69. Preparation For The Steel Cage Iron Man Match

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April remained silent, her eyes focused on the floor. She had known Brianna might react this way, but hearing the finality in her voice still stung. April had always been confident that she could convince Brianna to see things her way. After all, the three of them—April, Brianna, and Nicole—had been close friends for months, and she believed that if anyone could make an unconventional arrangement like this work, it would be them. But Brianna's resolve was clear, and it left April feeling frustrated and powerless.

Nicole, sensing the tension, stepped forward and placed a hand on her sister's shoulder. "Bri, I get it," she said softly. "You don't have to do anything you're not comfortable with. We love you, and we support you no matter what decision you make."

Brianna's expression softened as she looked at Nicole. "Thank you, Nic. I just hope this doesn't change things between us. I don't want to lose you guys over this."

Nicole smiled warmly and shook her head. "You're not going to lose us. The two of us are family and April is our best friend. No matter what happens, we'll figure this out together."

April finally looked up, her frustration giving way to a more somber expression. "I didn't mean to push you, Bri," she said quietly. "I just… I thought we could make it work. But I understand if you don't want to be a part of it."

Brianna nodded. "I'm not trying to make things harder for anyone. I just know what I want, and I don't want to compromise on that."

April let out a long breath, the tension in her shoulders easing slightly. "Yeah. I get it."

Nicole glanced between the two of them, relieved that the argument had de-escalated, but still aware that things were far from resolved.

She knew April had been holding onto the idea of this arrangement for some time, and she also knew that letting go of it wouldn't be easy for her. Nicole who is usually the rowdy one now plays the peacemaker between the three of them, so she wasn't sure how to navigate this situation without someone getting hurt.

"So… what happens now?" Brianna asked, her voice hesitant.

April sighed and stood up, running a hand through her hair. "I guess we take it one step at a time. I won't push you anymore, Bri. But I'm still going to talk to Sandro about it. He deserves to know how we feel—how I feel."

Brianna nodded, though her expression was cautious. "That's fair. I just… I hope he understands where I'm coming from too."

Nicole stepped between them, offering a reassuring smile. "He will. I could sense and see that Sandro cares about all of us, and he'll want to do what's right. We just have to be honest with each other."

April forced a small smile, though the frustration still lingered in her eyes. "Yeah. Honest."

The tension in the room hadn't completely dissipated, but the immediate conflict seemed to have calmed. Brianna, feeling emotionally drained from the conversation, grabbed her bag and turned to leave.

"I'm going to head home," she said quietly. "I'll see you guys tomorrow."

April and Nicole watched as Brianna walked out of the locker room, the door closing softly behind her. For a moment, there was silence between the sisters, the weight of the situation hanging in the air.

"Do you think she'll ever come around?" April asked, her voice tinged with uncertainty.

Nicole shook her head slightly. "I don't know. But we can't force her to feel the same way we do, April. We have to respect her decision."

April leaned against the locker, frustration bubbling up again. "It just feels like everything's falling apart. I thought we had this figured out."

Nicole placed a comforting hand on her sister's shoulder. "It's not falling apart. It's just… complicated. But we'll get through it. We will."

April let out a long breath, her mind still racing with thoughts of Sandro and the conversation she knew she would have to have with him soon. She wasn't sure how he would react, but one thing was certain—nothing about their relationship was going to be simple.

Back at his apartment, Sandro lay on the couch, staring at the ceiling. He knew he couldn't avoid the conversation with April, Nicole, and Brianna forever. They were all important to him, and he valued their friendships and relationships deeply.

But the prospect of navigating a romantic situation this complex felt overwhelming, especially with the looming pressure of the upcoming match.

The Steel Cage Iron Man Match was only days away, and yet, Sandro couldn't fully focus on preparing for it. His mind kept returning to the women in his life, and the decisions he would soon have to make.

He sighed deeply, knowing that the path ahead wasn't going to be easy. But no matter what happened—whether in the ring or in his personal life—he would have to face it head-on, just like every challenge he had encountered before.

The battles in his life were far from over, but one thing was clear: the fight for the FCW Tag Team Championships might be brutal, but the fight for his heart was even more complex than the latch for his title.

The days leading up to the Steel Cage Iron Man Match were filled with intense preparation, both mentally and physically. Sandro, Kofi, Stu, and Drew all knew that this match would be career-defining, not only because of its brutal stipulation but also because of the narrative they were crafting.

Dusty and Steve had allowed the four wrestlers unprecedented freedom in their storytelling. It was rare for such creative input to be handed over to talent, but Dragon Boom and The Empire had proven themselves, and the stakes were high.

In the dimly lit training area, a makeshift steel cage had been erected. The cold metal loomed ominously over the space, a constant reminder of the brutality awaiting them.

The four men circled each other inside the cage, running through spots and rehearsing sequences designed to captivate the live crowd and TV audience alike. It wasn't just about violence; it was about telling a story, a story of survival, of betrayal, and of two teams who had pushed each other to the brink.

Sandro wiped the sweat from his brow, glancing at Kofi, who stood across the ring. "You good?" he asked, his voice steady but tinged with concern.

Kofi nodded, rolling his shoulder. "Yeah, I'm good. Just gotta make sure we nail that sequence at the thirty-minute mark. That's where the crowd's gonna lose their minds."

Drew, always the prankster despite his heel persona, grinned as he leaned against the cage. "Oh, they'll lose their minds, alright. Especially when we hit that double powerbomb off the top. Are you sure your back can handle it, Sandro? Kofi?"

Sandro laughed, though a part of him was aware of the risks involved. They were pushing their bodies to the limit with this match. "We'll be fine. Just make sure the two of you hit the mark right for us and it will all be good."

Stu, more serious and calculating, spoke up. "Let's run through the finish again. Dusty and Steve liked the brass knuckle callback Kofi's doing, but we have to sell it like it's a game-changer."

Kofi smirked, pulling the brass knuckles out of his pocket and tossing them in the air before catching them. "Trust me, the crowd's going to love it. After what you guys did to Sandro last week, they'll be waiting for us to get revenge."

The plan was simple but effective. The Empire would isolate Kofi at the 26-minute mark of the match, brutalizing him to the point where the fans believed Dragon Boom was at a disadvantage.

Kofi would endure the punishment, selling it like a true pro. But in the end, he would have a trick up his sleeve—the very same brass knuckles that Drew had used to knock out Sandro. It was poetic justice, and the fans would eat it up.

As they rehearsed, Dusty and Steve watched from the sidelines, occasionally stepping in to tweak a spot or suggest a different angle. Their input was invaluable, especially in a match this high-profile. Every detail mattered, from the timing of the spots to the way the wrestlers sold their injuries.

Dusty, his gruff voice carrying over the sound of metal clanging against metal, called out, "Hey Sandro, remember that when Drew's about to hit you with the double underhook suplex, you gotta sell like your knee's buckling. It'll make the crowd believe you're down for the count."

Sandro nodded, making a mental note. The psychology of the match was just as important as the physicality. Every movement and every facial expression had to tell the story of a team fighting for survival.

After a grueling day of training, the four men collapsed onto the mat, chests heaving from exhaustion. They were spent but satisfied with the progress they'd made. The match was coming together perfectly.

"So," Stu said between breaths, "what's the plan for Monday? Are you guys good with the beatdown for Kofi?"

Kofi, still lying on his back, gave a thumbs-up. "Yeah, man. I'll sell it like I'm dying out there. The fans will be begging for Dragon Boom to get rise up and reverse the situation."

Drew chuckled. "Just don't make it too easy Kofi. We still need to look like the dominant force and you guys also need to look strong and not too weak."

Sandro sat up, wiping sweat from his face with a towel. "It's all about balance. We give them just enough hope, and then we take it away. Until the end of the match, of course."

Stu, always thinking about what to do next, leaned forward. "And don't forget, that moment when Kofi hits us with the brass knuckles is the key. It's gotta come out of nowhere. The crowd's gotta believe that you guys are done for, and then BAM—he knocks us out cold. That's when you both will do a pin that brought the victory for Dragon Boom when the timer was off."

The four men exchanged nods, a shared understanding that they were about to create something special. The tension, the drama, the stakes—it was all there. Now, it was just a matter of execution.

The weekend passed in a blur of final preparations. Meanwhile, April, Nicole, and Brianna's situation continued to weigh on Sandro's mind. He hadn't spoken to any of them since the initial conversation, and the uncertainty gnawed at him. But as much as he wanted to deal with his personal life, he knew that his focus had to be on the match. One problem at a time.

Monday arrived, and the live segment was set. The arena was buzzing with anticipation as fans filled the seats, eagerly awaiting the showdown between Dragon Boom and The Empire. Sandro could feel the energy backstage as he prepared for the night's segment. Kofi stood beside him, stretching out his limbs in preparation for the beatdown they had meticulously planned.

"You ready?" Kofi asked, adjusting his wrist tape.

Sandro gave a short nod, his mind briefly drifting to the conversation he would need to have with the women after the show. But for now, he pushed those thoughts aside. "Yeah. Let's do this."

As Dragon Boom's music hit, the crowd erupted. The cheers were deafening, a testament to the connection they had built with the audience over the past months. Sandro and Kofi made their way to the ring, hyping the crowd as they prepared for what would appear to be a routine promo about their upcoming match. But the fans, both watching live and through television, didn't know what was in store for them.

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Name: Alessandro Zhang

Age: 18 (2008)

Birthplace: Orlando, Florida USA

Brand: FCW

Wrestling Style: Mixed Of All Style

Faction: Dragon Boom (Tag Team)

Championship History: 1x FCW Tag Team Champions