Alec Richter

Alec started out as a foreign exchange student doing a year abroad as a chance for adventure and to fulfill some credit requirements along the way. He’d been a huge fan of puroresu since he was a child, and it had been a dream of his to see one in person one day. Coming from a relatively poor background, he was only able to even take this opportunity to study abroad after winning a scholarship and working part-time to make up the rest. Even better, his host university had a pro-wrestling club that was fairly well known and their shows were sometimes attended by talent scouts from big-name professional leagues. When Alec arrived at his host university, he immediately applied to join the club but membership was full. Though crestfallen he begged them to reconsider and that he’d do anything to make it happen. Alec would show up early to help set up by dragging out the mats or setting up the seats. He’d stay late too offering to help clean up by wiping things down, putting equipment away, scrubbing the floors. He’d also volunteer to cook and bring snacks or refreshments unprompted. This perseverance and hardwork didn’t go unnoticed and as the club got to know Alec they started taking a liking to him. Eventually a secret meeting was held and it was decided they’d make an exception to allow Alec to join. He ecstatic when he received the news and couldn’t want to start actually training with the club members. He continued showing up early and leaving late and was eventually allowed to start participating in matches at the shows they put on for the public.

At his fifth show with the club near the end of his term fortune favored him greatly as a talent scout was present in the crowd and had taken a liking to him. Though rough around the edges they saw potential and thought there might be room in the market for a guy of his aesthetic. After the show they approached Alec with a job offer and a sample contract, but there was only one problem – he needed a a work visa to make it happen. Alec immediately applied for one but was devastated when he received the news that he had been declined. It seemed like this opportunity of a lifetime just wasn’t meant to be and even the normally cheery Alec couldn't overcome the weight of the deep sadness that fell upon him. That is until one night at practice one of the club members mentions their uncle might be able to help him with getting a visa. Just as Alec was desperate and would do anything to join the club, he likewise was prepared to do anything to make this dream come true. Alec met with the uncle against the advice of some other club members and was told that he’d need to pay a hefty sum to help ‘grease the wheels of bureaucracy’. Little did he know Alec was paying to have his documents forged and an official bribed in order to make his visa happen. Still once he had the papers in hand, nothing could stop him from rushing to accept that job offer and joining the AFW.

Unbeknownst to Alec, he wasn’t quite done with ‘the uncle’ yet. After receiving his signing bonus and going out to celebrate with friends, Alec was cornered by this ‘uncle’ and a couple other men. They told him he owed them more for their generosity and assistance, and that they needed more money to make sure things stayed quiet. The amount they wanted was insane, he’d never be able to afford it on his rookie’s salary alone, but with a knife pressed to his gut what else was he supposed to do but agree to make regular payments as hush money? Alec was forced to take other part-time jobs to help supplement his income and continue living his puroresu dream for a little while longer.