Chapter 37: 34. First Round Of FCW Divas Championship Tournament
Sandro, taking a moment to think, and deciding to tell Drew and Stu about the tournament that Dusty and Steve were preparing, replied, "Honestly, I'm just focused on keeping this momentum going. Tonight was big, but we've got to keep pushing forward. I want to make sure that me and Kofi were qualified for a tag team tournament, to name the number one contender for the tag team championship that Dusty and Steve are going to hold."
Drew and Stu were caught off guard when they heard about the tournament. Their faces reflected a mix of surprise and curiosity, prompting Kofi to jump in and clarify. "Dusty and Steve pulled this one out of the blue, right?" Kofi began, a hint of excitement in his voice. "They're putting together this tag team tournament to find the number one contenders for the tag titles. And this isn't just any tournament—this is a chance for all of us to step up. They've been watching closely, and this is their way of giving back for everything Sandro's done and sacrificed for the FCW Divas Championship creation."
Drew and Stu exchanged glances, processing the information. Drew was the first to speak. "A tournament, huh? I hadn't heard a thing about this. But if Dusty and Steve are behind it, you know it's going to be something special. It sounds like a hell of an opportunity."
Stu nodded in agreement. "Yeah, it's a surprise, but it's a welcome one. We've been itching for something big, and this could be just the thing. Plus, the fact that you two are going to be in it… well, that just means we've got our work cut out for us if we want to get to the finals. But if it comes down to us facing you guys, you better believe we'll make it a match to remember."
Sandro smiled, appreciating the confidence and camaraderie. "That's what I like to hear. We're all here to push each other, and if it means we get to tear the house down together, then that's exactly what we'll do."
The conversation flowed easily after that, the group's bond only strengthening as they discussed the upcoming tournament and what it might mean for each of them.
As the meal came to an end, the group paid the bill and headed back to their respective homes. Sandro felt a deep sense of contentment as he drove back to his apartment, reflecting on the night's conversation and the road that lay ahead.
Three days passed quickly, and before Sandro knew it, it was Monday—the day of another FCW Live Televised show. The anticipation was electric as he arrived at the arena, the buzz of the crowd palpable even from backstage.
Sandro and Kofi had another chance to prove themselves, this time against their friends and peers, Nick Nemeth and Gavin Spears.
It was a match that had been meticulously planned, with Dusty informing them two days prior about the match. This gave them enough time to strategize and perfect their performance, ensuring that they would deliver a match that would captivate the audience.
As Sandro entered the locker room, he found Kofi already there, lacing up his boots with a look of determination. "Ready for tonight?" Sandro asked, his voice steady.
Kofi looked up with a grin. "More than ready. We've got this, man. We've been working too hard to let this slip by."
Sandro nodded in agreement. "Absolutely. Dusty and Steve are watching closely, and this is our chance to show them—and everyone else—that we're serious contenders to enter the tournament. We've got to bring everything we've got tonight."
The two continued to prepare, going over the match one last time before they were set to go on. They knew the importance of delivering a flawless performance—not just for the sake of winning, but to further establish themselves as a legitimate team in FCW.
As the night unfolded, the FCW Arena filled with eager fans, their excitement heightened by the start of the FCW Divas Championship Tournament. The opening match for the tournament was set to be Nicole vs. Natalya, a bout that had the crowd buzzing with anticipation.
Sandro couldn't help but feel a swell of pride as he thought about the tournament he had helped bring to life. The women's division was about to shine, and he was excited to see how it all played out.
But first, he had his own match to focus on. As the time for their match approached, Sandro and Kofi made their way to the gorilla position, where they found Nick and Gavin waiting. There was a mutual nod of respect as they acknowledged each other, all four men understanding the importance of the match ahead.
Nick, always the charismatic one, couldn't help but break the tension with a grin. "You guys ready to give these fans a show they won't forget?"
Kofi chuckled, his energy contagious. "You know it. Let's make some magic out there."
Gavin, quieter but no less intense, simply nodded. "Let's do this."
As the music hit and their names were announced, Sandro and Kofi stepped through the curtain to a wave of cheers. The energy in the arena was electric, the fans were already on their feet in anticipation of the match. They knew they had to deliver, and the stakes felt higher than ever.
The bell rang, and the match was underway. From the start, the chemistry between the four men was undeniable. The action was fast-paced, with each team showcasing their strengths and playing off each other's moves.
Nick and Gavin took control of the match first, using their experience and teamwork to isolate Kofi and keep him grounded.
They worked him over with a series of quick tags and double-team maneuvers, their strategy clear, to wear Kofi down and keep Sandro out of the match.
But Kofi wasn't about to be kept down for long. He fought back with his trademark speed and agility, ducking under a clothesline from Gavin and retaliating with a flying crossbody that took both men down. The crowd erupted as Kofi scrambled to his feet, using the momentum to make the hot tag to Sandro.
Sandro exploded into the ring, his energy and determination driving him forward. He hit Nick with a series of rapid punches, each one landing with precision, before sending him crashing to the mat with a spinning heel kick. Gavin tried to intervene, but Sandro was ready, catching him with a jumping knee to his head that sent him tumbling out of the ring.
The crowd was on their feet, the energy in the arena reaching a fever pitch as Sandro and Kofi began to take control. They worked together seamlessly, their moves flowing effortlessly as they kept Nick and Gavin on the defensive.
But Nick and Gavin were experienced, and they weren't about to go down without a fight. They regrouped and managed to turn the tide, isolating Sandro and working him over with a series of brutal moves.
Nick hit Sandro with a devastating neckbreaker, followed by a sharp elbow drop that had the crowd wincing. Gavin followed up with a powerful chop to the chest and then a fisherman suplex, leaving Sandro reeling on the mat.
Despite the punishment, Sandro refused to stay down. He fought back with everything he had, catching Gavin with a surprise roll-up that nearly scored the win. But Gavin kicked out just in time, and the match continued at a blistering pace.
The crowd was completely invested, their cheers and chants filling the arena as the two teams continued to battle it out.
As the match entered its final moments, the tension in the arena was palpable. Both teams were exhausted, their bodies pushed to the limit, but neither was willing to give up. The referee had subtly signaled to Sandro that they were meant to win once again, but they still had to make it count.
With the crowd on their feet, Sandro and Kofi knew it was time to finish it. Kofi made the tag and re-entered the ring with a burst of energy, hitting Nick with a series of moves that had the crowd roaring in approval.
He entered the ring by getting onto the rope and hitting Nick with a flying clothesline, landing Nick down hard where Kofi immediately went to the top rope and hit a flying elbow to Nick, then followed by a running senton.
As Nick was down, Kofi took this chance to hit a running forearm to Gavin, stumbling him down to the ringside, and then Kofi followed up with the Boom Drop to Nick, the impact sending shockwaves through the arena.
Nick was dazed, but before he could recover, Sandro was back in the ring as Kofi made the tag. Kofi hit Nick with the Trouble in Paradise when he stood up, the force of the kick spinning Nick around. Sandro seized the moment, executing the Dragon Twist Cutter with precision, sending Nick crashing to the mat.
The crowd erupted as Sandro went for the pin, the referee dropping to the mat to count. One…two…three! The bell rang, signaling their victory, and the arena exploded in cheers.
Sandro and Kofi had done it—they had won another match, managing to win both of their matches to get one step closer to the tag team tournament and solidifying their place as serious contenders.
As they celebrated in the ring, the crowd's chants of "This Is Awesome!" echoed through the arena. The atmosphere was electric, and Sandro couldn't help but feel a deep sense of pride and accomplishment.
Backstage, after the match, Dusty and Steve were waiting for them, their expressions full of pride. "That was one hell of a match, boys," Dusty said, clapping them on the back. "You just keep getting better and better."
Steve nodded in agreement. "You're making a statement that you belong at the top, and this match and the match before have proved that, so the two of us had decided to include you in the tournament."
Sandro and Kofi were ecstatic when they heard that and thanked them, the reality of their achievement began to sink in. They knew the road ahead was long, but they were ready for whatever came next.
As the night continued, the FCW Divas Championship Tournament got underway, with Nicole facing off against Angela in a hard-hitting match that had the crowd on the edge of their seats.
Both competitors had pushed each other to the limit, and the final moments, where Nicole executed her Bella Buster to secure the win, were nothing short of electrifying. As Nicole's hand was raised in victory, the crowd showed their appreciation with a loud ovation, acknowledging the effort both women had put into the match.
After Nicole's victory over Angela, the crowd was buzzing, still reeling from the intensity of the match, The second match of the night started featured Brie Bella going head-to-head with Alicia Fox.
Brie was looking to follow in her sister's footsteps, but Alicia was determined to make her mark as well. The two women exchanged holds and counters in a fast-paced, back-and-forth encounter. Brie tried to gain the upper hand with her technical prowess, while Alicia relied on her agility and unpredictable style.
As the match wore on, it became clear that Alicia had the momentum on her side. She caught Brie with a stunning dropkick, sending her crashing to the mat. Seizing the opportunity, Alicia followed up with her signature move, the Watch Yo' Face, a brutal scissors kick to the back of Brie's neck.
The impact left Brie dazed, and Alicia quickly covered her for the pinfall victory. The crowd erupted in boos as Alicia celebrated her hard-fought win, advancing to the next round of the tournament.
The third match pitted Tiffany against the formidable Natalya, a matchup that promised to be a clash of styles. Tiffany, known for her resilience and high-flying maneuvers, faced a daunting challenge in Natalya, who was renowned for her technical skills and power. The two women locked up, with Natalya using her strength to gain an early advantage.
Despite Natalya's dominance, Tiffany refused to back down. She countered a suplex attempt with a hurricanrana, stunning Natalya and earning a near fall. The crowd rallied behind Tiffany, willing her to pull off an upset.
However, Natalya's experience and ring awareness proved to be the difference-maker. She caught Tiffany in the Sharpshooter, the Hart family's iconic submission hold.
Tiffany struggled to reach the ropes, but the pain was too much, and she had no choice but to tap out. Natalya released the hold as the referee signaled the end of the match, and the crowd applauded both women for their efforts.
The final match of the first round saw Maryse facing off against Rosa Mendes. Maryse, with her brash attitude and French-Canadian flair, was determined to assert her dominance, while Rosa was eager to prove herself in front of the FCW faithful.
From the opening bell, Maryse uses every trick in the book to gain the upper hand, employing underhanded tactics and psychological mind games to throw Rosa off her rhythm.
Rosa, however, was not easily intimidated. She fought back with a flurry of strikes, forcing Maryse to retreat to the corner. The crowd rallied behind Rosa as she gained momentum, connecting with a series of high-impact moves that had Maryse reeling.
Sensing an opportunity, Rosa climbed to the top rope, looking to hit a high-risk maneuver. But Maryse, ever the opportunist, caught Rosa with a vicious kick to the midsection as she leaped off the top rope.
Rosa crumpled to the mat, and Maryse wasted no time in hitting her finishing move, the French Kiss DDT. The referee counted to three, and Maryse's hand was raised in victory, signaling her advancement to the next round.
With the first round of the tournament complete, the FCW women's division had more than proven their worth. Each match had been a showcase of the talent, determination, and passion that the women brought to the ring. The crowd had been treated to a series of matches that not only entertained but also solidified the women's division as a vital part of FCW.
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Name: Alessandro Zhang
Age: 18 (2008)
Birthplace: Orlando, Florida USA
Brand: FCW
Wrestling Style: Mixed Of All Style
Faction: None
Championship History: 0