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To be considered a Young Lion one must have trained through the NJPW system. |
To be considered a Young Lion one must have trained through the NJPW system. |
||
− | Currently, there are |
+ | Currently, there are three schools where an individual can train to become a Young Lion: the NJPW Dojo in Tokyo, Japan, its American counterpart the NJPW LA Dojo in Carson, California, USA. |
==Overview== |
==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. [[Shinsuke Nakamura]] and [[David Finlay]] are the only two wrestlers in history to win a championship title during their Young Lion days. |
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. [[Shinsuke Nakamura]] and [[David Finlay]] are the only two wrestlers in history to win a championship title during their Young Lion days. |
||
− | '''The Young Lion Cup''' |
+ | === '''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. |
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 Championship]]s respectively. |
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 Championship]]s respectively. |
||
− | The Young Lion Cup went on hiatus in 2005 with no word on its return until 2017 when [[Yuji Nagata]]<span> proposed a revival of the tournament</span>. |
+ | The Young Lion Cup went on hiatus in 2005 with no word on its return until 2017 when [[Yuji Nagata]]<span> proposed a revival of the tournament</span>. On September 26 of the same year, NJPW officially announced its return, and [[Katsuya Kitamura]]<span> was crowned the first Young Lion Cup Champion in 12 years on December 21, 2017.</span> |
− | |||
⚫ | |||
⚫ | |||
The Young Lions in Japan have their own show called the [[Lion's Gate Project|Lions Gate Project]] where they face off against veteran wrestlers and rookies from other promotions in Japan. 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. |
The Young Lions in Japan have their own show called the [[Lion's Gate Project|Lions Gate Project]] where they face off against veteran wrestlers and rookies from other promotions in Japan. 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. |
||
− | <span>'''Lions Break Project'''</span> |
+ | === <span>'''Lions Break Project'''</span> === |
− | |||
The Young Lions in the United States have their own show called the [[Lion's Break Project|Lions Break Project]] which is the counterpart of Lion's Gate Project shows in Japan, where they also face off against veteran wrestlers and independent wrestlers from the United States. |
The Young Lions in the United States have their own show called the [[Lion's Break Project|Lions Break Project]] which is the counterpart of Lion's Gate Project shows in Japan, where they also face off against veteran wrestlers and independent wrestlers from the United States. |
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The list of trainers who train the Young Lions during their early days. |
The list of trainers who train the Young Lions during their early days. |
||
⚫ | |||
− | '''Japan Dojo'''<br />[[Super Strong Machine]]<br />[[Hiro Saito]]<br />[[Kazuo Yamazaki]]<br />'''USA Dojo'''<br />[[Katsuyori Shibata]]<br />[[Rocky Romero]] |
||
+ | * [[Super Strong Machine]] |
||
+ | * [[Hiro Saito]] |
||
+ | * [[Kazuo Yamazaki]] |
||
+ | * [[Yuji Nagata]] |
||
+ | * [[Satoshi Kojima]] |
||
+ | * [[Hiroshi Tanahashi]] |
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+ | === '''USA Dojo''' === |
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⚫ | |||
+ | * [[Fred Rosser]] |
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⚫ | 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. |
||
+ | * [[KUSHIDA]] |
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+ | * [[The DKC]] |
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+ | * Bateman |
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+ | * Royce Isaacs |
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+ | == Young Lions' path == |
||
⚫ | |||
⚫ | |||
⚫ | |||
⚫ | 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. |
||
⚫ | |||
⚫ | |||
⚫ | |||
⚫ | |||
⚫ | |||
− | 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]]. |
||
⚫ | |||
+ | |||
⚫ | |||
⚫ | 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== |
==List of current Young Lions== |
||
The following is a list that contains the current wrestler in their Young Lion status. |
The following is a list that contains the current wrestler in their Young Lion status. |
||
⚫ | |||
{| class="wikitable" width="100%" |
{| class="wikitable" width="100%" |
||
! style="background: #e3e3e3; width: 25%;" |Name |
! style="background: #e3e3e3; width: 25%;" |Name |
||
! style="background: #e3e3e3; width: 20%;" |Debut |
! style="background: #e3e3e3; width: 20%;" |Debut |
||
− | ! style="background: #e3e3e3; width: 20%;" |Dojo |
||
! style="background: #e3e3e3; width: 20%;" |Note |
! style="background: #e3e3e3; width: 20%;" |Note |
||
|- |
|- |
||
− | |[[ |
+ | |[[Yuto Nakashima]] |
− | | |
+ | |February 14, 2021 |
⚫ | |||
− | |Japan dojo |
||
⚫ | |||
|- |
|- |
||
− | |[[ |
+ | |[[Ryohei Oiwa]] |
− | | |
+ | |August 24, 2021 |
⚫ | |||
⚫ | |||
− | |<small>On a l</small><small>earning excursion in the United Kingdom</small> |
||
|- |
|- |
||
− | |[[ |
+ | |[[Katsuya Murashima]] |
− | | |
+ | |November 21, 2023 |
⚫ | |||
− | |<small>On a l</small><small>earning excursion in the United Kingdom</small> |
||
⚫ | |||
⚫ | |||
⚫ | |||
− | |Japan Dojo |
||
− | |<small>On a l</small><small>earning excursion in the United Kingdom</small> |
||
⚫ | |||
⚫ | |||
⚫ | |||
− | |L.A. Dojo |
||
⚫ | |||
⚫ | |||
⚫ | |||
⚫ | |||
− | |Japan Dojo |
||
| |
| |
||
|- |
|- |
||
− | |[[ |
+ | |[[Kosei Fujita]] |
− | | |
+ | |August 24, 2021 |
− | |Japan Dojo |
||
| |
| |
||
|- |
|- |
||
− | |[[ |
+ | |[[Boltin Oleg]] |
− | | |
+ | |October 10, 2022 |
− | |L.A. Dojo |
||
| |
| |
||
|- |
|- |
||
− | |[[ |
+ | |[[Oskar Leube]] |
− | | |
+ | |March 30, 2019 |
+ | |<small>Transferred from the Fale/NZ Dojo.</small><br/><small>On a learning excursion in Europe.</small> |
||
− | |L.A. Dojo |
||
⚫ | |||
|- |
|- |
||
− | |[[ |
+ | |[[Shoma Kato]] |
− | | |
+ | |November 20, 2023 |
− | |L.A.Dojo |
||
⚫ | |||
⚫ | |||
⚫ | |||
⚫ | |||
− | |L.A. Dojo |
||
| |
| |
||
|} |
|} |
||
− | ==List of Graduates== |
+ | == 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. |
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. |
||
Line 153: | Line 136: | ||
|[[Satoru Sayama]] |
|[[Satoru Sayama]] |
||
|May 28, 1976 |
|May 28, 1976 |
||
− | |Active in [[Real Japan Pro Wrestling]] |
+ | | Active in [[Real Japan Pro Wrestling]] |
| |
| |
||
|- |
|- |
||
|[[Akira Maeda]] |
|[[Akira Maeda]] |
||
|August 25, 1978 |
|August 25, 1978 |
||
− | |Owner of [[Fighting Network RINGS]] |
+ | | Owner of [[Fighting Network RINGS]] |
| |
| |
||
|- |
|- |
||
|[[Hiro Saito]] |
|[[Hiro Saito]] |
||
|August 26, 1978 |
|August 26, 1978 |
||
⚫ | |||
⚫ | |||
| |
| |
||
|- |
|- |
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Line 183: | Line 166: | ||
|[[Tatsutoshi Goto]] |
|[[Tatsutoshi Goto]] |
||
|December 2, 1982 |
|December 2, 1982 |
||
⚫ | |||
⚫ | |||
| |
| |
||
|- |
|- |
||
|[[Jushin Thunder Liger]] |
|[[Jushin Thunder Liger]] |
||
|March 3, 1984 |
|March 3, 1984 |
||
− | |Retired |
+ | |Retired on January 6, 2020 |
⚫ | |||
⚫ | |||
+ | |[[Masahiro Chono]] |
||
+ | |October 5, 1984 |
||
+ | |Retired on February 21, 2023 |
||
| |
| |
||
|- |
|- |
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|[[AKIRA]] |
|[[AKIRA]] |
||
|October 12, 1984 |
|October 12, 1984 |
||
− | |Active in |
+ | |Active in Japan |
| |
| |
||
|- |
|- |
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Line 203: | Line 191: | ||
|[[Keiji Mutoh]] |
|[[Keiji Mutoh]] |
||
|October 5, 1984 |
|October 5, 1984 |
||
+ | |Retired on February 21, 2023 |
||
− | |Owner of [[Wrestle-1]] |
||
| |
| |
||
|- |
|- |
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|[[Takuma Sano]] |
|[[Takuma Sano]] |
||
− | |March 3, 1984 |
+ | | March 3, 1984 |
+ | |Retired |
||
⚫ | |||
| |
| |
||
|- |
|- |
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Line 223: | Line 211: | ||
|[[Kenichi Oya]] |
|[[Kenichi Oya]] |
||
|April 20, 1986 |
|April 20, 1986 |
||
− | |Active in |
+ | |Active in Japan |
| |
| |
||
|- |
|- |
||
|[[El Samurai]] |
|[[El Samurai]] |
||
|July 24, 1986 |
|July 24, 1986 |
||
+ | |Inactive since 2013; affiliated with [[Sportiva Entertainment]] |
||
⚫ | |||
| |
| |
||
|- |
|- |
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Line 252: | Line 240: | ||
|- |
|- |
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|[[Koji Kanemoto]] |
|[[Koji Kanemoto]] |
||
− | |November 7, 1990 |
+ | | November 7, 1990 |
|Active in Japan |
|Active in Japan |
||
| |
| |
||
Line 268: | Line 256: | ||
|[[Osamu Nishimura]] |
|[[Osamu Nishimura]] |
||
|April 21, 1991 |
|April 21, 1991 |
||
− | |Active in |
+ | |Active in Japan |
| |
| |
||
|- |
|- |
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Line 288: | Line 276: | ||
|[[Kendo Kashin]] |
|[[Kendo Kashin]] |
||
|September 21, 1992 |
|September 21, 1992 |
||
− | |Active in |
+ | |Active in Pro Wrestling NOAH |
| |
| |
||
|- |
|- |
||
|[[Manabu Nakanishi]] |
|[[Manabu Nakanishi]] |
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|October 13, 1992 |
|October 13, 1992 |
||
+ | |Retired on February 22, 2020 |
||
⚫ | |||
| |
| |
||
|- |
|- |
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|[[Yutaka Yoshie]] |
|[[Yutaka Yoshie]] |
||
|December 9, 1994 |
|December 9, 1994 |
||
− | |Active in |
+ | |Active in Japan |
| |
| |
||
|- |
|- |
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Line 308: | Line 296: | ||
|[[Kazuyuki Fujita]] |
|[[Kazuyuki Fujita]] |
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|November 1, 1996 |
|November 1, 1996 |
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− | | |
+ | |Active in Pro Wrestling NOAH |
| |
| |
||
|- |
|- |
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Line 317: | Line 305: | ||
|- |
|- |
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|[[Hiroshi Tanahashi]] |
|[[Hiroshi Tanahashi]] |
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− | |October 10, 1999 |
+ | | October 10, 1999 |
|Active in New Japan Pro Wrestling |
|Active in New Japan Pro Wrestling |
||
| |
| |
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Line 323: | Line 311: | ||
|[[Katsuyori Shibata]] |
|[[Katsuyori Shibata]] |
||
|October 10, 1999 |
|October 10, 1999 |
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− | |Active in New Japan Pro Wrestling |
+ | | Active in New Japan Pro Wrestling |
| |
| |
||
|- |
|- |
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Line 334: | Line 322: | ||
|January 4, 2000 |
|January 4, 2000 |
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|Active in Japan |
|Active in Japan |
||
⚫ | |||
⚫ | |||
+ | |[[Toru Yano]] |
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+ | |May 18, 2002 |
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⚫ | |||
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| |
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|- |
|- |
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|- |
|- |
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− | |[[Finn Bálor]] |
+ | |[[Finn Bálor|Prince Devitt]] |
|April 2006 |
|April 2006 |
||
|Active in World Wrestling Entertainment |
|Active in World Wrestling Entertainment |
||
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|- |
|- |
||
|[[Yujiro Takahashi]] |
|[[Yujiro Takahashi]] |
||
− | |July 26, 2004 |
+ | | July 26, 2004 |
|Active in New Japan Pro Wrestling |
|Active in New Japan Pro Wrestling |
||
| |
| |
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|- |
|- |
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|[[Kazuchika Okada]] |
|[[Kazuchika Okada]] |
||
− | |August 29, |
+ | |August 29, 2007 |
− | |Active in New Japan Pro Wrestling |
+ | | Active in New Japan Pro Wrestling |
| |
| |
||
|- |
|- |
||
− | |[[ |
+ | |[[Bad Luck Fale]] |
⚫ | |||
⚫ | |||
|Active in New Japan Pro Wrestling |
|Active in New Japan Pro Wrestling |
||
| |
| |
||
|- |
|- |
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− | |[[ |
+ | |[[Tama Tonga]] |
⚫ | |||
⚫ | |||
|Active in New Japan Pro Wrestling |
|Active in New Japan Pro Wrestling |
||
| |
| |
||
|- |
|- |
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|[[El Desperado]] |
|[[El Desperado]] |
||
− | |March 7, 2010 |
+ | | March 7, 2010 |
|Active in New Japan Pro Wrestling |
|Active in New Japan Pro Wrestling |
||
| |
| |
||
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|December 22, 2012 |
|December 22, 2012 |
||
|Active in New Japan Pro Wrestling |
|Active in New Japan Pro Wrestling |
||
⚫ | |||
⚫ | |||
⚫ | |||
⚫ | |||
+ | |Active in All Elite Wrestling |
||
| |
| |
||
|- |
|- |
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|[[Hiromu Takahashi]] |
|[[Hiromu Takahashi]] |
||
|August 24, 2010 |
|August 24, 2010 |
||
⚫ | |||
⚫ | |||
⚫ | |||
⚫ | |||
⚫ | |||
|Active in New Japan Pro Wrestling |
|Active in New Japan Pro Wrestling |
||
| |
| |
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|[[Jay White]] |
|[[Jay White]] |
||
|January 30, 2015 |
|January 30, 2015 |
||
− | |Active in |
+ | |Active in All Elite Wrestling |
| |
| |
||
|- |
|- |
||
− | |[[ |
+ | |[[HENARE]] |
|September 1, 2016 |
|September 1, 2016 |
||
⚫ | |||
⚫ | |||
⚫ | |||
⚫ | |||
⚫ | |||
+ | |Active in World Wrestling Entertainment |
||
+ | |<small>Graduated from L.A. Dojo</small> |
||
⚫ | |||
+ | |[[Master Wato]] |
||
+ | |January 1, 2016 |
||
⚫ | |||
⚫ | |||
⚫ | |||
+ | |[[Great O-Khan]] |
||
+ | |January 3, 2017 |
||
⚫ | |||
+ | | |
||
+ | |- |
||
+ | |[[Clark Connors]] |
||
+ | |September 30, 2018 |
||
⚫ | |||
+ | |<small>Graduated from L.A. Dojo</small> |
||
+ | |- |
||
+ | |[[Gabe Kidd]] |
||
+ | |July 21, 2013 |
||
⚫ | |||
+ | |<small>Graduated from L.A. Dojo </small> |
||
+ | |- |
||
+ | |[[Alex Coughlin]] |
||
+ | |September 30, 2018 |
||
⚫ | |||
+ | |<small>Graduated from L.A. Dojo</small> |
||
+ | |- |
||
⚫ | |||
⚫ | |||
+ | |Active in New Japan Pro Wrestling |
||
+ | |<small>Graduated from L.A. Dojo</small> |
||
+ | |- |
||
⚫ | |||
⚫ | |||
+ | |Active in New Japan Pro Wrestling |
||
+ | | |
||
+ | |- |
||
+ | |[[Kevin Knight]] |
||
+ | |September 7, 2019 |
||
+ | |Active in New Japan Pro Wrestling |
||
+ | |<small>Graduated from L.A. Dojo</small> |
||
+ | |- |
||
⚫ | |||
⚫ | |||
+ | |Active in New Japan Pro Wrestling |
||
+ | | |
||
+ | |- |
||
+ | |[[Yuya Uemura]] |
||
+ | |April 10, 2018 |
||
|Active in New Japan Pro Wrestling |
|Active in New Japan Pro Wrestling |
||
| |
| |
||
|} |
|} |
||
− | ==Non-Graduates== |
+ | == Non-Graduates== |
The following is a list of notable wrestlers who have trained at the NJPW Dojo but did not officially graduate. |
The following is a list of notable wrestlers who have trained at the NJPW Dojo but did not officially graduate. |
||
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! style="background: #e3e3e3; width: 35%;" |Current Status |
! style="background: #e3e3e3; width: 35%;" |Current Status |
||
! style="background: #e3e3e3; width: 20%;" |Note |
! style="background: #e3e3e3; width: 20%;" |Note |
||
+ | |- |
||
+ | |[[Poison Sawada Julie]] |
||
⚫ | |||
+ | | Active in [[DDT Pro-Wrestling]] |
||
⚫ | |||
|- |
|- |
||
|[[Masakatsu Funaki]] |
|[[Masakatsu Funaki]] |
||
|March 3, 1985 |
|March 3, 1985 |
||
− | |Active in |
+ | |Active in Pro Wrestling NOAH |
|<small>Funaki would leave NJPW in 1988 and later graduated in the UWF Dojo. </small> |
|<small>Funaki would leave NJPW in 1988 and later graduated in the UWF Dojo. </small> |
||
|- |
|- |
||
|[[Minoru Suzuki]] |
|[[Minoru Suzuki]] |
||
|June 23, 1988 |
|June 23, 1988 |
||
− | |Active in New Japan Pro Wrestling |
+ | | Active in New Japan Pro Wrestling |
|<small>Suzuki would leave NJPW in 1989 and later graduated in the UWF Dojo. </small> |
|<small>Suzuki would leave NJPW in 1989 and later graduated in the UWF Dojo. </small> |
||
|- |
|- |
||
Line 472: | Line 525: | ||
| |
| |
||
|- |
|- |
||
− | |[[ |
+ | |[[Takeshi Misawa]] |
+ | |October 22, 1989 |
||
⚫ | |||
− | |Retired on |
+ | |Retired on October 22, 1991 |
+ | |<small>Currently works for NJPW as a backstage medic.<small> |
||
⚫ | |||
+ | |- |
||
+ | |[[Hiroshi Dairi]] |
||
+ | |December 19, 1989 |
||
+ | |Retired on October 16, 1993, Died in 2005 |
||
+ | | |
||
|- |
|- |
||
|[[Masakazu Fukuda]] |
|[[Masakazu Fukuda]] |
||
|March 20, 1996 |
|March 20, 1996 |
||
|Died on April 19, 2000 |
|Died on April 19, 2000 |
||
+ | |<small>Transferred from [[Wrestle Yume Factory]]</small> |
||
⚫ | |||
|- |
|- |
||
|[[Katsushi Takemura]] |
|[[Katsushi Takemura]] |
||
Line 495: | Line 553: | ||
|February 2, 2003 |
|February 2, 2003 |
||
|Retired on October 26, 2008 |
|Retired on October 26, 2008 |
||
⚫ | |||
⚫ | |||
− | |[[Taiji Ishimori]] |
||
− | |2004 |
||
⚫ | |||
| |
| |
||
|- |
|- |
||
Line 509: | Line 562: | ||
|[[Katsuya Kitamura]] |
|[[Katsuya Kitamura]] |
||
|March 13, 2017 |
|March 13, 2017 |
||
+ | |Retired on March 4, 2018, Died on October 13, 2022 |
||
⚫ | |||
|<small>Winner of the [[Young Lion Cup|2017 Young Lion Cup]], Four months later he left NJPW due to injury.</small> |
|<small>Winner of the [[Young Lion Cup|2017 Young Lion Cup]], Four months later he left NJPW due to injury.</small> |
||
|- |
|- |
||
Line 515: | Line 568: | ||
|May 9, 2017 |
|May 9, 2017 |
||
|Retired |
|Retired |
||
− | |<small>Retired |
+ | |<small>Retired after leaving the NJPW Dojo due to personal issues. </small> |
|- |
|- |
||
|[[Teruaki Kanemitsu]] |
|[[Teruaki Kanemitsu]] |
||
|January 1, 2016 |
|January 1, 2016 |
||
+ | |Retired |
||
⚫ | |||
|<small>He left NJPW in April 2019 after being injured.<small> </small></small> |
|<small>He left NJPW in April 2019 after being injured.<small> </small></small> |
||
|} |
|} |
||
− | |||
− | == References == |
||
− | {{reflist}} |
||
[[Category:Wrestlers]] |
[[Category:Wrestlers]] |
||
[[Category:NJPW]] |
[[Category:NJPW]] |
Latest revision as of 19:09, 16 February 2024
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 three schools where an individual can train to become a Young Lion: the NJPW Dojo in Tokyo, Japan, its American counterpart the NJPW LA Dojo in Carson, California, 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. Shinsuke Nakamura and David Finlay are the only two wrestlers in history to win a championship title during their Young Lion days.
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.
Lions Gate Project[]
The Young Lions in Japan have their own show called the Lions Gate Project where they face off against veteran wrestlers and rookies from other promotions in Japan. 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.
Lions Break Project[]
The Young Lions in the United States have their own show called the Lions Break Project which is the counterpart of Lion's Gate Project shows in Japan, where they also face off against veteran wrestlers and independent wrestlers from the United States.
Trainers[]
The list of trainers who train the Young Lions during their early days.
Japan Dojo[]
USA Dojo[]
- Fred Rosser
- KUSHIDA
- The DKC
- Bateman
- Royce Isaacs
Young Lions' path[]
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 and Ren Narita choose to keep their black shorts and ring shoes even after they become part of the main roster.
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 three NJPW training meccas in the world where a Young Lion might be sent: the United States, Mexico, and Europe
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.
Japan Dojo[]
Name | Debut | Note |
---|---|---|
Yuto Nakashima | February 14, 2021 | Transferred from the Fale/NZ Dojo. On a learning excursion in Europe. |
Ryohei Oiwa | August 24, 2021 | On a learning excursion in Pro Wrestling NOAH |
Katsuya Murashima | November 21, 2023 | |
Kosei Fujita | August 24, 2021 | |
Boltin Oleg | October 10, 2022 | |
Oskar Leube | March 30, 2019 | Transferred from the Fale/NZ Dojo. On a learning excursion in Europe. |
Shoma Kato | November 20, 2023 |
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.
Name | Debut | Current Status | Note |
---|---|---|---|
Yoshiaki Fujiwara | November 12, 1972 | Active in Japan | |
Gran Hamada | March 16, 1972 | Active in Japan | |
Mr. Pogo | March 20, 1972 | Died on June 23, 2017 | |
Ryuma Go | September 9, 1972 | Died on October 18, 2009 | |
Don Arakawa | September 19, 1972 | Died on November 5, 2017 | |
Kuniaki Kobayashi | February 1, 1973 | Active in New Japan Pro Wrestling | |
Killer Khan | 1973 | Retired on 1987 | |
Satoru Sayama | May 28, 1976 | Active in Real Japan Pro Wrestling | |
Akira Maeda | August 25, 1978 | Owner of Fighting Network RINGS | |
Hiro Saito | August 26, 1978 | Inactive | |
Shunji Kosugi | Febuary 1981 | Retired on April 10, 1988 | |
Nobuhiko Takada | 1981 | President of Rizin Fighting Federation | |
Kazuo Yamazaki | May 6, 1982 | Active in New Japan Pro Wrestling | |
Tatsutoshi Goto | December 2, 1982 | Inactive | |
Jushin Thunder Liger | March 3, 1984 | Retired on January 6, 2020 | |
Masahiro Chono | October 5, 1984 | Retired on February 21, 2023 | |
AKIRA | October 12, 1984 | Active in Japan | |
Shinya Hashimoto | September 1, 1984 | Died on July 11, 2005 | |
Keiji Mutoh | October 5, 1984 | Retired on February 21, 2023 | |
Takuma Sano | March 3, 1984 | Retired | |
Hirokazu Hata | 1984 | Retired | |
Yoji Anjo | July 8, 1985 | Retired on March 19, 2015 | |
Kenichi Oya | April 20, 1986 | Active in Japan | |
El Samurai | July 24, 1986 | Inactive since 2013; affiliated with Sportiva Entertainment | |
Hiroshi Hase | February 28, 1986 | Retired on August 27, 2006 | |
Takashi Iizuka | November 2, 1986 | Retired on February 21, 2019 | |
Ultimo Dragon | May 13, 1987 | Active in Dragon Gate | |
Michiyoshi Ohara | June 30, 1990 | Retired in 2008 | |
Koji Kanemoto | November 7, 1990 | Active in Japan | |
Hiroyoshi Tenzan | January 11, 1991 | Active in New Japan Pro Wrestling | |
Satoshi Kojima | July 16, 1991 | Active in New Japan Pro Wrestling | |
Osamu Nishimura | April 21, 1991 | Active in Japan | |
Shinjiro Otani | June 25, 1992 | Active in Pro Wrestling Zero1 | |
Tatsuhito Takaiwa | July 21, 1992 | Active in Pro Wrestling Zero1 | |
Yuji Nagata | September 14, 1992 | Active in New Japan Pro Wrestling | |
Kendo Kashin | September 21, 1992 | Active in Pro Wrestling NOAH | |
Manabu Nakanishi | October 13, 1992 | Retired on February 22, 2020 | |
Yutaka Yoshie | December 9, 1994 | Active in Japan | |
Tadao Yasuda | February 1994 | Retired on February 4, 2011 | |
Kazuyuki Fujita | November 1, 1996 | Active in Pro Wrestling NOAH | |
Togi Makabe | February 15, 1997 | Active in New Japan Pro Wrestling | |
Hiroshi Tanahashi | October 10, 1999 | Active in New Japan Pro Wrestling | |
Katsuyori Shibata | October 10, 1999 | Active in New Japan Pro Wrestling | |
Wataru Inoue | October 10, 1999 | Retired on March 3, 2013 | |
KENSO | January 4, 2000 | Active in Japan | |
Toru Yano | May 18, 2002 | Active in New Japan Pro Wrestling | |
Shinsuke Nakamura | August 29, 2002 | Active in World Wrestling Entertainment | |
Yoshitatsu | October 12, 2002 | Active in All Japan Pro Wrestling | |
Ryusuke Taguchi | November 22, 2002 | Active in New Japan Pro Wrestling | |
Hirooki Goto | July 6, 2003 | Active in New Japan Pro Wrestling | |
Prince Devitt | April 2006 | Active in World Wrestling Entertainment | Graduated from NJPW USA Dojo |
Yujiro Takahashi | July 26, 2004 | Active in New Japan Pro Wrestling | |
Tetsuya Naito | May 27, 2006 | Active in New Japan Pro Wrestling | |
Taichi | December 2, 2002 | Active in New Japan Pro Wrestling | |
Mitsuhide Hirasawa | January 28, 2006 | Inactive | |
Yoshi-Hashi | July 6, 2008 | Active in New Japan Pro Wrestling | |
Kazuchika Okada | August 29, 2007 | Active in New Japan Pro Wrestling | |
Bad Luck Fale | April 4, 2010 | Active in New Japan Pro Wrestling | |
Tama Tonga | 2008 | Active in New Japan Pro Wrestling | |
El Desperado | March 7, 2010 | Active in New Japan Pro Wrestling | |
EVIL | May 13, 2011 | Active in New Japan Pro Wrestling | |
David Finlay | December 22, 2012 | Active in New Japan Pro Wrestling | |
Juice Robinson | September 4, 2015 | Active in All Elite Wrestling | |
Hiromu Takahashi | August 24, 2010 | Active in New Japan Pro Wrestling | |
Sho | November 15, 2012 | Active in New Japan Pro Wrestling | |
Yoh | November 19, 2012 | Active in New Japan Pro Wrestling | |
Jay White | January 30, 2015 | Active in All Elite Wrestling | |
HENARE | September 1, 2016 | Active in New Japan Pro Wrestling | |
Karl Fredericks | November 10, 2018 | Active in World Wrestling Entertainment | Graduated from L.A. Dojo |
Master Wato | January 1, 2016 | Active in New Japan Pro Wrestling | |
Great O-Khan | January 3, 2017 | Active in New Japan Pro Wrestling | |
Clark Connors | September 30, 2018 | Active in New Japan Pro Wrestling | Graduated from L.A. Dojo |
Gabe Kidd | July 21, 2013 | Active in New Japan Pro Wrestling | Graduated from L.A. Dojo |
Alex Coughlin | September 30, 2018 | Active in New Japan Pro Wrestling | Graduated from L.A. Dojo |
Ren Narita | July 4, 2017 | Active in New Japan Pro Wrestling | Graduated from L.A. Dojo |
Shota Umino | April 13, 2017 | Active in New Japan Pro Wrestling | |
Kevin Knight | September 7, 2019 | Active in New Japan Pro Wrestling | Graduated from L.A. Dojo |
Yota Tsuji | April 10, 2018 | Active in New Japan Pro Wrestling | |
Yuya Uemura | April 10, 2018 | Active in New Japan Pro Wrestling |
Non-Graduates[]
The following is a list of notable wrestlers who have trained at the NJPW Dojo but did not officially graduate.
Name | Debut | Current Status | Note |
---|---|---|---|
Poison Sawada Julie | 1981 | Active in DDT Pro-Wrestling | Sawada would leave NJPW in 1983 due to injury and later returned to wrestling in 1988 and later wrestled in DDT Pro-Wrestling, where he now wrestles part-time. |
Masakatsu Funaki | March 3, 1985 | Active in Pro Wrestling NOAH | Funaki would leave NJPW in 1988 and later graduated in the UWF Dojo. |
Minoru Suzuki | June 23, 1988 | Active in New Japan Pro Wrestling | Suzuki would leave NJPW in 1989 and later graduated in the UWF Dojo. |
Akira Katayama | January 25, 1987 | Retired on January 8, 1992 | |
Takeshi Misawa | October 22, 1989 | Retired on October 22, 1991 | Currently works for NJPW as a backstage medic. |
Hiroshi Dairi | December 19, 1989 | Retired on October 16, 1993, Died in 2005 | |
Masakazu Fukuda | March 20, 1996 | Died on April 19, 2000 | Transferred from Wrestle Yume Factory |
Katsushi Takemura | July 22, 1997 | Retired on January 6, 2009 | |
Akiya Anzawa | September 21, 2003 | Retired on January 8, 2006 | |
Hiroshi Nagao | February 2, 2003 | Retired on October 26, 2008 | |
Takumi Honjo | February 25, 2016 | Retired | Retired, after leaving the NJPW Dojo. |
Katsuya Kitamura | March 13, 2017 | Retired on March 4, 2018, Died on October 13, 2022 | Winner of the 2017 Young Lion Cup, Four months later he left NJPW due to injury. |
Tetsuhiro Yagi | May 9, 2017 | Retired | Retired after leaving the NJPW Dojo due to personal issues. |
Teruaki Kanemitsu | January 1, 2016 | Retired | He left NJPW in April 2019 after being injured. |