we wrap it up. The Empire and Creed are frustrated, they've got four, but they're strugglin' for that fifth member. That's when Nick Nemeth strolls by in front of them."

Steve laughed. "Nemeth? His persona is cocky and somewhat cowardly enough to fit right in the team."

Dusty grinned. "Exactly. They approach him in their usual 'friendly' way, real intimidating-like. Nemeth tries to brush 'em off, but they corner him, and to match his somewhat cowardly persona, he agrees. The Empire's team then complete with five members."

Steve raised an eyebrow. "What about Dragon Boom? How should they find their fifth member?"

Dusty leaned back, his smile turning mischievous. "That's where things get interestin'. Dragon Boom, Taylor, and Sheamus are still lookin'. They're down to the wire when Tyler and Moxley show up."

Steve's eyes widened. "Moxley? You serious?"

"Damn right," Dusty said, grinning. "Moxley's the wildcard this story needs. He's extreme, and unpredictable, and fans'll lose it seein' him in FCW. He pitches himself to the team 'cause it's 'fun,' and Tyler proposes a deal to showcase his calculating mind, where if Moxley joins, they get a future tag title shot anywhere and anytime."

Steve hesitated. "That's a big stipulation to be made, are you sure we should do this Dusty?"

Dusty shrugged. "It's war, Steve. The stakes gotta be high. Sandro and Kofi'll argue, but they'll agree. Boom. Dragon Boom's complete, and the fans are chompin' at the bit for War Games."

Dusty sat back, satisfied as he surveyed their plan. "Three weeks, Steve. Three weeks of buildin' tension, growin' the teams, and gettin' fans invested. By the time we hit that stadium, they're gonna be beggin' for this match."

Steve nodded, impressed. "You think it's enough?"

Dusty chuckled. "Enough? It's a damn symphony. And we ain't even touched the pay-per-view card yet. That's next week's discussion. Right now, let's focus on execution."

After finalizing their discussion, Steve stood up and called for the rest of the FCW creative team to gather in Dusty's office. A mix of writers, producers, and agents filtered in, exchanging curious glances. The excitement in the air was palpable as Dusty gestured for everyone to sit down.

"Alright, y'all," Dusty began, his Southern drawl emphasizing his words. "Steve and I just laid out the groundwork for what's gonna be the biggest event in FCW history. War Games is gonna redefine what this company can do, and we need all hands on deck to make it happen."

Steve chimed in, holding up a printed outline of their three-week build. "We've broken it down week by week with team reveals, promo battles, matches, and surprises. But we need each of you to refine these segments, add your touch, and make them unforgettable."

As Dusty walked the team through the plan, there were murmurs of approval and nods of agreement. The creative team quickly latched onto the vision, their own ideas bubbling to the surface.

"What if we make Joe's recruitment by The Empire more sinister?" one writer suggested. "Like, maybe they threaten something close to him, but Joe spins it to look like he's still in control?"

Dusty smiled and nodded. "I like that. Adds more depth to Joe's character. Let's explore that angle and see how you make it work."

Another producer raised a hand. "For Sandro and Taylor's team, how do we visually showcase the tension before Moxley joins? Maybe we tease a blow-up between Sheamus and Taylor before they all come together?"

"Perfect," Steve said, jotting it down. "Conflict before unity, it'll make their eventual teamwork even more satisfying for the fans, explore the angle and give us your script by Friday."

Once the briefing concluded, Dusty clapped his hands together. "Alright, folks. Let's get to work. This ain't just another event; it's our chance to show the wrestling world what FCW can do. Go big or go home."

As the creative team dispersed, Dusty's phone buzzed on his desk. He glanced at the caller ID and picked it up. "This is Dusty."

"Mr. Rhodes, this is Mike from Talent Relations," the voice on the other end said. "I've got some good news. Davina Rose, Rebecca Knox, Ashley Elizabeth Flair, and Alexis Kaufman have all shared their excitement with their application being accepted, and couldn't wait to sign with us. The first two as wrestlers, and the latter two as trainees just like their applications."

Dusty's face lit up with a wide grin. "Well, hot damn, Mike! That's the kind of news I like to hear. When are they comin' down?"

"They'll be here in three days to sign their contracts," Mike replied. "Just wanted to give you the heads-up."

"Good work, Mike. You tell 'em they're makin' the best decision of their careers comin' to FCW," Dusty said before ending the call.

He immediately shared the news with Steve, who let out an impressed whistle. "That's one hell of a news, Dusty. Davina and Rebecca are game-changers for the women's division, and Ashley and Alexis are future stars in the making, well according to Sandro at least and that's something we should believe in." Dusty hearing this nodded. "We're buildin' the future here, Steve. One step at a time."

_______________________

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