User:Acunningham19/sandbox

Professional wrestling career

Early career (2020-2022)

After graduating from high school in the spring of 2020, he would travel to Iowa to begin training at the Black and Brave Wrestling Academy, where he would train for the next four months. After completing his training, he would make his professional wrestling debut on December 14, 2020, four days after his 19th birthday, where he would defeat one of his trainers Marek Brave at an independent event in Davenport, Iowa, adopting the name Tony C. For the next few years, he would compete in various independent promotions around the country, such as IWA Mid-South, Full Impact Pro, and most notably CZW.

New Japan Pro-Wrestling (2022-2024)

In the summer of 2022, he would make his debut in New Japan Pro-Wrestling under the name Tony AKC, competing in the G1 Climax Tournament, where he would score three victories before being eliminated by KENTA. He would then enter a feud with Juice Robinson, being defeated in a well-received match. On January 8, 2023, he would defeat Juice Robinson in another well-received match at Wrestle Kingdom to capture the IWGP Intercontinental Championship, marking his first championship victory in his career. His feud with Juice Robinson would culminate in a death match on March 1, emerging victorious.

He would then take part in the 2023 G1 Climax Tournament, scoring five victories before being eliminated by Fred Rosser. He would hold onto the IWGP Intercontinental Championship until Wrestle Kingdom on January 28, 2024, being defeated by Will Ospreay in a four-and-a-half-star-rated match, ending his reign at 386 days. He would then take part in the 2024 G1 Climax Tournament, scoring four victories before being eliminated by David Finlay. These would be his final appearances in New Japan Pro-Wrestling as his contract would expire on July 31.