Young Lions

Rookie wrestlers of the New Japan Pro Wrestling promotion are referred to as Young Lions. The name is a reference to the NJPW logo which features the fearsome beast.

To be considered a Young Lion one must have trained through the NJPW system.

Currently there are two schools where an individual can train to become a Young Lion: the NJPW Dojo in Japan and its American counterpart the NJPW Dojo in Los Angeles, USA.

Overview
Young Lions live in dormitories adjacent to their dojo and are expected to perform household duties such as cleaning, laundry, and cooking. Before wrestling shows a Young Lion is also expected to carry the baggage of their seniors, assemble the ring, and arrange guest seating. They are also responsible for the security of the audience, shielding them from brawls which may spill outside the ring.

The Young Lion Cup

In the past, the Young Lions had their own tournament dubbed the Young Lion Cup - a successor to the Karl Gotch Cup promoted by the NJPW in the 1970s. The Young Lion Cup was held to determine the top Young Lion of the promotion.

For some wrestlers like Masahiro Chono, Manabu Nakanishi, Satoshi Kojima and Hiroshi Tanahashi it was their first taste of success. Later in their careers, they would go on to win the G1 Climax and the IWGP Heavyweight Championships respectively.

The Young Lion Cup went on hiatus in 2005 with no word on its return until 2017 when Yuji Nagata  proposed a revival of the tournament. On September 26 of the same year NJPW officially announced its return, and Katsuya Kitamura  was crowned the first Young Lion Cup Champion in 12 years on December 21, 2017.

Fun Fact: Shinsuke Nakamura and David Finlay are the only two wrestlers in history to win a championship title during their Young Lion days.

Lions Gate Project

The Young Lions also have their own show called the Lions Gate Project where they face off against veteran wrestlers and rookies from other promotions. Young Lion matches mainly consist of basic moves such as entrance with full power running, elbows, body slams, and dropkicks. At the end of a match, it is customary for a Young Lion to finish with the Boston Crab or an original technique.

Trainers
The list of trainers who train the Young Lions during their early days.

Japan Dojo Super Strong Machine Hiro Saito Kazuo Yamazaki USA Dojo Katsuyori Shibata Scorpio Sky

Attire
Young Lions typically wear black fitted shorts and ring shoes. This uniform is commonly seen as a symbol of strong style. Even a seemingly benign addition to their attire like a knee pad can leave an impression; implying that the rookie is well on his way to success. As a rookie advances and gains the respect of his peers and the audience, he may be awarded more accessories such as kick pads.

However, some wrestlers like Katsuyori Shibata choose to keep their black shorts and ring shoes even after they become part of the main roster.

The Learning Excursion
Typically three years after their Young Lion debut students are sent abroad to continue their training. This is often referred to as a "Learning Excursion". There are currently 3 NJPW training meccas in the world where a Young Lion might be sent: the USA, Mexico, and Europe.

Promotions where famous NJPW have trained during their Learning Excursion

TNA (Nashville, Tennessee, United States), PWS (Garfield, New Jersey), CMLL (Mexico City), WCW (Atlanta, Georgia, United States), NWA (Waterloo, Iowa, United States), ROH (Baltimore, Maryland).

Graduation
After this special training is complete and a Young Lion returns home to the NJPW in Japan they graduate and are no longer considered a Young Lion.

A special few wrestlers made their debut on the main stage before their Young Lion training was complete such as David Finlay and Juice Robinson.

List of current Young Lions
The following is a list that contains the current wrestler in their Young Lion status.

List of Graduates
The following is a list of Japanese and gaijin wrestlers who have graduated from the NJPW Dojo in Japan, along with the USA Dojo in Long Beach, California.

Non-Graduates
The following is a list of notable wrestlers who have trained at the NJPW Dojo, but did not officially graduate.