Yuki Nomura along with his proteges from AVENIR held a press meeting at the Pro-Wrestling CRIMSON offices in Miyako. The four "graduating" members of AVENIR and Yuki Nomura all appeared in suits and posed for photographs as a unit for the last time. After photographs were taken, the four spoke out regarding their graduation from AVENIR and their future.
The acting leader of AVENIR, Kenjiro Amagawa spoke first. Amagawa admitted that he had attempted to fight their graduation and that he still stubbornly refused to admit to himself that their days as a functioning unit were coming to an end. Amagawa reflected on his time with AVENIR and brought up Mikio Tsuruya betrayal as a "Backdrop Brother" which began Amagawa's odyssey to "strengthen" himself with Yuki Nomura. Amagawa added that all of his career highlights had come as a member of AVENIR under Nomura's guidance. Amagawa thanked Nomura for providing the spark that ignited his career and for helping him discover his true strength inside.
Hiroshi Kuroki admitted that when Yuki Nomura allowed him to join AVENIR, no one knew who he was or had any reason to care. As a Ryo Suzuki graduate who did not venture into CRIMSON, Kuroki's career had ended before it had begun. Kuroki claimed that it wasn't being given entry into CRIMSON that had saved him, but when Nomura had extended his hand to Kuroki as a mentor that had. Kuroki thanked Nomura for the chance, and the opportunity to make friends that he would have for the rest of his life.
Kaisen Tiger was handed the microphone and appeared confused as to what to do. Kuroki leaned in to help translate Kaisen Tiger's words. However, all were shocked as Kaisen Tiger began to speak in perfect Japanese! The other AVENIR members were taken aback, with Nomura exclaiming "Since when do you speak Japanese?!". Kaisen Tiger stoically turned to Nomura and added "I've been practicing!" before breaking in laughter...Tiger thanked everyone in AVENIR for the memories, and his own growth as a pro-wrestler; adding that these were the best moments of his life...
Finally it was Shinsuke Takahashi's turn. Takahashi at first refused to speak but was convinced to by Amagawa. Virtually the second Takahashi opened his mouth to speak. he began to tear up. Takahashi recalled that two years ago he was working at a Bicycling Plant and retired from Pro-Wrestling. It was Nomura who rediscovered him. It was Nomura who faced him in his first wrestling match in two years. It was Nomura who gave him a chance in AVENIR. And it was Nomura that saved his dream. Takahashi proclaimed that everything he had, everything he would ever have, was from the gift Yuki Nomura and AVENIR had given him.
Nomura waited for Takahashi to finish before speaking his own. Nomura denied that he was some type of "savior" of the four. Instead, Nomura pointed out that all he had done was give them guidance. The skill and power the four had displayed had come from inside them. The growth they had all displayed wasn't his doing, it was their own. They were the ones who had made AVENIR great and they were the ones who would continue to improve and grow no matter where they went or what they did. He (Nomura) wasn't the one who had earned the championships they had. And he hadn't reached the very top ranks of tag team wrestling. Nomura thanked the four for being the very best protege's he could have hoped for and then bowed deeply to all four of them.
There was more business to discuss however. Nomura announced that even with the graduation of the four, AVENIR would continue! Nomura reminded the press that there were actually FIVE current members of AVENIR, and the remaining wrestler would assume the new mantle of "Leader" of AVENIR. On cue, returning from almost three months in Europe, Keiji Hirano appeared also decked in a suit! Hirano approached all four of his peers and shook each wrestler's hand in turn before stepping up to stand with Yuki Nomura. Nomura handed Hirano his microphone before stepping back.
Keiji Hirano started by admitting that three months ago, he had left "like a child" after the GOLDEN CHANCE tournament. Hirano thanked Nomura and the rest of AVENIR for allowing him to spend nearly three months to recollect his thoughts and feelings. Hirano added that when he heard of the graduation, at first he was upset that he wasn't being included. But now, Hirano said, he understood why. He (Hirano) isn't prepared to advance to the next stage like the others are. Hirano turned to his rival Kenjiro Amagawa and praised the former AVENIR leader for giving him a goal to aspire to achieve. The road will be rocky at the start and at times it will appear as if AVENIR's second class won't work out. However, Hirano promised that he won't run away or back down from the challenges before him and will aim to be the very best leader of AVENIR he can possibly be!
The five members of AVENIR's “First Class” and their mentor Yuki Nomura posed one more time for photos to close out the session.
The acting leader of AVENIR, Kenjiro Amagawa spoke first. Amagawa admitted that he had attempted to fight their graduation and that he still stubbornly refused to admit to himself that their days as a functioning unit were coming to an end. Amagawa reflected on his time with AVENIR and brought up Mikio Tsuruya betrayal as a "Backdrop Brother" which began Amagawa's odyssey to "strengthen" himself with Yuki Nomura. Amagawa added that all of his career highlights had come as a member of AVENIR under Nomura's guidance. Amagawa thanked Nomura for providing the spark that ignited his career and for helping him discover his true strength inside.
Hiroshi Kuroki admitted that when Yuki Nomura allowed him to join AVENIR, no one knew who he was or had any reason to care. As a Ryo Suzuki graduate who did not venture into CRIMSON, Kuroki's career had ended before it had begun. Kuroki claimed that it wasn't being given entry into CRIMSON that had saved him, but when Nomura had extended his hand to Kuroki as a mentor that had. Kuroki thanked Nomura for the chance, and the opportunity to make friends that he would have for the rest of his life.
Kaisen Tiger was handed the microphone and appeared confused as to what to do. Kuroki leaned in to help translate Kaisen Tiger's words. However, all were shocked as Kaisen Tiger began to speak in perfect Japanese! The other AVENIR members were taken aback, with Nomura exclaiming "Since when do you speak Japanese?!". Kaisen Tiger stoically turned to Nomura and added "I've been practicing!" before breaking in laughter...Tiger thanked everyone in AVENIR for the memories, and his own growth as a pro-wrestler; adding that these were the best moments of his life...
Finally it was Shinsuke Takahashi's turn. Takahashi at first refused to speak but was convinced to by Amagawa. Virtually the second Takahashi opened his mouth to speak. he began to tear up. Takahashi recalled that two years ago he was working at a Bicycling Plant and retired from Pro-Wrestling. It was Nomura who rediscovered him. It was Nomura who faced him in his first wrestling match in two years. It was Nomura who gave him a chance in AVENIR. And it was Nomura that saved his dream. Takahashi proclaimed that everything he had, everything he would ever have, was from the gift Yuki Nomura and AVENIR had given him.
Nomura waited for Takahashi to finish before speaking his own. Nomura denied that he was some type of "savior" of the four. Instead, Nomura pointed out that all he had done was give them guidance. The skill and power the four had displayed had come from inside them. The growth they had all displayed wasn't his doing, it was their own. They were the ones who had made AVENIR great and they were the ones who would continue to improve and grow no matter where they went or what they did. He (Nomura) wasn't the one who had earned the championships they had. And he hadn't reached the very top ranks of tag team wrestling. Nomura thanked the four for being the very best protege's he could have hoped for and then bowed deeply to all four of them.
There was more business to discuss however. Nomura announced that even with the graduation of the four, AVENIR would continue! Nomura reminded the press that there were actually FIVE current members of AVENIR, and the remaining wrestler would assume the new mantle of "Leader" of AVENIR. On cue, returning from almost three months in Europe, Keiji Hirano appeared also decked in a suit! Hirano approached all four of his peers and shook each wrestler's hand in turn before stepping up to stand with Yuki Nomura. Nomura handed Hirano his microphone before stepping back.
Keiji Hirano started by admitting that three months ago, he had left "like a child" after the GOLDEN CHANCE tournament. Hirano thanked Nomura and the rest of AVENIR for allowing him to spend nearly three months to recollect his thoughts and feelings. Hirano added that when he heard of the graduation, at first he was upset that he wasn't being included. But now, Hirano said, he understood why. He (Hirano) isn't prepared to advance to the next stage like the others are. Hirano turned to his rival Kenjiro Amagawa and praised the former AVENIR leader for giving him a goal to aspire to achieve. The road will be rocky at the start and at times it will appear as if AVENIR's second class won't work out. However, Hirano promised that he won't run away or back down from the challenges before him and will aim to be the very best leader of AVENIR he can possibly be!
The five members of AVENIR's “First Class” and their mentor Yuki Nomura posed one more time for photos to close out the session.
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