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(A/N: Don't forget to give those power stones to Skyrim everyone!)
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"Hey, don't sweat it, Boss," Jeff said, his Southern drawl breaking the corporate tension in the room. "All of us here completely understand. You're a very busy man. We've all been tuning in and watching your work over at WWE. We know exactly how insane your schedule is right now, especially after last night."
A ripple of quiet, appreciative murmurs echoed around the table. The board members nodded in agreement, clearly relieved that the new ownership representative was someone who actually understood the grueling, relentless grind of the professional wrestling industry, rather than a faceless corporate suit from Wall Street.
Dixie Carter leaned forward, resting her elbows on the table, offering a reassuring smile.
"Jeff is right," Dixie added gracefully. "And honestly, we've just been keeping our heads down and working according to how things usually operate around here. The ship has been steady. So there really is no need to apologize for the delay."
Sandro shook his head, offering a genuine look of gratitude. "I appreciate the kind words, Dixie, and I appreciate the hard work all of you have put in to keep things running smoothly during the transition."
He looked around the table, making sure he had everyone's undivided attention before setting the ground rules.
"Before we get into the weeds," Sandro said, his tone softening just a fraction. "Please, just call me Sandro. There is no need for 'Boss' or 'Mr. Zhang' while we are all sitting inside this room. We are colleagues trying to build a better product. Now, in the future, when Nexum Core eventually decides to go completely public with our majority ownership of this company... then you can call me Boss in front of the cameras."
A few lighthearted chuckles broke out around the table. The ice was officially broken. Sandro had successfully established his authority without resorting to tyranny, proving that his boardroom acumen was just as sharp as his in-ring psychology.
Sandro leaned forward, his expression turning sharp and focused. The pleasantries were over.
"So," Sandro said, opening the sleek leather portfolio resting in front of him. "Shall we start the meeting? I think it's time we discuss the specific, long term creative and financial direction that Nexum Core expects TNA to take going forward."
Dixie, sitting just to Sandro's right, subtly adjusted her posture, her polished corporate demeanor snapping to attention at his prompt. She offered a warm, professional smile, though her eyes betrayed the faintest hint of apprehension.
"Of course, Sandro," Dixie said, her Southern charm lacing her words. "Let's dive right into the discussion, then. We have a comprehensive agenda prepared. What would you like to tackle first? We can start with our long term creative vision, we can go over our current financial situation and quarterly targets, or we can look at the logistical sides, the size of the roster, our current television contracts, and the status of our backstage staff. It is entirely up to you."
Sandro didn't answer immediately. He let the silence hang in the air for a few seconds, leaning back in his luxurious leather chair. He raised his right hand and methodically knocked his index knuckle against the polished mahogany of the boardroom table. Tap. Tap. Tap. The sound echoed in the quiet room, drawing every eye to him.
"Let's talk about the management structure of the company first," Sandro said, his voice calm, even, and utterly commanding.
The shift in the room's atmosphere was instantaneous. It was as if someone had sucked all the oxygen out of the boardroom. Shoulders stiffened. Throats were cleared nervously. Everyone at the table suddenly grew incredibly tense.
It was most evident in Dixie Carter, who swallowed hard, her poised smile faltering for just a fraction of a second. Unlike Jeff Jarrett, who still retained a minority shareholder position and the historical clout of being the company's founder, Dixie was in a highly precarious position.
She didn't possess a single share of the company she was supposed to be running. When her parents, the heads of Panda Energy International, sat down at the negotiating table with Jack Zhang, the mandate from Nexum Core had been absolute, they wanted a complete buyout. They refused to allow any external shares to float in the wind.
As a result, while Dixie still technically retained the impressive title title of President of TNA Wrestling, she knew the brutal reality of corporate acquisitions. Without any equity, without a single share to her name, her title was little more than a ceremonial placeholder. She had no real voting power on the board. She was completely at the mercy of the twenty something year old wrestling prodigy sitting at the head of the table.
And it wasn't just Dixie. Every other director in the room, the Chief Financial Officer, the Head of Talent Relations, the VP of Marketing, was sweating through their bespoke suits. Corporate takeovers usually meant one thing for existing upper management, clean house. They were all silently waiting for the axe to fall.
Sandro, whose emotional intelligence was as finely tuned as his in ring psychology, noticed the collective panic gripping the room immediately. The on screen God of WWE might enjoy instilling fear, but the representative of Nexum Core knew that a terrified executive board was an inefficient one.
A warm, disarming smile broke across his face, instantly shattering the icy tension. He held up a hand in a gesture of peace.
"Please, everyone, take a breath. There is absolutely no need to be tense," Sandro reassured them, his tone shifting from corporate raider to collaborative leader. "I didn't bring up the management structure to hand out pink slips. In fact, I wanted to tell you right off the bat that the executive management positions will remain more or less exactly the same. We value institutional knowledge."
He turned his gaze directly to Dixie, offering her a nod of profound respect. "That includes you, Dixie. Your position as President of this company remains completely secure. You have navigated this ship through some incredibly turbulent waters over the years, and Nexum Core respects your dedication to the brand. You aren't going anywhere."
A collective, audible exhale swept across the mahogany table. Dixie closed her eyes for a brief second, visibly relieved, before returning his nod with genuine gratitude. "Thank you, Sandro. I appreciate that more than you know."
"However," Sandro continued, raising a single finger, "there are going to be two major changes to the hierarchy. Two shifts to ensure that our product reflects the quality and consistency that Nexum Core demands."
He leaned forward, lacing his fingers together. "First, moving forward, I will be stepping into the official role of Supervisor of the Creative Team."
The directors exchanged curious glances.
"What does that mean, exactly?" Sandro clarified before anyone could ask. "It means that whatever the creative team comes up with, whatever is discussed in the writer's room, and whatever is ultimately agreed upon by the Chief Content Officer, must pass through me. I will serve as the final filter. I have the unilateral power to make changes to any and all creative decisions and directions for our wrestlers."
Sandro's eyes hardened slightly, a flash of the "God of WWE" bleeding through the corporate veneer. "We are going to ensure that every single storyline on our television program is engaging, logical, and character driven. More importantly, I am here to ensure we put an end to the nonsense. No more convoluted gimmick matches that insult the audience's intelligence. No more hot shotting titles for a cheap rating. We are going to build long term, prestige wrestling television. What does everyone think about that?"
Silence hung over the room for a long moment as the board digested the mandate. It was a bold move, effectively stripping the creative team of their ultimate autonomy, but placing it in the hands of the hottest act in professional wrestling.
Jeff Jarrett was the first to speak. He leaned forward, a wide grin spreading across his face.
"I think it's exactly what this company needs," Jeff said firmly. "Sandro, you and I have history. We worked together extensively during that one year crossover partnership between TNA and FCW a couple of years ago. I saw firsthand how your wrestling mind operates. I saw your backstage management skills. You understand the psychology of this business better than men twice your age. Having you as the final quality control checkpoint? It's the perfect choice."
Dixie was quick to follow suit. "I completely agree. Your track record speaks for itself, Sandro. Everything you touch right now turns to gold. If you can bring that same Midas touch to TNA's creative direction, we would be fools not to welcome it."
With the President and the Co Founder voicing their absolute support, the rest of the directors quickly fell in line. Murmurs of "Agreed," "Absolutely," and "Sounds like a solid plan" echoed around the table.
There was no pushback. The logic was sound, and frankly, having one of the biggest stars in the industry secretly guiding their creative ship was a massive, unseen advantage.
Sandro smiled at the unified response, nodding his head in satisfaction.
"Excellent," Sandro said. "Which brings me to the second change. To ensure that the creative team has the leadership it needs on the ground while I am fulfilling my obligations up north, we are restructuring the top of the creative department. Effective immediately, Jeff Jarrett will officially become the Chief Content Officer of TNA Wrestling."
Jeff Jarrett's eyes went wide. He was visibly, profoundly surprised. He had founded this company, been pushed out of the primary power dynamics over the years, and now, the new ownership was essentially handing him back the creative reins of his own creation, albeit under Sandro's ultimate supervision.
"This decision wasn't made lightly," Sandro added smoothly. "I discussed it extensively with my father, and Jack Zhang has given this appointment his full, enthusiastic approval, after he has personally reviewed your history, your dedication to this brand, and your mind for the business. So, unless there are any protests regarding this decision...?"
Sandro looked around the table. If Jeff was surprised, the rest of the board was absolutely stunned. To place the minority shareholder back into the absolute center of the creative engine was a massive shift in the corporate dynamic.
But hearing that the billionaire patriarch of Nexum Core had personally signed off on the move effectively silenced any potential dissent before it could even formulate. The directors simply nodded their heads in agreement.
Jeff took a deep breath, composing himself, though the emotion was clear in his eyes. He sat up straighter, looking at Sandro with deep, unspoken respect.
"Sandro... I don't even know what to say," Jeff began, his voice thick with emotion. "Thank you. Truly. And please extend my deepest gratitude to your father as well for the immense trust you both are placing in me. This company is my life's blood. I promise you, I will make sure that trust is not misplaced. I won't let you down. We are going to build something special here."
"I know you won't, Jeff," Sandro nodded respectfully. "That's why you have the job."
With the executive structure settled, Sandro smoothly transitioned the meeting to the next item on the agenda.
"Let's move the discussion to our staffing," Sandro said, opening his portfolio and glancing at a spreadsheet. "In corporate acquisitions, this is usually the part where people start sweating about mass layoffs and department cuts to trim the bottom line. Let me dispel that rumor right now. There will be absolutely no cuts to the current staff. None."
A collective sigh of relief washed over the Human Resources director.
"In fact," Sandro continued, "we are going to be doing the exact opposite. There will be a strategic, calculated increase in staff across the board. Nexum Core expects this company to operate like a premier, world class entertainment entity. To do that, we need to make sure that all of our departments, from production and marketing to talent relations and legal, are working as efficiently and optimally as humanly possible. We are going to hire the extra hands you need so that nobody is doing the job of three people. We cannot operate on a skeleton crew if we want to produce a premium product."
He paused, his eyes narrowing just a fraction, injecting a dose of cold corporate reality into the good news.
"However," Sandro raised a finger, his tone turning stern. "This investment comes with an expectation of excellence. The quality of our staff's output must be up to par. I will not tolerate complacency. If we find that individuals are incapable of performing their jobs to the standard Nexum Core requires, they will be terminated. But, to ensure we handle our business ethically, anyone let go will be compensated with three months of severance wages to help them transition. We will be ruthless in our pursuit of quality, but we will not be cruel."
The board members nodded vigorously, while taking notes. The terms were more than fair. It was a terrifyingly efficient, highly professional approach that TNA had desperately lacked in its turbulent history.
"Now," Sandro said, opening a financial ledger inside his portfolio. "Let's discuss the financial direction of this company. This is the part I'm sure our CFO has been sweating over."
The Chief Financial Officer, a balding man in his late fifties, offered a nervous, self deprecating chuckle.
"Nexum Core will be injecting a very large, sustained influx of capital into TNA," Sandro announced, watching the eyes of every director widen. "This funding is allocated for several specific operational upgrades. First and foremost, we are ensuring that all of our in ring talents are paid adequately and on time. There will be absolutely no wage cuts. We cannot ask these athletes to put their bodies on the line if they are worried about their mortgages."
"Secondly, this capital will be used to aggressively add more elite talent to our roster. We want the best free agents in the world working here. Furthermore, we are completely overhauling and renovating the Impact Zone. We are going to expand the arena, upgrade the lighting rigs, install state of the art LED screens, and make it look bigger, brighter, and significantly more modern. TNA will no longer look like an indie promotion operating in a dark warehouse."
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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
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, & 1x WWE 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: 1 - 0