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Even backstage reports leaked, fueling speculation. Rumors suggested that Vince himself had pushed for the career vs. streak stipulation, believing it would create the most dramatic moment possible. Others hinted that Shawn had been considering retirement for years, and this was his chosen way to go out. No matter what was true, one thing was certain, WrestleMania's card now felt like it had history etched into every match.
Friday night, the atmosphere was already tense as SmackDown went live. The crowd buzzed with anticipation, knowing the final slot for the inaugural Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royale would be filled.
After a grueling series of matches, the victor emerged, Alberto Del Rio. His smug grin filled the screen as he celebrated, soaking in the mixed reaction of the fans. With his win, Del Rio joined Sandro in the already secured slots for WrestleMania, leaving 23 openings for Raw and SmackDown General Managers to fill.
The news spread like wildfire online. Wrestling forums, fan pages, and sports media debated the lineup. Already, people speculated whether Sandro or Del Rio would become the centerpiece of the match, while others believed the true story would come from one of the veterans or returning superstars who might enter the chaos.
But the focus quickly shifted as Saturday arrived, WrestleMania 26.
It was March 28th, 2010. The sun burned bright over Glendale, Arizona, as fans in jerseys, replica belts, and merchandise poured into the University of Phoenix Stadium.
By 3:00 PM, the venue was filling rapidly, with waves of noise bouncing off the walls. Families, diehards, casual fans, everyone was buzzing. Chants erupted in random corners, mock boos and cheers sparking debates between strangers. Music blasted through the speakers, energizing the crowd before the cameras even rolled.
Backstage, the energy was no less intense. Production crews hustled, referees checked their earpieces, and superstars stretched or sat quietly in thought. Amid this chaos, Sandro sat lacing his boots in a quiet corner of the locker room.
It wasn't long before legends began to drift his way. The Undertaker, Triple H, Shawn Michaels, Chris Jericho, and Edge, names etched in WrestleMania history, gathered around the young star.
They didn't come out of obligation, they came because they saw something in Sandro. A 20 year old kid about to step into his first WrestleMania match, debuting not in a quiet mid card contest but on the grand stage in front of more than 70,000 fans in attendance.
Triple H patted him on the shoulder. "Listen, Sandro, this is different. WrestleMania ain't just a show, it's a feeling. The crowd is louder, the lights are hotter, and every move you make feels like it's under a microscope. Soak it in. Don't fight it. Use it."
Jericho smirked, arms crossed. "And remember, don't let 'em eat you alive. The second they smell hesitation, they'll turn on you faster than a snake."
Shawn leaned in, his voice softer, more measured. "Out there, it's not just about the moves. It's about moments. WrestleMania moments. You only get your first once, Sandro. Make it unforgettable."
Sandro nodded, keeping his composure. Truthfully, nerves weren't something he wore on his sleeve. But he wasn't foolish enough to think this was just another match. He listened carefully, absorbing every word. If these men, the very architects of countless iconic WrestleMania matches, were offering advice, he'd take it.
Time passed quickly, and the pre show began.
The pre show match, Sheamus vs. CM Punk. Punk entered with the Straight Edge Society, Luke Gallows, and Serena, drawing heavy boos. Sheamus, fresh from his run in FCW and now beginning his rise, received a more divided reaction, with many curious to see if he could hang with Punk on the big stage.
From the bell, both men put on a clinic. Punk's striking and submission style clashed with Sheamus's raw power. Gallows and Serena interfered multiple times, but Sheamus fought them off, eventually escaping Punk's attempt at the GTS and connecting with a thunderous Brogue Kick. The referee counted the three, and Sheamus had his victory.
Cole, Lawler, and Striker filled commentary, the chemistry electric. Cole played his heel role to perfection, demeaning Sheamus's victory, while Lawler gave Sheamus credit for his power, and Striker broke down the psychology of the bout.
As the pre show ended, the lights dimmed, and the countdown to WrestleMania began.
When the clock struck, the stadium exploded with fireworks and pyro that lit up the Arizona sky. The crowd roared, tens of thousands raising their phones to capture the breathtaking display.
"This… is WrestleMania!" Cole's voice echoed, bursting with excitement.
Lawler chimed in, "More than seventy thousand strong, and millions watching at home… this is the biggest night of the year, Cole!"
"And history will be made tonight," Striker added, measured and thoughtful. "Every match has something at stake. Every superstar is here to etch their name into legacy."
The main event was hyped: Shawn Michaels vs. The Undertaker, Career vs. Streak. But before the fans could get there, they were about to witness something historic, the first ever Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royale.
Entrances began. One by one, 24 superstars filled the ring. Zack Ryder at number 24. Each entrance drew its share of cheers, boos, or indifference. The crowd's anticipation built as the stage was set.
But everyone knew who was left.
The arena plunged into darkness. The speakers blasted "Cult of Personality", and immediately the boos were deafening. The hatred was visceral, louder than anything that had come before.
Sandro Zhang stepped out.
The 20 year old stood at the top of the ramp, soaking it all in. The wall of boos was deafening, venomous, yet it fueled him. He spread his arms wide, tilted his head back, and let the pyro explode behind him. The young prodigy wasn't intimidated, he was thriving.
Tony Chimel's voice boomed. "Introducing the 25th and final entrant… from Orlando, Florida… weighing in at 220 pounds… SANDROOOOOO ZHANGGGGG!"
Cameras zoomed across the sea of fans, thousands of middle fingers in the air, countless boos raining down. But the volume only made Cole louder.
"This is history, gentlemen! The youngest debut at WrestleMania, twenty years old! And not just any debut. The final entrant in a match honoring one of the greatest legends ever, Andre the Giant. Tell me this kid isn't destined for greatness!"
Lawler, reluctant but honest, sighed. "I hate to admit it, Cole… but you're right. Like it or not, this is historic. And if Sandro actually pulls this off… well, I don't even want to imagine it."
Striker leaned in, analyzing. "Think about this, guys. He's fresh, he's young, and he's entering last. Everyone else already knew each other and Sandro was the enigma. Say what you will about his methods, but the odds… the odds are in his favor."
Sandro walked slowly down the ramp, locking eyes with fans who screamed at him. He smirked at one who held a sign reading "ANYONE BUT SANDRO." Another sign read "BOOS FUEL HIM."
He entered the ring, standing tall in the corner, scanning the sea of bodies around him. Veterans, rising stars, fan favorites, hated heels. And him. The most polarizing figure of them all.
The bell rang.
The Battle Royale erupted into chaos. Fists flew, bodies crashed into ropes, and alliances formed and shattered in seconds. Big men like Kane and Big Show squared off, while quicker stars like Santino Marella and Evan Bourne darted between the carnage.
But all eyes, inevitably, fell back to Sandro.
He didn't charge in recklessly. He leaned into the corner, watching, calculating, picking his spots. When Ryder rushed at him, eager for revenge after Raw's gauntlet, Sandro ducked, yanked the ropes down, and sent Ryder flying over the top rope in the first elimination of the night.
Cole screamed. "Just like that! Zack Ryder eliminated! Sandro is making WrestleMania history already!"
Lawler groaned. "Ugh, I should've known Ryder wouldn't last. But of course it had to be Sandro…"
The match unfolded like a war zone. Superstars went flying, MVP, Shelton Benjamin, and Finlay, all tossed out in the chaos. Every elimination drew cheers or boos, but whenever Sandro was involved, the reaction doubled in volume. He was booed mercilessly, yet he thrived on it.
At one point, Kane nearly had Sandro lifted for a chokeslam, but Sandro poked him in the eye, shoved him into the ropes, and with help from a blindside strike from Chavo Guerrero, Kane went tumbling out. The boos shook the stadium.
"Come on!" Lawler shouted. "How does the referee not see that?! He's breaking rules left and right!"
Cole snapped back, smug as ever. "What matters is the result, King. And there are no rules in other than both feet touching the floor, so Kane is out, and Sandro is still in. That's a smart strategy!"
Striker's tone was steadier, dissecting what he saw. "I think what we're witnessing is actually very smart, King. He's pacing himself, conserving energy. Battle Royales are marathons, not sprints. Everyone else is trying to make a name in the opening moments, but Sandro's… well, he's taking a page out of Jericho's book. He's watching, studying, waiting for the right time to strike."
Sandro leaned on the ropes, smirking at the chaos around him. But deep down, even he knew, this was only the beginning of the war. Eighteen other men still filled the ring, jostling for dominance. The atmosphere was suffocating.
The crowd roared as Matt Hardy caught Lance Holt with a Twist of Fate, sending Holt staggering into the ropes. Hardy rushed forward and clotheslined him over the top, drawing a huge cheer. Holt crashed to the floor, eliminated.
"Matt Hardy is rolling!" Lawler shouted.
But almost instantly, Sandro made his move. Hardy, proud and basking in the reaction, didn't see Sandro sneak up behind him. With precision, Sandro scooped him up by the legs and dumped him clean over the ropes. Hardy landed hard on the floor outside, the crowd erupting into deafening boos.
Cole leapt to his feet. "YES! That's elimination number two for Sandro Zhang! First Ryder, now Matt Hardy, one of the fan favorites, gone, just like that!"
The boos rolled in, and Sandro leaned over the ropes, smirking down at Hardy, mocking the fans by shrugging as if it were nothing.
Lawler was seething. "Oh, come on! Of course, he has to ruin it! Matt Hardy was building momentum, and this… this punk just steals the spotlight again. He's not making a name for himself, he's stealing moments from others!"
Striker shook his head, though his tone remained measured. "But isn't that the name of the game, King? WrestleMania is about seizing the moment. Hardy left an opening, and Sandro took it. It might not be pretty, it might not be popular, but it's effective."
Inside the ring, chaos continued. Tommy Dreamer fought like a man possessed, swinging wild fists at Chavo Guerrero and Carlito, earning loud chants of "ECW! ECW!" Big Show dominated in the opposite corner, tossing men like Jack Swagger and Goldust around like toys, his massive presence looming over everyone.
Despite the violence all around him, Sandro moved deliberately, letting others burn themselves out while he capitalized on small openings. When Chavo Guerrero tried to team with Carlito to take out Dreamer, Sandro slid in like a shark. He grabbed Chavo by the tights and, in one swift motion, threw him over the top rope.
Chavo hit the floor with a thud, his elimination sparking another round of jeers from the crowd.
"That's THREE!" Cole screamed. "That's three eliminations for Sandro Zhang! Do you hear me? Ryder, Hardy, and now Chavo! The kid is on fire tonight at WrestleMania!"
Lawler groaned loudly. "On fire? He's an opportunist, Cole! That's all he is. He waits until someone else does the work and then slithers in to steal the elimination."
Striker chimed in, analytical as always. "Still, King, look at the numbers. That makes him one of the most effective competitors in the ring right now. Opportunistic, sure, but history doesn't remember how you did it, only that you did."
The boos rained harder, but Sandro thrived in them. He leaned on the ropes, grinning at the sea of furious fans, even mouthing the words, "Keep it coming." The jeers fueled him, made him stronger.
The battle raged on, one body after another hitting the floor. Goldust was dumped out by Carlito. Evan Bourne was caught in mid air by Big Show and thrown over like he weighed nothing. Finlay fought valiantly but was overpowered and sent packing by Dreamer, who clung to the ropes like a wild animal refusing to die.
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Name: Alessandro Zhang
Age: 20 (2010)
Birthplace: Orlando, Florida, USA
Brand: WWE - RAW
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, & 1x TNA X Division Champion