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After that, the meeting wrapped up. They all shook hands, and with that, the business done, Sandro and Big E left the room and made their way out of the building. Their bodies (well, only Big E could feel it) were sore, bruised, but their spirits? Sky high. They were buzzing. They had heat with TNA fans as well. Real heat. And it felt damn good.
"Dude, I can see that you still can't believe Sting and Kurt praised you like that," Sandro said as they stepped into the parking lot.
Big E laughed. "I know, right?! I was lowkey about to cry when Sting said I protected him. That's STING, man!"
"You earned it," Sandro replied. "You've come a long way from that nervous man in developmental."
Big E punched his shoulder lightly. "You mean the nervous man who carried you in that brawl tonight?"
Sandro laughed, wincing. "Yeah, yeah, okay, fair. Just don't let it go to your head."
They reached their rental car, tossed their bags in, and took off into the Florida night, heading back to their hotel.
Once there, it didn't take long for sleep to hit them. They were exhausted, physically and emotionally. But as they lay in their separate beds in the modest but comfortable room, there was a sense of peace.
Tomorrow, they'd fly back to Orlando, back home.
They planned to ring in the New Year with friends, fellow wrestlers, and people they'd come up with in the business. No press, no tension, just drinks, laughter, and good company. For a moment, the storm of wrestling politics and online debates would be paused.
But the war was far from over.
Online, the discourse continued. Pundits, journalists, and fans debated whether Sandro had gone too far. Some praised the character shift as a natural evolution of a once promising rookie now realizing the cost of greatness. Others condemned him as a cautionary tale, a star lost to ego.
And Big E? He was called "the muscle of madness," "the breakout brawler," and "the man who slammed Kurt Angle like he was nothing." Clips of his suplex played on repeat across social media.
But for all the noise, all the fire, one thing was clear:
Sandro and Big E were no longer just rising stars.
They were the stars, and the battle for control of TNA's future had only just begun.
The next day, they woke up feeling refreshed. For all the soreness in their bodies, there was also a lingering euphoria, the kind that followed a night of battle and victory.
After quick showers, they headed down to the hotel restaurant for a light breakfast. The place was quiet, filled mostly with traveling businessmen and the occasional tourist family. They sat near a window, picking at scrambled eggs, fruit, and toast, drinking their coffees in a comfortable silence.
Sandro leaned back, sipping his second cup, letting the caffeine wash away the last fog of sleep. "Can't believe we're heading back to Orlando already," he murmured.
Big E chuckled, rubbing his shoulder. "Yeah, man. Feels like we just got here and blew the roof off, then poof, back to real life."
"Real life," Sandro repeated with a smirk. "For us, that's gym, training, cutting promos, and having the internet call us egomaniacs."
Big E laughed. "And then calling us legends five minutes later. Gotta love the cycle."
With their luggage already packed and checked out of the hotel, they headed out to return their rental car at the airport.
The Nashville sun was gentle that morning, casting long shadows as they pulled away from the hotel. The car ride was filled with playful banter, half hearted singing along to the radio, and the occasional shared silence. Both men were riding the high of last night's chaos.
After dropping off the car and clearing airport security with no issues, they boarded their flight. The plane ride back to Orlando was uneventful, save for the occasional recognition by fellow passengers who whispered, snapped sneaky photos, or gave nervous nods of respect.
Touchdown in Orlando brought a familiar warmth, not just the climate, but the feeling of being home. Once off the plane, they exchanged a quick fist bump.
"I'll see you tonight, yeah?" Big E asked.
"You better," Sandro replied with a grin.
They grabbed separate taxis, each heading toward their own apartments. As Sandro settled into the back seat of his cab, he pulled out his phone and scrolled through his contacts until he found April's name. He hit call.
She picked up after two rings. "Sandro?"
"Hey," he said, his voice soft with a smile she could almost hear. "I'm back in Orlando. Just landed."
"Welcome home," April said, the warmth in her voice unmistakable.
"Thanks. I wanted to ask for your help with something."
"Sure, what's up?"
"I'm throwing a New Year's party at my place. Nothing crazy, food, drinks, friends, laughter. Can you help me send the word out to everyone?"
April gasped, delighted. "Of course! I'll text the whole crew."
"Perfect. I'm gonna head out to get the food and drinks after I drop my stuff at the apartment."
"Got it. I'll take care of the invites," she said. Then, before either of them hung up, she added gently, "I love you."
"I love you too," Sandro replied, his voice barely above a whisper.
When the taxi pulled up outside his apartment complex, Sandro paid the fare, hauled his luggage out, and wheeled it inside. The moment he stepped into his apartment, it felt like a reset. The calm before the next storm.
He dropped his bags in the corner, grabbed his car keys, and set off on his next mission, which was to buy supplies.
First stop was the pizzeria, where he picked up two extra large cheese pizzas and two more loaded with toppings, pepperoni, sausage, mushrooms, everything.
The smell filled the car instantly. Then he swung by a local Italian restaurant and picked up trays of meatballs, lasagna, and garlic bread.
After that, a quick detour to McDonald's for a mountain of fries, chicken, and burgers for the more fast food inclined guests. His final food run was to a Mexican place, where he got a tray of tacos, enchiladas, and a massive container of nachos.
The car was starting to smell like heaven and a bit like chaos, as he made his final stop at a nearby 7-Eleven. He stocked up on coke, orange juice, beer, and a couple of bottles of sparkling cider for those who didn't drink alcohol. The cashier raised an eyebrow at the sheer amount, but Sandro just grinned. "New Year's party," he said. "Go big or go home."
As he pulled back into the parking lot of his apartment complex, the timing couldn't have been more perfect. A taxi pulled up just behind him, and out stepped April.
She looked effortlessly beautiful, even in simple jeans and a loose sweater, her dark hair pulled back in a casual ponytail. When their eyes met, they both smiled, warm and instinctive.
Sandro walked over, and they shared a hug, long, firm, full of quiet affection, and then a quick kiss before shifting into party mode.
"Damn, babe," April said, eyeing the contents of Sandro's trunk. "You weren't kidding."
"Told you I was gonna feed a small army."
And feed an army they would. It took two trips up and down the elevator to bring all the food and drinks up to Sandro's apartment.
April took charge of setting things up, arranging everything with the eye of someone who had hosted more than a few social gatherings before. Sandro handled moving furniture, clearing space for people to hang out, sit, talk, and celebrate.
Fortunately, Sandro's apartment was big, not mansion level, but plenty spacious for a bachelor pad. Hardwood floors, a big study room, a large living room with a sectional sofa, and a big kitchen area with a window that has a decent view of the Orlando skyline. By the time the sun began to set, the place was transformed.
The first guests to arrive were Nick and Big E. Nick walked in wearing sunglasses even though it was dark out, carrying a six pack of craft beer. Big E gave Sandro a big bear hug and immediately made a beeline for the food.
After that came Sheamus and Drew, arms around each other's shoulders like the bruiser brothers they were, followed closely by Kofi, Stu, Bray, and Taylor. Then came Rebecca, glowing with charisma, alongside Alexis and Charlotte, who were both dressed for a low key but stylish evening.
Bobby and James soon followed, bringing more drinks and jokes. Finally, just as things were getting loud, Harper and Rowan arrived, quiet giants, each with a plate in hand, within five minutes of stepping through the door.
The apartment, for all its size, started to feel delightfully crowded. No one minded. Everyone spread out, sitting on the couch, leaning against counters, lounging on the floor, snacking, laughing, telling stories from past matches, botched promos, wild travel days, and the occasional horror tale from the road.
Sandro and April kept things casual. They didn't openly act like a couple, not everyone knew, and they preferred to keep it that way for now, but anyone watching closely would've seen the little looks, the gentle touches, the way they always seemed to drift back to each other.
As midnight approached, the energy shifted. The room quieted just a little, voices becoming soft with anticipation. A countdown clock was on the TV. People were finding drinks to toast with. Someone dimmed the lights.
That's when the doorbell rang.
Everyone froze, eyebrows raised. Sandro glanced around, confused.
"You expecting someone else?" Nick asked, a chip in one hand, a beer in the other.
"Nope," Sandro said slowly. "Everyone should be here."
He stood up and walked toward the door. He peeked through the peephole, and his eyes widened.
He opened the door.
"Mom?! Dad?! What are you doing here?!"
Jack and Taylor Zhang stood in the hallway, each with a small suitcase in hand. Jack, tall and confident as always in a dark coat, and Taylor, smiling warmly with her short, stylish hair and a glint of mischief in her eyes.
"Why? Can't your busy father and mother come celebrate New Year's with you?" Taylor asked, her voice laced with amusement.
Behind Sandro, there were murmurs and surprised gasps. Some of the guests like Rebecca, Charlotte, Alexia, Bobby, James, Rowan, and Harper had only heard of Jack Zhang, the elusive and powerful CEO of Nexum Core, never expecting to see him in person, let alone in a casual holiday party setting.
"Come on in," Sandro said, still stunned but grinning.
Jack gave his son a knowing nod. "We thought you could use a little family tonight."
They stepped inside, greeted by a mixture of stunned silence and respectful nods. Sandro quickly introduced them, keeping it simple, no need to out his identity to everyone in the room, and his parents blended in like seasoned diplomats.
Taylor made small talk with the woman, while Jack gravitated toward the group of men, curious about their opinions on modern storytelling in wrestling.
The rest of the night blurred into music, laughter, clinking glasses, and stories traded under warm lights and the occasional pop of fireworks outside the window. When the countdown reached zero, everyone shouted together, "Three! Two! One! Happy New Year!" and the room erupted in cheers.
April turned to Sandro and hugged him tightly. "Happy New Year," she whispered.
"Happy New Year," he whispered back.
No cameras. No promos. Just people, friends, wrestlers, family, caught in a moment of peace. But beneath it all, a spark still burned. The war for the future of wrestling hadn't ended. It had only paused. And in 2010, that war would reignite, louder, brighter, and more personal than ever.
After the clock struck midnight and shouts of "Happy New Year!" rang out, the energy in the apartment softened. It wasn't dead, far from it, but there was a shift.
The music didn't stop, and the food was still being picked at, but the wild excitement mellowed into something gentler. Laughter still echoed, but it had a drowsy warmth now, like everyone had exhaled after weeks of build up to that one, perfect moment. Most people gathered in the living room, a mass of bodies sprawled across furniture and floor, drawn together by the gravitational pull of Jack Zhang.
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Name: Alessandro Zhang
Age: 19 (2009) -> 20 (2010)
Birthplace: Orlando, Florida, USA
Brand: FCW
Wrestling Style: Mixed Of All Styles
Faction: None
Championship History: 1x FCW Tag Team Champions, 1x FCW Florida Heavyweight Champion, & 1x TNA World Heavyweight Champion