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(A/N: Don't forget to give those power stones to Skyrim everyone!)
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"Took you long enough," Sandro muttered, his voice cold and steady. He lunged forward, grabbing the heavy bat in a fluid motion. Justin Gabriel was the first to charge. Sandro swung the bat with vicious speed, catching the high flyer squarely in the ribs with a sickening metallic CRACK! Gabriel collapsed, gasping for air.
Curtis Axel rushed in from the right. Sandro parried a punch, driving the heavy knob of the bat directly into Axel's jaw, sending him crashing into a nearby catering table.
"He's fighting them off!" Cole yelled, completely abandoning his professional composure. "Sandro is taking on the whole Nexus by himself!"
David Otunga tried to tackle him around the waist, but Sandro brought the aluminum barrel down hard across the University graduate's back, dropping him instantly.
For a few thrilling, chaotic seconds, the God King held his ground, a flurry of violent strikes keeping the invaders at bay. But the numbers game was a cruel, undeniable reality.
Ryback let out a roar, blindly charging forward. Sandro swung the bat, striking Ryback heavily in the shoulder, but the monster absorbed the blow. Ryback crashed into Sandro, wrapping his thick arms around the champion's waist and driving him violently backward into the drywall.
The wall cracked loudly under the impact. The bat slipped from Sandro's hands, clattering uselessly to the floor.
The floodgates opened.
Mason Ryan, Heath Slater, Darren Young, and Michael Tarver swarmed the God King. They dragged him to the floor, unleashing a ruthless, coordinated stomping. Heavy combat boots rained down on Sandro's ribs, back, and shoulders.
"Get some help back there!" Lawler screamed, watching the brutal mugging unfold on the monitor. "They are going to kill him!"
"This is an absolute disgrace!" JBL roared, slamming his headset onto the desk in pure, unfiltered fury. "Where is the security?! Where is the locker room?! You bunch of cowards! Someone get back there and help the champion!"
Wade Barrett stood near the doorway, a dark, vindictive smile spreading across his face as he watched his soldiers dismantle the man who had cost them the match at Capitol Punishment. He casually adjusted his cuffs, thoroughly enjoying the carnage.
Sandro tried to fight back, throwing a desperate right hand that caught Tarver in the mouth, but Mason Ryan immediately dropped a heavy knee across Sandro's chest, pinning him to the carpet while Ryback delivered stiff punches to his ribs.
The live crowd showered the TitanTron with deafening, hateful boos, appalled by the sheer cowardice of the nine on one assault.
Just as Barrett motioned for Ryback to pick Sandro up for a powerbomb through the glass coffee table, a loud, shrill whistle pierced the chaos.
"GET OFF HIM! BACK UP!"
Bursting through the shattered doorway was Dolph Ziggler. The Showoff was clutching his heavily taped ribs, looking battered but furious. Pouring into the room right behind him was a massive wave of arena security guards and backstage officials.
Nearly two dozen men in yellow security shirts flooded the small room, violently grabbing members of the Nexus and pulling them away from the fallen champion.
"Get them out of here!" Ziggler screamed, shoving David Otunga backward.
The sheer number of security personnel finally overwhelmed the Nexus. Wade Barrett held up his hands, a smug, satisfied laugh escaping his lips. He had sent his message loud and clear. He tapped Ryback on the chest, signaling a retreat.
The Nexus backed out of the room, sneering and laughing as the security guards formed a thick human wall to block the door.
Ziggler dropped to his knees next to Sandro. The God King was lying on his side amidst the ruined furniture, breathing heavily, his face bruised and a thin line of blood trickling from the corner of his mouth.
"We need a medic in here right now!" Ziggler yelled over his shoulder, waving frantically at the doorway. He looked down at Sandro, his face tight with concern. "Stay down, man. I got you."
Sandro didn't answer. He gripped the edge of the shattered coffee table, his knuckles white, a dark, murderous fury burning in his eyes as he glared at the doorway where Barrett had just stood.
The broadcast cameras held on the chaotic, violent aftermath in the locker room, the sound of shouting security and rushing medics filling the audio feed. Monday Night RAW faded to black, leaving the WWE Universe hanging on a massive, terrifying cliffhanger, wondering exactly how the God King would retaliate against the army that had just drawn first blood.
The tiny, glowing red light on the primary broadcast camera blinked off. The live television feed to the USA Network was officially cut.
Instantly, the heavy, suffocating tension inside the ruined locker room evaporated. The snarling, aggressive faces of the security guards relaxed, and the frantic medical staff lowered their clipboards.
Ziggler let out a long breath, dropping the frantic, protective persona he had just displayed on live television. He reached down, offering a hand to the God King. Sandro took it, groaning softly as the Showoff hauled him to his feet. Sandro clutched his ribs, coughing a bit of dust from the shattered drywall, but a genuine smile touched the corners of his mouth.
"You good, man?" Ziggler asked quietly, keeping his voice low out of habit.
"I'll live," Sandro replied, rolling his shoulders to work out the stiffness. He looked at Ziggler, offering a firm, respectful nod. "Solid timing out there, Dolph. You hit your cue perfectly. You looked like a guy ready to take on the world."
Ziggler chuckled, wiping sweat from his forehead. "Coming from you, that means a lot. You always deliver when the red light is on. You took those hits like a champion."
A few seconds later, the doorway darkened again. The yellow shirted security guards stepped aside, allowing Wade Barrett and the rest of the Nexus to filter back into the room. The menacing, thuggish sneers were completely gone. Instead, the nine men looked relaxed, satisfied, and highly professional.
Barrett stepped forward, extending a large hand toward Sandro.
"Brilliant call, mate," the Englishman said sincerely as Sandro shook his hand. "Thank you for letting us add this segment at the eleventh hour. It made a massive difference."
"It was the right thing to do," Sandro explained, leaning back against the only surviving armchair in the room. He looked around at Ryback, Mason Ryan, and the rest of the group. "Let's be honest. Losing that elimination match last night stopped your momentum cold, whether the dirt sheets want to admit it or not. In this business, momentum is your currency. If you guys didn't bounce back immediately, management would have pushed you aside. You would have turned into cannon fodder just to make the rest of the babyfaces look stronger."
David Otunga nodded thoughtfully, crossing his arms. "He's right. A week from now, we would have just been another group of guys standing in the back."
"Exactly," Sandro continued. "I wanted to give you a clear path forward. And the best way to make the Nexus look like the most dangerous faction in the company again was to have you hunt down the man who caused your loss in the first place. You beat down the double champion. Your trajectory is fixed. You guys are back on the top of the food chain."
Ryback cracked a smile, tapping his massive chest. "It felt good out there. Thanks for taking the bumps, Sandro."
The group shared a few more words of mutual appreciation, understanding the delicate, behind the scenes mechanics of keeping a storyline hot.
Once the room cleared out, Sandro grabbed a fresh t-shirt from his bag and made his way down the long concrete hallway toward the executive suites. He knocked twice on the heavy wooden door of Vince McMahon's office before letting himself in.
The Chairman was sitting behind his desk, reviewing the overnight digital metrics with a satisfied grin. He looked up as Sandro walked in.
"Hell of a segment, kid," Vince praised, gesturing for Sandro to take a seat. "The fans are losing their minds online. The Nexus looks like a million bucks, and you just generated a massive wave of sympathy."
"Thanks, Vince," Sandro said, taking a seat and resting his hands on his knees. "But I'm not here to recap tonight. I'm here to pitch next week."
Vince raised an eyebrow, closing his laptop. "I'm listening."
"The fans have been complaining for two months that the WWE and World Heavyweight Championship hasn't been defended," Sandro stated. "I want to put the title on the line next week on RAW. A main event championship match."
Vince leaned back, rubbing his chin. "Against who? Cena? Orton? Drew?"
Sandro shook his head, a sly, calculated smile forming on his face. "That's the hook, Vince. We don't announce it. The identity of the opponent remains a complete secret. The fans know the title is on the line, but they have to tune in next Monday to find out who is stepping into the ring. You and I are the only two people in the world who know the name."
Vince stared at the young champion for a long moment, the gears turning in his head. The Chairman loved a good mystery. It drove speculation, and speculation drove television ratings. Finally, a wide, predatory grin spread across Vince's face.
"I love it," Vince agreed, pointing a finger at Sandro. "We keep it strictly between us. Not even the production truck gets the graphic until the music hits."
As the week progressed, the broader WWE landscape continued to shift and evolve around Sandro's growing influence.
On Wednesday evening, the wrestling world turned its attention to the yellow and black brand. NXT delivered a massive, game changing broadcast from the NXT Arena at the Development Center.
The main event saw a brutal, hard hitting clash for the top prize. Bray Wyatt, who had held the NXT Championship in a terrifying grip ever since dethroning Dolph Ziggler during the peak of the Undisputed System era, finally met his match. In a stunning upset, Kevin Owens managed to withstand the psychological warfare of the Eater of Worlds, delivering a vicious Pop Up Powerbomb to capture the NXT Championship, sending the Florida crowd into a frenzy.
Earlier in the night, the women's division experienced a heartbreaking turning point. Asuka, the fierce, dominant striker who had remained completely undefeated since becoming the inaugural NXT Women's Champion, stood in the center of the ring in street clothes.
With tears in her eyes, she was forced to officially relinquish her championship due to a severe collarbone injury. The fans chanted her name in respect as the general manager, Dusty Rhodes,1 announced that a massive tournament would begin next week to crown a new champion.
The mid card and tag team divisions were also thriving.
Cesaro was currently enjoying a stellar run as the NXT North American Champion, putting on weekly clinics after the belt had rapidly changed hands several times over the spring.
The Swiss Superman was actually pulling double duty, as he and his partner, Shinsuke Nakamura, had recently conquered the Wyatt Family's Luke Harper and Erick Rowan to capture the NXT Tag Team Championships, become a double champion himself and the first in NXT history.
The developmental brand was firing on all cylinders, showcasing a deep, hungry roster that kept the fans heavily invested while the main roster dealt with the chaos of the Nexus.
Time moved forward, and Monday evening arrived.
The WWE production trucks rolled into New Mary, Massachusetts. The local stadium was packed to the absolute rafters, buzzing with a fierce, electric anticipation before the cameras even started rolling.
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
The opening pyrotechnics exploded from the stage, washing the arena in bright, flashing lights.
"Welcome, everyone, to Monday Night RAW!" Michael Cole shouted over the roaring New Mary crowd. "We are coming to you live, and what a night we have ahead of us! I am Michael Cole, alongside Jerry 'The King' Lawler and John Bradshaw Layfield!"
"The energy in this building is off the charts, Michael!" Lawler cheered, adjusting his headset. "But we have to address the elephant in the room. What we witnessed at the end of last week's broadcast was one of the most brutal, cowardly attacks in the history of this program!"
"It was a mugging!" JBL roared, his face flushed red with lingering anger. "The Nexus kicked down the door to a private locker room and assaulted the God King! Sandro Zhang was beaten down by nine men! It was a disgusting display, and Wade Barrett should be suspended immediately!"
Cole shook his head, looking over at his broadcast partner. "John, nobody is defending the actions of the Nexus. But let's be objective here. Did Sandro Zhang really not have this coming? Think about the things he did when the Undisputed System was in power. He manipulated careers, he engineered backstage attacks, he held this company hostage. A lot of people are saying that last week was simply karma catching up to him."
"Karma?!" JBL snapped, slamming a fist on the desk. "You call nine men attacking one man karma?! Sandro Zhang is a visionary! He brought order to this show! Those thugs are just jealous of his success, and you sitting there justifying their actions makes you just as bad as they are, Cole!"
"I'm not justifying it, John, I'm just looking at history!" Cole argued back, the debate turning heated. "When you step on that many toes to get to the top of the mountain, eventually, someone is going to try and push you off!"
The argument was abruptly cut off by the shrill wail of the Scottish war pipes.
The fans erupted as Drew McIntyre marched out onto the stage, looking focused and ready for war. The United States Championship gleamed around his waist. He was quickly followed by the iconic, energetic entrance of the legendary Rey Mysterio.
"Well, gentlemen, we can debate the God King's karma later," Lawler smoothly transitioned. "Because right now, we are kicking off Monday Night RAW with a massive championship match!"
The bell rang, and Drew McIntyre and Rey Mysterio put on an absolute clinic.
The match was a perfect showcase of contrasting styles. McIntyre utilized his massive size and raw power, overpowering the luchador with heavy chops, deadlift suplexes, and grinding submission holds. But Mysterio refused to stay down.
The legendary veteran used his unparalleled speed and agility to constantly slip out of Drew's grasp, frustrating the champion with lightning fast arm drags, springboard crossbodies, and stiff kicks to the knee.
The New Mary crowd was heavily invested, cheering for every momentum shift.
Around the fifteen minute mark, the action reached a fever pitch. Drew caught Mysterio in mid air, looking to execute a running powerbomb, but Mysterio masterfully countered, spinning his body and launching Drew neck first into the middle rope with a breathtaking hurricanrana.
The crowd leaped to their feet. Drew was in position.
Mysterio hit the opposite ropes, sprinting forward and threading the needle perfectly between the top and middle ropes, connecting with a picture perfect 619!
Drew staggered backward, completely dazed. Mysterio sprang onto the top turnbuckle, launching himself into the air for the West Coast Pop to finish the match.
But Drew McIntyre was a predator.
As Mysterio flew toward him, Drew stepped forward, catching the luchador out of the air. With terrifying speed and precision, Drew spun Mysterio around, hooked his arms, and drove him into the canvas with a devastating Future Shock DDT!
Mysterio lay motionless. Drew backed into the corner, letting out a primal yell as he slapped his thigh. Mysterio slowly pushed himself up to his knees. Drew exploded out of the corner, delivering a sickening Claymore Kick that nearly took Rey's mask off.
Drew hooked the leg.
One! Two! Three!
DING! DING! DING!
"What a match!" Cole praised as Drew's music hit the speakers. "Rey Mysterio took the champion to his absolute limit, but Drew McIntyre retains the United States Championship!"
Drew pushed himself up, breathing heavily. He retrieved his title from the referee, hoisting it into the air. He then looked down at Mysterio, who was slowly being checked on by the official. Showing a rare moment of respect, Drew reached down, offering a hand to the legendary luchador. Mysterio accepted, and the two men shook hands, acknowledging the hard fought battle.
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Name: Alessandro Zhang
Age: 21 (2011)
Birthplace: Orlando, Florida, USA
Brand: WWE - RAW
Wrestling Style: Mixed Of All Styles
Faction: The Undisputed System
Championships History: 1x FCW Tag Team Champions, 1x FCW Florida Heavyweight Champion, 1x TNA World Heavyweight Champion, 1x TNA X Division Champion, 1x WWE United States Champion (1st - 376 days), 1x WWE Champion, & 1x World Heavyweight Champion
Other Achievements: 1x Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royale Winner, 1x Mr. Money In The Bank, Youngest WWE Champion, PWI Top 500 (No.1) - 2010, & 1x KOTR (2010)
Wrestlemania Record: 2 - 0 Main Event: 1 - 0