Lion's Gate Project

Developmental branch of Japanese professional wrestling promotion New Japan Pro-Wrestling
Logo of the first Lion's Gate Project show

Lion's Gate is the developmental branch of professional wrestling promotion New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW), which holds events under the banner of Lion's Gate Project.[1] The branch was officially announced on July 18, 2015, and held its first show on February 25, 2016. In addition to NJPW wrestlers, the Lion's Gate Project shows also feature wrestlers from other promotions, resulting in unique cards.[2]

The events are held at Tokyo's Shinjuku Face. The first three shows featured heavy participation from wrestlers from the Pro Wrestling Noah promotion. Wrestlers from promotions such as All Japan Pro Wrestling (AJPW), Big Japan Pro Wrestling (BJW) and Kaientai Dojo (K-Dojo) have also taken part in the project. NJPW rookies Takumi Honjo, Shota Umino, Tetsuhiro Yagi and Ren Narita have made their official debuts at Lion's Gate Project shows, while Katsuya Kitamura and Tomoyuki Oka wrestled their unofficial debuts as part of the project.

History

On July 18, 2015, NJPW held a press conference on various items relating to the future of the promotion. One of these was the establishment of a developmental branch, where NJPW could discover and develop both Japanese and foreign wrestlers. It was also intended as a place where trials could be held for outside wrestlers and where injured wrestlers could go to get back in shape. The plan was for the branch to eventually start running its own small shows.[3][4] The project quickly drew comparisons to WWE's NXT developmental branch.[5][6] NJPW had earlier attempted a developmental branch with a project named NEVER, which held shows between 2010 and 2012.[7]

Recently, NJPW had been described as "lax in cultivation of new talent", however, on January 3, 2016, the promotion introduced four new wrestlers with Hirai Kawato and Teruaki Kanemitsu wrestling their debut matches, while Katsuya Kitamura and Tomoyuki Oka were announced as the two newest recruits to the NJPW dojo. Dave Meltzer called the recruitment of the two former top amateur wrestlers "[p]robably the biggest move in a couple of years when it comes to new talent".[6] The same day, NJPW announced that their developmental branch Lion's Gate would be holding its first show on February 25, 2016, in Tokyo's Shinjuku Face.[2][8]

Events

Lion's Gate Project 1

Lion's Gate Project 1
PromotionNew Japan Pro-Wrestling
Brand(s)Lion's Gate
DateFebruary 25, 2016[9]
CityTokyo, Japan[9]
VenueShinjuku Face[9]
Attendance467[9]
Event chronology
← Previous
Honor Rising: Japan 		Next →
New Japan Cup
Lion's Gate Project chronology
← Previous
— 		Next →
Lion's Gate Project 2

The first Lion's Gate Project event was held on February 25, 2016, in Tokyo at Shinjuku Face.[9][10] The event featured ten matches, including one dark match, an "exhibition match" featuring the unofficial debuts of Katsuya Kitamura and Tomoyuki Oka, working under amateur wrestling rules.[9][11] The other nine matches featured NJPW wrestlers taking on Pro Wrestling Noah wrestlers. The second match saw the debut of Animal Hamaguchi trainee Takumi Honjo, who was defeated by Noah's Maybach Taniguchi.[9] The show was main evented by NJPW veteran Yuji Nagata defeating Noah's Mitsuhiro Kitamiya.[12]

No.Results[9][10]StipulationsTimes
1DKatsuya Kitamura vs. Tomoyuki Oka ended in a time limit drawSingles match03:00
2Maybach Taniguchi defeated Takumi HonjoSingles match04:24
3Hitoshi Kumano defeated Hirai KawatoSingles match04:32
4Ryusuke Taguchi defeated Kaito KiyomiyaSingles match06:20
5Taiji Ishimori defeated David FinlaySingles match08:08
6Yoshinari Ogawa defeated Jay WhiteSingles match08:50
7Manabu Nakanishi defeated Quiet StormSingles match07:47
8Tencozy (Hiroyoshi Tenzan and Satoshi Kojima) defeated Captain Noah and Genba HirayanagiTag team match11:08
9Katsuhiko Nakajima defeated Juice RobinsonSingles match12:20
10Yuji Nagata defeated Mitsuhiro KitamiyaSingles match14:28
D – this was a dark match

Lion's Gate Project 2

Lion's Gate Project 2
PromotionNew Japan Pro-Wrestling
Brand(s)Lion's Gate
DateMay 19, 2016[13]
CityTokyo, Japan[13]
VenueShinjuku Face[13]
Attendance467[13]
Event chronology
← Previous
War of the Worlds 		Next →
Best of the Super Jr. XXIII
Lion's Gate Project chronology
← Previous
Lion's Gate Project 1 		Next →
Lion's Gate Project 3

The second Lion's Gate Project event was held on May 19, 2016, in Tokyo at Shinjuku Face.[13][14][15] Much like the first Lion's Gate Project show, the event featured several wrestlers from Pro Wrestling Noah as well as Ayato Yoshida from Kaientai Dojo (K-Dojo).[15] All in all, the event featured eight matches.[13]

No.Results[13][14][15]StipulationsTimes
1Kaito Kiyomiya defeated Hirai KawatoSingles match05:51
2Shiro Tomoyose vs. Teruaki Kanemitsu ended in a time limit drawSingles match10:00
3Hitoshi Kumano defeated Ayato YoshidaSingles match06:10
4Yoshinari Ogawa defeated David FinlaySingles match08:30
5Muhammad Yone and Ryusuke Taguchi defeated Captain Noah and Genba HirayanagiTag team match13:26
6Naomichi Marufuji defeated Jay WhiteSingles match12:41
7Go Shiozaki defeated Juice RobinsonSingles match14:53
8Hiroyoshi Tenzan, Manabu Nakanishi, Satoshi Kojima and Yuji Nagata defeated Katsuhiko Nakajima, Masa Kitamiya, Maybach Taniguchi and Quiet StormEight-man tag team match12:55

Lion's Gate Project 3

Lion's Gate Project 3
PromotionNew Japan Pro-Wrestling
Brand(s)Lion's Gate
DateSeptember 1, 2016[16]
CityTokyo, Japan[16]
VenueShinjuku Face[16]
Attendance467[16]
Event chronology
← Previous
Super J-Cup 		Next →
Destruction in Tokyo
Lion's Gate Project chronology
← Previous
Lion's Gate Project 2 		Next →
Lion's Gate Project 4

The third Lion's Gate Project event was held on September 1, 2016, in Tokyo at Shinjuku Face.[16][17] The event featured nine matches, including one dark match, and again featured heavy participation from Pro Wrestling Noah. One of the matches saw the NJPW debut of the promotion's newest international trainee, Henare, who was defeated by Noah's Quiet Storm.[16] In addition to the NJPW and Noah wrestlers, the event featured Ayato Yoshida and Go Asakawa from Kaientai Dojo (K-Dojo).[16] The dark match featured another exhibition match between NJPW trainees Katsuya Kitamura and Tomoyuki Oka, this time worked under professional wrestling rules.[18]

No.Results[16][17]StipulationsTimes
1DKatsuya Kitamura vs. Tomoyuki Oka ended in a time limit drawSingles match05:00
2Quiet Storm defeated HenareSingles match06:02
3Hajime Ohara defeated Hirai KawatoSingles match08:08
4Kenoh defeated Teruaki KanemitsuSingles match06:38
5Tomoaki Honma defeated Shiro TomoyoseSingles match07:13
6David Finlay defeated Go AsakawaSingles match06:30
7Juice Robinson defeated Ayato YoshidaSingles match07:42
8Ryusuke Taguchi defeated Hitoshi KumanoSingles match08:41
9Hiroyoshi Tenzan, Katsuyori Shibata, Manabu Nakanishi, Satoshi Kojima and Yuji Nagata defeated Go Shiozaki, Kaito Kiyomiya, Katsuhiko Nakajima, Masa Kitamiya and Maybach TaniguchiTen-man tag team match17:46
D – this was a dark match

Lion's Gate Project 4

Lion's Gate Project 4
PromotionNew Japan Pro-Wrestling
DateApril 13, 2017[19]
CityTokyo, Japan[19]
VenueShinjuku Face[19]
Attendance467[19]
Event chronology
← Previous
Sakura Genesis 		Next →
Road to Wrestling Dontaku
Lion's Gate Project chronology
← Previous
Lion's Gate Project 3 		Next →
Lion's Gate Project 5

The fourth Lion's Gate Project event was held on April 13, 2017, in Tokyo at Shinjuku Face.[19][20] The event featured six matches, including the debut match of Shota Umino, son of NJPW referee Red Shoes Unno. Unno refereed the match, where his son was defeated by Taka Michinoku.[19][21] Following the dissolution of the partnership between NJPW and Pro Wrestling Noah at the end of 2016,[22] this was the first Lion's Gate Project show not to feature any wrestlers from Noah, instead Ayato Yoshida and Dinosaur Takuma from Kaientai Dojo (K-Dojo), Koji Iwamoto and Yuma Aoyagi from All Japan Pro Wrestling (AJPW) and Toru Sugiura from Pro Wrestling Freedoms took part in the event as outsiders.[19]

No.Results[19][20]StipulationsTimes
1Taka Michinoku defeated Shota UminoSingles match06:11
2El Desperado defeated Hirai KawatoSingles match09:21
3Gedo and Jado defeated Koji Iwamoto and Yuma AoyagiTag team match13:30
4Yoshi-Hashi defeated Toru SugiuraSingles match09:44
5Tencozy (Hiroyoshi Tenzan and Satoshi Kojima) defeated Ayato Yoshida and Dinosaur TakumaTag team match11:26
6Tomoyuki Oka and Yuji Nagata defeated Katsuya Kitamura and Manabu NakanishiTag team match14:18

Lion's Gate Project 5

Lion's Gate Project 5
PromotionNew Japan Pro-Wrestling
Brand(s)Lion's Gate
DateMay 9, 2017[23]
CityTokyo, Japan[23]
VenueShinjuku Face[23]
Attendance444[23]
Event chronology
← Previous
New Japan Road 		Next →
Best of the Super Jr. 24
Lion's Gate Project chronology
← Previous
Lion's Gate Project 4 		Next →
Lion's Gate Project 6

The fifth Lion's Gate Project event was held on May 9, 2017, in Tokyo at Shinjuku Face.[23][24] The event featured six matches, including the debut of Tetsuhiro Yagi in the opening match. Outsiders taking part in the event included Ayato Yoshida and Dinosaur Takuma from Kaientai Dojo, Daisuke Kanehira from Pro Wrestling Heat Up and Toru Sugiura from Pro Wrestling Freedoms.[23] In the main event of the show, the veteran duo of Manabu Nakanishi and Yuji Nagata were victorious over the rookie team of Katsuya Kitamura and Tomoyuki Oka in what marked Nagata's fifth straight main event win as part of Lion's Gate Project.[25]

No.Results[23][24]StipulationsTimes
1Hirai Kawato defeated Tetsuhiro YagiSingles match05:07
2El Desperado defeated Shota UminoSingles match09:12
3Hiroyoshi Tenzan and Tiger Mask defeated Dinosaur Takuma and Toru SugiuraTag team match12:40
4Yoshi-Hashi defeated Daisuke KanehiraSingles match12:23
5Satoshi Kojima defeated Ayato YoshidaSingles match10:35
6Manabu Nakanishi and Yuji Nagata defeated Katsuya Kitamura and Tomoyuki OkaTag team match13:38

Lion's Gate Project 6

Lion's Gate Project 6
PromotionNew Japan Pro-Wrestling
Brand(s)Lion's Gate
DateJune 15, 2017[26]
CityTokyo, Japan[26]
VenueShinjuku Face[26]
Attendance467[26]
Event chronology
← Previous
Dominion 6.11 in Osaka-jo Hall 		Next →
Kizuna Road
Lion's Gate Project chronology
← Previous
Lion's Gate Project 5 		Next →
Lion's Gate Project 7

The sixth Lion's Gate Project event was held on June 15, 2017, in Tokyo at Shinjuku Face.[26][27] The event featured six matches and outside participation from Ayato Yoshida and Dinosaur Takuma from Kaientai Dojo (K-Dojo), Takuya Nomura from Big Japan Pro Wrestling (BJW) and Yuma Aoyagi from All Japan Pro Wrestling (AJPW).[27]

No.Results[26][27]StipulationsTimes
1El Desperado defeated Tetsuhiro YagiSingles match07:46
2Gedo and Jado defeated Hirai Kawato and Shota UminoTag team match10:45
3Hiroyoshi Tenzan and Tiger Mask defeated Dinosaur Takuma and Takuya NomuraTag team match11:15
4Manabu Nakanishi defeated Katsuya KitamuraSingles match06:54
5Yoshi-Hashi defeated Yuma AoyagiSingles match11:33
6Ayato Yoshida and Satoshi Kojima defeated Tomoyuki Oka and Yuji NagataTag team match17:32

Lion's Gate Project 7

Lion's Gate Project 7
PromotionNew Japan Pro-Wrestling
Brand(s)Lion's Gate
DateJuly 4, 2017[28]
CityTokyo, Japan[28]
VenueShinjuku Face[28]
Attendance444[28]
Event chronology
← Previous
G1 Special in USA 		Next →
G1 Climax 27
Lion's Gate Project chronology
← Previous
Lion's Gate Project 6 		Next →
Lion's Gate Project 8

The seventh Lion's Gate Project event was held on July 4, 2017, in Tokyo at Shinjuku Face.[28][29] The event featured seven matches, including the debut of Ren Narita in the opening match.[29] Outsiders taking part in the event included Dinosaur Takuma and Go Asakawa from Kaientai Dojo (K-Dojo), Koji Iwamoto from All Japan Pro Wrestling (AJPW) and freelancer Dick Togo, who made his first NJPW appearance since 2011.[28] Following the main event of the show, Yuji Nagata, seeing the recent influx of new talent into NJPW, proposed bringing back the Young Lion Cup for the first time in 12 years.[30][31]

No.Results[28][29]StipulationsTimes
1Ren Narita vs. Shota Umino ended in a time limit drawSingles match10:00
2Taka Michinoku defeated Tetsuhiro YagiSingles match10:45
3Hiroyoshi Tenzan and Dinosaur Takuma defeated Katsuya Kitamura and Manabu NakanishiTag team match09:25
4Dick Togo defeated Hirai KawatoSingles match09:27
5Hiroyoshi Tenzan defeated Tomoyuki OkaSingles match07:27
6Yoshi-Hashi defeated Koji IwamotoSingles match12:46
7Yuji Nagata defeated Go AsakawaSingles match12:21

Lion's Gate Project 8

Lion's Gate Project 8
PromotionNew Japan Pro-Wrestling
Brand(s)Lion's Gate
DateOctober 12, 2017[32]
CityTokyo, Japan[32]
VenueShinjuku Face[32]
Attendance462[32]
Event chronology
← Previous
King of Pro-Wrestling 		Next →
Global Wars
Lion's Gate Project chronology
← Previous
Lion's Gate Project 7 		Next →
Lion's Gate Project 9

The eighth Lion's Gate Project event was held on October 12, 2017, in Tokyo at Shinjuku Face.[32] The event featured six matches, including the first three matches of the 2017 Young Lion Cup. NJPW announced on September 26 that it was bringing back the tournament for the first time in 12 years and dedicating it to the memory of Kotetsu Yamamoto, the former head of the NJPW dojo. The round-robin tournament would feature six NJPW rookies who debuted in 2016 and 2017.[33][34] Non-tournament matches featured outside participation from Daisuke Kanehira from Pro Wrestling Heat Up, Go Asakawa and Kotaro Yoshino from Kaientai Dojo (K-Dojo) and Yuma Aoyagi from All Japan Pro Wrestling (AJPW).[32]

No.Results[32]StipulationsTimes
1Hirai Kawato defeated Ren NaritaSingles match in the 2017 Young Lion Cup07:14
2Katsuya Kitamura defeated Tetsuhiro YagiSingles match in the 2017 Young Lion Cup08:32
3Tomoyuki Oka defeated Shota UminoSingles match in the 2017 Young Lion Cup10:50
4Manabu Nakanishi defeated Kotaro YoshinoSingles match07:32
5Tencozy (Hiroyoshi Tenzan and Satoshi Kojima) defeated Go Asakawa and Yuma AoyagiTag team match12:33
6Yuji Nagata defeated Daisuke KanehiraSingles match12:12

Lion's Gate Project 9

Lion's Gate Project 9
PromotionNew Japan Pro-Wrestling
Brand(s)Lion's Gate
DateNovember 16, 2017[35]
CityTokyo, Japan[35]
VenueShinjuku Face[35]
Attendance467[35]
Event chronology
← Previous
Power Struggle 		Next →
World Tag League
Lion's Gate Project chronology
← Previous
Lion's Gate Project 8 		Next →
Lion's Gate Project 10

The ninth Lion's Gate Project event was held on November 16, 2017, in Tokyo at Shinjuku Face.[35] The event featured six matches, including the continuation of the 2017 Young Lion Cup. Non-tournament matches featured outside participation from Daisuke Kanehira from Pro Wrestling Heat Up, Go Asakawa and the tag team Dino Stones (Dinosaur Takuma and Kotaro Yoshino) from Kaientai Dojo (K-Dojo) and Yuma Aoyagi from All Japan Pro Wrestling (AJPW).[35]

No.Results[35]StipulationsTimes
1Tomoyuki Oka defeated Ren NaritaSingles match in the 2017 Young Lion Cup13:22
2Katsuya Kitamura defeated Shota UminoSingles match in the 2017 Young Lion Cup10:04
3Hirai Kawato defeated Tetsuhiro YagiSingles match in the 2017 Young Lion Cup06:43
4Hiroyoshi Tenzan and Manabu Nakanishi defeated Dino Stones (Dinosaur Takuma and Kotaro Yoshino)Tag team match11:55
5Ryusuke Taguchi defeated Go AsakawaSingles match10:31
6Satoshi Kojima and Yuji Nagata defeated Daisuke Kanehira and Yuma AoyagiTag team match15:14

Lion's Gate Project 10

Lion's Gate Project 10
PromotionNew Japan Pro-Wrestling
Brand(s)Lion's Gate
DateDecember 21, 2017[36]
CityTokyo, Japan[36]
VenueShinjuku Face[36]
Attendance467[36]
Event chronology
← Previous
Road to Tokyo Dome 		Next →
Dai Puroresu Matsuri
Lion's Gate Project chronology
← Previous
Lion's Gate Project 9 		Next →
Lion's Gate Project 11

The tenth Lion's Gate Project event was held on December 21, 2017, in Tokyo at Shinjuku Face. The event featured six matches, including the conclusion of the 2017 Young Lion Cup with its three final matches. Katsuya Kitamura won the tournament with a clean record of five wins and zero losses.[37][38] Non-tournament matches featured outside participation from Daisuke Kanehira from Pro Wrestling Heat Up, Dinosaur Takuma and Kotaro Yoshino from Kaientai Dojo (K-Dojo) and Yuma Aoyagi from All Japan Pro Wrestling (AJPW).[36]

No.Results[36]StipulationsTimes
1Ren Narita vs. Tetsuhiro Yagi ended in a drawSingles match in the 2017 Young Lion Cup15:00
2Hirai Kawato defeated Shota UminoSingles match in the 2017 Young Lion Cup08:27
3Katsuya Kitamura defeated Tomoyuki OkaSingles match in the 2017 Young Lion Cup11:20
4Kotaro Yoshino and Manabu Nakanishi defeated Dinosaur Takuma and Hiroyoshi TenzanTag team match12:42
5Satoshi Kojima defeated Daisuke KanehiraSingles match11:01
6Yuji Nagata defeated Yuma AoyagiSingles match12:10

Lion's Gate Project 11

Lion's Gate Project 11
PromotionNew Japan Pro-Wrestling
Brand(s)Lion's Gate
DateApril 10, 2018[39]
CityTokyo, Japan[39]
VenueShinjuku Face[39]
Attendance467[39]
Event chronology
← Previous
Sakura Genesis 		Next →
Road to Wrestling Dontaku
Lion's Gate Project chronology
← Previous
Lion's Gate Project 10 		Next →
Lion's Gate Project 12

The eleventh Lion's Gate Project event was held on April 10, 2018, in Tokyo at Shinjuku Face. The event featured five matches. Two new rookies wrestled their debut match: Yuya Uemura and Yota Tsuji. Some matches featured outside participation: Manjimaru and Ken45°, from Michinoku Pro Wrestling, made their New Japan Pro-Wrestling debut and Ayato Yoshida and Go Asakawa made their return, from Kaientai Dojo (K-Dojo).[39]

No.Results[39]StipulationsTimes
1Ren Narita defeated Yuya UemuraSingles match08:16
2Tomoyuki Oka defeated Yota TsujiSingles match07:17
3Hiro Saito and Gedo defeated Tiger Mask and Tetsuhiro YagiTag team match14:59
4Hiroyoshi Tenzan and Manabu Nakanishi defeated Manjimaru and Ken45°Tag team match13:35
5Ayato Yoshida and Go Asakawa defeated Yuji Nagata and Shota UminoTag team match12:03

Lion's Gate Project 12

Lion's Gate Project 12
PromotionNew Japan Pro-Wrestling
Brand(s)Lion's Gate
DateMay 15, 2018[40]
CityTokyo, Japan[40]
VenueShinjuku Face[40]
Attendance419[40]
Event chronology
← Previous
New Japan Road 		Next →
Best of the Super Jr. 25
Lion's Gate Project chronology
← Previous
Lion's Gate Project 11 		Next →
Lion's Gate Project 13

The twelfth Lion's Gate Project event was held on May 15, 2018, in Tokyo at Shinjuku Face. Some matches featured outside participation: Daisuke Sekimoto from Big Japan Pro Wrestling and Ayato Yoshida from Kaientai Dojo (K-Dojo).[40] The main event was a previously postponed one-on-one match between Yoshida and Yuji Nagata.

No.Results[40]StipulationsTimes
1Yota Tsuji vs. Yuya Uemura ended in a drawSingles match10:00
2Manabu Nakanishi defeated Tomoyuki OkaSingles match09:04
3Hiroyoshi Tenzan and Hiro Saito defeated Ren Narita and Ryusuke TaguchiTag team match12:13
4Daisuke Sekimoto defeated Shota UminoSingles match14:38
5Yuji Nagata defeated Ayato YoshidaSingles match12:47

Lion's Gate Project 13

Lion's Gate Project 13
PromotionNew Japan Pro-Wrestling
Brand(s)Lion's Gate
DateJune 13, 2018[41]
CityTokyo, Japan[41]
VenueShinjuku Face[41]
Attendance364
Event chronology
← Previous
Dominion 6.9 in Osaka-jo Hall 		Next →
Kizuna Road
Lion's Gate Project chronology
← Previous
Lion's Gate Project 12 		Next →
—

The thirteenth Lion's Gate Project event was held on June 13, 2018, in Tokyo at Shinjuku Face. Some matches featured outside participation: Shunsuke Sayama, from Asuka Project, who made his New Japan Pro-Wrestling debut, and Dinosaur Takuma and Ayato Yoshida from Kaientai Dojo (K-Dojo).[41]

No.Results[41]StipulationsTimes
1Yota Tsuji vs. Yuya Uemura ended in a time limit drawSingles match10:00
2Ren Narita defeated Shunsuke SayamaSingles match08:02
3Manabu Nakanishi and Toa Henare defeated Hiroyoshi Tenzan and Dinosaur TakumaTag team match10:33
4Yuji Nagata defeated Tomoyuki OkaSingles match12:38
5Ayato Yoshida defeated Shota UminoSingles match16:47

See also

References

  1. ^ 『Lion's Gate Project1』2月25日（木）新宿Face大会のチケット情報が確定！. New Japan Pro-Wrestling (in Japanese). January 15, 2016. Retrieved September 27, 2017.
  2. ^ a b 【WK10】“期待の新星”岡倫之＆北村克哉が新日本プロレス入団！ 新プロジェクト『Lion's Gate』第1回大会は2月25日（木）新宿Faceに決定！【入団会見】. New Japan Pro-Wrestling (in Japanese). January 3, 2016. Retrieved September 27, 2017.
  3. ^ 木谷オーナーが「ファーム設立プラン」「21世紀のIWGP構想」、そして「新日本プロレスは株式上場を目指す」と宣言! 【7.18戦略発表会】. New Japan Pro-Wrestling (in Japanese). July 18, 2015. Archived from the original on July 20, 2015. Retrieved September 27, 2017.
  4. ^ 新日本プロレス３～５年後上場目指す. Daily Sports Online (in Japanese). Kobe Shimbun. July 18, 2015. Retrieved September 27, 2017.
  5. ^ Caldwell, James (July 18, 2015). "NJPW news: New Japan announces big int'l expansion plans, including expanded N. America partnerships & NXT-like program". Pro Wrestling Torch. Retrieved September 27, 2017.
  6. ^ a b Meltzer, Dave (January 11, 2016). "January 11, 2016 Wrestling Observer Newsletter: Cena out with shoulder injury, New Japan stars to WWE". Wrestling Observer Newsletter. Campbell, California. pp. 60–61. ISSN 1083-9593.
  7. ^ Ｖ２柴田がＮＥＶＥＲ王座の改名を予告. Tokyo Sports (in Japanese). March 20, 2016. Retrieved September 27, 2017.
  8. ^ Macklin, Matthew (January 3, 2016). "New Japan Pro Wrestling 'Festival' report". Pro Wrestling Insider. Retrieved September 27, 2017.
  9. ^ a b c d e f g h "Lion's Gate Project 1". New Japan Pro-Wrestling (in Japanese). Retrieved September 27, 2017.
  10. ^ a b Rose, Bryan (February 25, 2016). "Lion's Gate Project 1 results: Nagata vs. Kitamiya; NJPW and Noah rookies shine". Wrestling Observer Newsletter. Retrieved September 27, 2017.
  11. ^ 新日・岡倫之＆北村克哉がエキシビションマッチで対戦. Tokyo Sports (in Japanese). February 26, 2016. Retrieved September 27, 2017.
  12. ^ 永田がＮＪＣ5年ぶり優勝へ燃えるワケ. Tokyo Sports (in Japanese). February 26, 2016. Retrieved September 27, 2017.
  13. ^ a b c d e f g "Lion's Gate Project2". New Japan Pro-Wrestling (in Japanese). Retrieved September 27, 2017.
  14. ^ a b Rose, Bryan (May 19, 2016). "Lion's Gate Project 2 results: Noah vs. New Japan eight man tag". Wrestling Observer Newsletter. Retrieved September 27, 2017.
  15. ^ a b c "5/19 New Japan vs. Noah "Lion's Gate Project 2" Results – Team Nagata vs. Team Noah main event, Marufuji makes big endorsement, BOSJ pinch-hitter loses". Pro Wrestling Torch. May 19, 2016. Retrieved September 27, 2017.
  16. ^ a b c d e f g h "Lion's Gate Project3". New Japan Pro-Wrestling (in Japanese). Retrieved September 27, 2017.
  17. ^ a b Rose, Bryan (September 1, 2016). "Lion's Gate Project 3 results: Noah and New Japan battle in 10-man tag madness". Wrestling Observer Newsletter. Retrieved September 27, 2017.
  18. ^ "Lion's Gate Project3". New Japan Pro-Wrestling (in Japanese). Retrieved September 27, 2017.
  19. ^ a b c d e f g h "Lion's Gate Project4". New Japan Pro-Wrestling (in Japanese). Retrieved September 27, 2017.
  20. ^ a b Rose, Bryan (April 13, 2017). "NJPW Lion's Gate Project results: The fourth installment". Wrestling Observer Newsletter. Retrieved September 27, 2017.
  21. ^ 【新日本】海野レフェリーの次男・翔太がデビュー. Tokyo Sports (in Japanese). April 14, 2017. Retrieved September 27, 2017.
  22. ^ Johnson, Mike (January 5, 2017). "1/5 NJPW New Year's Dash results and notes". Pro Wrestling Insider. Retrieved September 27, 2017.
  23. ^ a b c d e f g "Lion's Gate Project5". New Japan Pro-Wrestling (in Japanese). Retrieved September 27, 2017.
  24. ^ a b Rose, Bryan (May 9, 2017). "NJPW Lion's Gate Project 5 results: Tag match main event". Wrestling Observer Newsletter. Retrieved September 27, 2017.
  25. ^ 【新日本】容赦なく出る杭を打ち続ける　永田は若手の高い壁. Tokyo Sports (in Japanese). May 10, 2017. Retrieved September 27, 2017.
  26. ^ a b c d e f "Lion's Gate Project6". New Japan Pro-Wrestling (in Japanese). Retrieved September 27, 2017.
  27. ^ a b c Rose, Bryan (June 15, 2017). "NJPW Lion's Gate Project 6 results: A look at the young lions". Wrestling Observer Newsletter. Retrieved September 27, 2017.
  28. ^ a b c d e f g "Lion's Gate Project7". New Japan Pro-Wrestling (in Japanese). Retrieved September 27, 2017.
  29. ^ a b c Rose, Bryan (July 4, 2017). "NJPW Lion's Gate Project results: The seventh installment". Wrestling Observer Newsletter. Retrieved September 27, 2017.
  30. ^ "Lion's Gate Project7". New Japan Pro-Wrestling (in Japanese). Retrieved September 27, 2017.
  31. ^ 【新日本】永田が全日初参戦の愛弟子・岡に過酷指令. Tokyo Sports (in Japanese). July 5, 2017. Retrieved September 27, 2017.
  32. ^ a b c d e f g "Lion's Gate Project8". New Japan Pro-Wrestling (in Japanese). Retrieved October 12, 2017.
  33. ^ 約12年ぶり復活！ 『山本小鉄メモリアル 第11回ヤングライオン杯争奪リーグ戦』が開催決定！ 10月12日（木）新宿大会から公式戦スタート!!. New Japan Pro-Wrestling (in Japanese). September 26, 2017. Retrieved September 27, 2017.
  34. ^ Rose, Bryan (September 26, 2017). "NJPW bringing back Young Lion's Cup". Wrestling Observer Newsletter. Retrieved September 27, 2017.
  35. ^ a b c d e f g "Lion's Gate Project9". New Japan Pro-Wrestling (in Japanese). Retrieved November 16, 2017.
  36. ^ a b c d e f "Lion's Gate Project10". New Japan Pro-Wrestling (in Japanese). Retrieved December 21, 2017.
  37. ^ 【新日本】“マッスルモンスター”北村が「ヤングライオン杯」全勝Ｖ. Tokyo Sports (in Japanese). December 22, 2017. Retrieved December 22, 2017.
  38. ^ 新日本“筋肉モンスター”北村がＹＬ杯全勝Ｖ！海外武者修行を熱望. Daily Sports Online (in Japanese). Kobe Shimbun. December 22, 2017. Retrieved December 22, 2017.
  39. ^ a b c d e f "Lion's Gate Project11". New Japan Pro-Wrestling (in Japanese). Retrieved April 11, 2018.
  40. ^ a b c d e f "Lion's Gate Project12". New Japan Pro-Wrestling (in Japanese). Retrieved May 16, 2018.
  41. ^ a b c d e "Lion's Gate Project13". New Japan Pro-Wrestling (in Japanese). Retrieved June 13, 2018.

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