Recruiting

Inside of the Peach State Wrestling School in Macon, Georgia, Avery Miles III is getting loose with a training session with former WCG wrestler Keiji Sugiwara. Avery had seen that Keiji was considering a return, and he was a great talent that Avery would love to further train and help to get to where he wanted.

As Keiji arrives to the school, he heads inside as he sees Avery talking to a couple of other students.

Keiji: Avery! How goes it brother, thanks for the invite. Honestly wasn't expecting this at all.

Keiji walks over to the group, and gently pats Avery on the back, while simultaneously scoping out the rest of the students, seeing what the school may have to offer. Keiji saw three people in the group; two females and one male.

Avery: Glad you could come. I haven’t got a chance to show off the school too much.

He steps back as the group turns towards him.

Avery: Oh, I am sorry. So, Keiji… this is Jeanette.

The bright redhead steps forward as they shake hands.

Avery: This is Jordyn.

The brunette shakes his head.

Avery: And this is Antonio. He is the brother of a good friend of mine, a sort of brother.

Avery was not aware that Alechs and Keiji hung out previously.

Keiji: Oh yeah? Well, good to meet you all, I'm Keiji. Wrestled off and on for a few years, thinking about maybe getting back into it.

Keiji looks at Antonio, something seemed familiar about him, but he couldn't quite put his finger on just what.

Keiji: Out of curiosity, who's his brother? Seems like maybe, I don't know. He just seems familiar.

Keiji tries to process his thoughts, but he's running on empty and can't piece it together.

Antonio: I had two brothers. Arturo, but he passed. And my brother Alechs, he wrestles too.

The young 18 year old looks to Keiji, with a similar facial expression as Alechs.

Keiji: Wait, are we talking THE Alechs? Dude, I totally know him, we'll knew him. We haven't talked in a bit, but man, that is awesome.

Keiji cracks a slight grin, memories of hanging with his old buddy come to him like a flood.

Avery: Wait…. You know Alechs?

Antonio: Did you two wrestle or something?

They both look at Keiji.

Keiji: No, never in anything but training. But we hung out from time to time. I'm sure had I not been injured we would have, eventually. But, it is what it is. Long story short, Alechs was one of my best friends when I was in Genesis.

Keiji looks around nervously, but quickly shakes the feeling, and is right back to his normal happy self.

Keiji: So, you thinking about doing the whole wrestling thing?

Antonio nervously twists and turns his arm.

Antonio: Um, I do not know. Maybe? Avery was talking to me about Alechs and my ma wanted me to get outta Cali for a bit to experience things. So then I got an invite from Avery here to come and visit. So I figured why not?

Avery: I am trying to get him to wrestle. Maybe you two can hang out a bit, and tell Tone about your passion for it, Keiji?

The two girls smile and see themselves out to some treadmills.

Keiji: Oh man, it's fantastic. All those people coming to see a show, that you just happen to be thrust into. Not much can compare. Literally wouldn't trade the time I spent doing it for anything, and if it's something you want to do, I'd gladly help you achieve that goal, hell maybe you could help me out at the same time. Been a bit since I've been in a ring.

Antonio: Well. I guess I’ll give it a thought. College sounded like a boring choice. School is not for me. Better than slinging drugs, too.

Antonio and Alechs’ brother Arturo was killed by a drug dealer in a deal gone wrong.

Avery: Well.. you ready to get into the ring and see what you got, Keiji?

Keiji: Now is as good a time as any I guess, just don't take it easy on me. Not that I think you would.

Keiji looks over at the ring, takes a deep breath, and looks back to Avery and Antonio.

Keiji: Gentlemen, shall we?

Avery nods as he climbs up into the ring. Antonio finds himself a spot on the ring apron but looking inside of the ring. Keiji climbs in after him.

Avery: I am already loosened up.

Avery jumps up and down a bit. Keiji does a bit of light stretching, wanting to make sure he didn't hurt himself in a simple training exercise. He looks at Antonio, and then to Avery.

Keiji: Ok, so where you want to start? Simple, or just get into it?

Before saying anything, Avery reaches out and grabs Keiji. He whips Sugiawara into the ropes. Keiji rebounds as Avery takes him down with an arm drag, holding onto the arm.

Avery: Gotcha.

Keiji: Well, that answers that question..

Keiji transitions to a stand, wrenches his arm free, and circles behind Avery, locking in a waistlock. Unfortunately, Avery was ready, and quickly switches positions with Keiji.

Keiji: Damn, you're fast brother.

Avery charges forward as Keiji steps forward into the ropes. Avery uses the momentum to rebound and rolls Keiji up into a pin, but Keiji rolls through it and back up to his feet. Meanwhile, Antonio looks on with interest, thinking what they are doing is amazing.

Keiji: Oh, I forgot I'm kinda fast myself.

Sugiwara throws up a quick roundhouse, but Avery is just a hair quicker, bringing up am arm to deflect the shot. The Last Emperor staggers away, and begins hopping in place, trying to figure out a way past AM3’s defense

Avery: Quick, huh?

Avery quickly runs for the ropes and springboards off of the middle rope and grabs Keiji’s head hitting a tornado DDT.

Antonio: Whoa. You okay?

Tone obviously was not very keen on wrestling as he sees Keiji move.

Keiji: Y...yeah, just part of the job Antonio.

Keiji rolls away from Avery, and pulls himself to a stand, Miles rushes at him, and Keiji fires a back elbow into his gut, before flipping over him and going for a quick pin. Avery kicks out at two as he powers Keiji off towards the ropes. He nearly knocks Antonio off of the ring apron.

Antonio: Whoa. Sorry!

He smiled at Keiji, as Avery charges and grabs Keiji by the head, dragging him up to his feet.

Keiji sends a chop into Avery's side, doing enough to break his grip. Sugiwara then shoots, and lands a double leg takedown, which he shifts into a side headlock.

Keiji: All good Antonio, gotta be ready for that kind of thing anyway. Never know when somebody will be on the apron like that.

Avery fights out of it and pulls up to his feet. He grabs Keiji and drags him up as well. Avery goes for a lariat, but Keiji sees it coming as he reaches and uses a neckbreaker on Miles. Avery snaps down to the mat as Antonio’s eyes go wide, lost in the art of wrestling.

Antonio: Damn!

Keiji covers Avery.

Avery is more stunned than hurt, and kicks out right at two. Keiji gets up, and pulls Avery up with him, he then whips him into a nearby corner, and rushes for him. Sugiwara leaves his feet, and looks to be going for a corner lariat, but Avery rolls forward, and Keiji eats turnbuckle.

Keiji: Oof! God I forgot how much that smarts.

Avery spins Keiji around and kicks Sugiwara in the gut. Grabbing his head, Avery hits the AMT (Lifting underhook DDT) as he plants Keiji on the canvas. Rolling Keiji over, Avery covers and scores a three count.

Keiji lays there for a second or two, mostly trying to regain his focus. Once he feels able, he gets to a stand, and extends his hand to Avery.

Keiji: Well played brother, well played.

Antonio enters the ring.

Antonio: Dude. You hurt? That was… wow.

Antonio ignores Avery for a second.

Avery: Anytime, man. You still got it. That speed though? Damn.

Keiji releases the hand shake, and casually drapes an arm around Antonio.

Keiji: A little, but nothing I won't get over with a little rest.

Keiji pulls away from Antonio, and pats Avery on the back.

Keiji: Speed I've got in spades, just got to shake off this ring rust. With your help, I'm pretty certain it's doable.

Avery: I know this is not Vegas. Or L.A. But Georgia is a great place to focus. And I would love to sign you to the school. Trying to expand my school some. You would fit in super well. With Alechs gone, I am missing someone with experience as well… so you could help some of the younger trainees learn if that was your thing too.

Antonio perks up to that comment.

Keiji: Wait, you're saying you want me to help train? I was looking more to train, but I mean I guess that's one way to do it for sure. I'd love to sign up, sounds like a good deal for everyone involved. Besides, want to make sure my homie’s brother gets on the right track.

Avery: It is a unique system. I bring in trainees. Once they get some experience, which you already have, I allow them to help brand new trainees get their feet wet. Alechs helped to train Honey, along side of me.

Antonio sort of looks away as the thought of Alechs and Honey.

Avery: But you will still be trained as well.

Keiji mulls It over briefly, but he already knew his answer, and didn't want to waste Avery's time by stalling.

Keiji: Sounds good to me, as long as everyone else is fine with it. Don't want to step on any toes. If nothing else it gets me back in the states. Japan is cool, but I miss this country.

Avery holds his hand out to Keiji.

Avery: I run the show along with Big Chief, who was in Vegas. I can get the paperwork in order. You and Antonio hang out for a bit as I get them ready?

He asks.

Keiji: Yeah, sounds good. As long as Antonio is fine with it. Always killer to meet new people, especially ones who know the same people you do.

Keiji shakes Avery's hand firmly, and smiles. After releasing the shake, he turns to Antonio, and grins.

Keiji: So what do you do when you're not hanging out here?

Avery heads off into the back office as Antonio looks around, not making eye contact.

Antonio: I don’t know. Video games? I listen to music. Nothing really. You… you looked awesome. You have talent.

He smiles, looking up at Keiji.

Keiji: Thanks brother, much appreciated. Gotta tell you, wasn't sure I could still do it. Still got it though. Video games huh? What do you play, I game to maybe we can get some multiplayer going on.

Antonio: You know; Uh. PUBG. COD. Madden. Whatever. I am down to game anytime.

Antonio heads for the ropes, and starts to head out of the ring as a couple of students needed it.

Antonio: What do you do besides wrestle?

Keiji exits the ring with Antonio, and takes a seat on the ring step.

Keiji: Ah man, surfing, fishing, also video games. Have a lot of hobbies really, have to break up the monotony of the day to day somehow right? Didn't even intend to be a wrestler at first, was doing cage fighting for a bit, but some info reaches the owner, and he made it super uncomfortable so I bounced.

Keiji starts thinking back, and starts stressing a bit, but he decides not to dwell, as he doesn't want to discourage Antonio.

Antonio: Damn, you are motivated. Maybe I could catch that bug? I always felt like I was in Alechs’ shadow.

He lowers his head a bit. He missed his brother. Alechs was in Mexico for the holidays, and Tone definitely missed him.

Antonio: You actually don’t mind moving here? What about your girlfriend?

Antonio prodded a bit.

Keiji hesitate for a moment, but just decides to answer as honestly as he was comfortable with.

Keiji: Yeah, no. Don't have one of those. Not really my thing. Although there's a stripper in Arizona who occasionally watches Space Jam with me. True story.

Antonio looks at him.

Antonio: Space Jam? Like Bugs Bunny and Michael Jordan, Space Jam?

He mocks shooting a basket.

Keiji: Yeah, bro. Space Jam, is my jam. But, yeah. No girlfriend, point I was trying to make. It's just, um, yeah anyway.

Keiji mocks like he's spinning a basketball on his finger, his smile growing wider as he does this bit. Antonio shakes his head.

Antonio: Not, I got it. Stripped, Space Jam. She is not your Jam. You prefer the same team.

Antonio understood, and was intrigued even more.

Antonio: Maybe you and I could… like… get lunch sometimes?

Before Keiji could answer, Avery returned back with the paperwork.

Avery: Okay, I got everything written up here. You ready to read it over, Keiji?

Keiji: Yes Antonio, and yes Avery. Let's see what we've got going on here.