View source for Young Lion Cup

{{Short description|Professional wrestling tournament}}
{{redirect|Young Lions Cup|the championship competed for in Chikara|Chikara Young Lions Cup}}
__NOTOC__
The {{nihongo|'''Young Lion Cup'''|ヤングライオン杯|Yangu Raionhai}} is an infrequent [[professional wrestling]] [[Professional wrestling tournament|tournament]] promoted by [[New Japan Pro-Wrestling]] (NJPW) as a means of showcasing the younger talent on their roster. The tournament is the successor to the [[Karl Gotch Cup]] that NJPW promoted in the 1970s. NJPW has held the tournament eleven times since 1985.<ref name=11thCup/> After the [[#2005|2005]] tournament, NJPW did not hold another Young Lion Cup for 12 years, until reviving the tournament in [[#2017|2017]] and again in [[#2019|2019]].

The Young Lion Cup is a [[round-robin tournament]] in the same style as NJPW's annual [[G1 Climax]] tournament. Wrestlers traditionally earn two points for a victory, one point for any sort of draw and zero points for a loss. In some years, the two wrestlers with the most points at the end of the round-robin tournament would then face off in a singles match for the Young Lion Cup trophy, while in other years, the wrestler with the most points would be declared the winner.<ref name=Cup2000/> The winners of the Young Lion Cup would also be rewarded with a learning excursion overseas.<ref>{{cite web | url = https://www.tokyo-sports.co.jp/prores/mens_prores/795268/ | script-title=ja:【新日本】岡倫之 ＹＬ杯優勝ありきの野望 | date=October 13, 2017 | access-date=October 13, 2017 | work=[[Tokyo Sports]] | language=ja}}</ref>

In 2020, another tournament featuring young lions, [[Lion's Break Crown]], was organized by NJPW, this time as a [[single-elimination tournament]].

==Winners==
{| class="wikitable sortable"
!Tournament
!Year
!Winner
!Total won
!Reference
|-
|{{sort|01|Young Lion Cup}} || [[#1985|1985]] || [[Shunji Kosugi]] || 1 || <ref name=YLCBook/>
|-
|{{sort|02|Young Lion Cup}} || [[#1986|1986]] || [[Keiichi Yamada]] || 1 || <ref name=YLCBook/>
|-
|{{sort|03|Young Lion Cup}} || [[#1987|1987]] || [[Masahiro Chono]] || 1 || <ref name=YLCBook/>
|-
|{{sort|04|Young Lion Cup}} || [[#1989|1989]] || [[Naoki Sano]] || 1 || <ref name=YLCBook/>
|-
|{{sort|05|Young Lion Cup}} || [[#1993|1993]] || [[Hiroyoshi Yamamoto]] || 1 || <ref name=YLCBook/>
|-
|{{sort|06|Young Lion Cup}} || [[#1994|1994]] || [[Satoshi Kojima]] || 1 || <ref name=YLCBook/>
|-
|{{sort|07|Young Lion Cup}} || [[#1995|1995]] || [[Manabu Nakanishi]] || 1 || <ref name=YLCBook/>
|-
|{{sort|08|Young Lion Cup}} || [[#1996|1996]] || [[Tokimitsu Ishizawa]] || 1 || <ref name=YLCBook/>
|-
|{{sort|09|Young Lion Cup}} || [[#2000|2000]] || [[Kenzo Suzuki]] || 1 || <ref name=Cup2000Winner/>
|-
|{{sort|11|Young Lion Cup}} || [[#2004|2004]] || [[Ryusuke Taguchi]] || 1 || &nbsp;
|-
|{{sort|12|Young Lion Cup}} || [[#2005|2005]] || [[Hirooki Goto]] || 1 || <ref name=Cup2005Winner/>
|-
|{{sort|13|Young Lion Cup}} || [[#2017|2017]] || [[Katsuya Kitamura]] || 1 || <ref name=NJPW122117/>
|-
|{{sort|14|Young Lion Cup}} || [[#2019|2019]] || [[Karl Fredericks]]|| 1 ||
|}

==1985==
{| class="wikitable" style="margin: 1em auto 1em auto"
|+Final standings
|-
| [[Shunji Kosugi]] || Winner
|-
| [[Keiichi Yamada]] || Runner up
|-
| [[Tatsutoshi Goto]] || Unknown
|-
| [[Hirokazu Hata]] || Unknown
|-
| [[Masahiro Chono]] || Unknown
|-
| [[Masakatsu Funaki|Masaharu Funaki]] || Unknown
|-
| [[Keiji Muto]] || Unknown
|-
| [[Naoki Sano]] || Unknown
|}
{{2TeamBracket|compact=y|seeds=n
| align = center
| RD1=Final
| RD1-team1=[[Keiichi Yamada]]
| RD1-score1=Pin
| RD1-team2='''[[Shunji Kosugi]]'''
| RD1-score2=21:00<ref name=YLCBook>{{cite book | author=Royal Duncan & Gary Will | title=Wrestling Title Histories | publisher=Archeus Communications | chapter = Japan: New Japan Young Lion Cup Champion | page = 376 | year= 2000 | isbn=0-9698161-5-4}}</ref><ref name=Cup1985>{{cite web | url=http://www.puroresufan.com/njpw/results7080s.html | title= NJPW "Super Powers Clash", 4/24/89 (WPW) | access-date= June 2, 2010 | publisher= Strong Style Spirit}}</ref>
}}

==1986==
{| class="wikitable" style="margin: 1em auto 1em auto"
|+Final standings
|-
| [[Keiichi Yamada]] || Winner
|-
| [[Tatsutoshi Goto]] || Runner up
|-
| [[Akira Nogami]] || Unknown
|-
| [[Hirokazu Hata]] || Unknown
|-
| [[Masahiro Chono]] || Unknown
|-
| [[Masakatsu Funaki|Masaharu Funaki]] || Unknown
|-
| [[Shinya Hashimoto]] || Unknown
|-
| [[Naoki Sano]] || Unknown
|}
{{2TeamBracket|compact=y|seeds=n
| align = center
| RD1=Final
| RD1-team1='''[[Keiichi Yamada]]'''
| RD1-score1=Pin
| RD1-team2=[[Tatsutoshi Goto]]
| RD1-score2=12:49<ref name=YLCBook>{{cite book | author=Royal Duncan & Gary Will | title=Wrestling Title Histories | publisher=Archeus Communications | chapter = Japan: New Japan Young Lion Cup Champion | page = 376 | year= 2000 | isbn=0-9698161-5-4}}</ref>
}}

==1987==
{| class="wikitable" style="margin: 1em auto 1em auto"
|+Final standings
|-
| [[Masahiro Chono]] || 38
|-
| [[Shinya Hashimoto]] || 37
|-
| [[Yuji Funaki]] || 30
|-
| [[Akira Nogami]] || 25
|-
| [[Yoji Anjo]] || 20
|-
| [[Tatsuo Nakano]] || 20
|-
| [[Hisakatsu Oya|Kenichi Oya]]  || 5
|-
| [[Osamu Matsuda]] || 5
|-
| [[Akira Katayama]] || 5
|}
{| class="wikitable" style="margin: 1em auto 1em auto"
|-align="center"
!Young Lion Cup !! [[Masahiro Chono|Chono]] !! [[Shinya Hashimoto|Hashimoto]] !! [[Yuji Funaki|Funaki]] !! [[Akira Nogami|Nogami]] !! [[Yoji Anjo|Anjo]] !! [[Tatsuo Nakano|Nakano]] !! [[Kenichi Oya|Oya]] !! [[Osamu Matsuda|Matsuda]] !! [[Akira Katayama|Katayama]]
|-align="center"
! [[Masahiro Chono|Chono]]
|bgcolor=grey| X || Draw (20:00) || Funaki (11:49) || Chono (11:02) || Chono (9:35) ||Chono (9:08)
| Chono (9:41) || Chono (8:24) || Chono (9:41)
|-align="center"
! [[Shinya Hashimoto|Hashimoto]]
| Draw (20:00) || bgcolor="grey" | X || Hashimoto (11:36) || Hashimoto (8:52) || Hashimoto (7:48) || Hashimoto (8:52) || Hashimoto (8:19) || Hashimoto (8:23) || Hashimoto (11:33)
|-align="center"
! [[Yuji Funaki|Funaki]]
| Funaki (11:49) || Hashimoto (11:36) || bgcolor="grey" | X || Nogami (10:32) || Funaki (15:04) || Funaki (5:51) || Funaki (9:26) || Funaki (10:27) || Funaki (9:13)
|-align="center"
! [[Akira Nogami|Nogami]]
| Chono (11:02) || Hashimoto (8:52) || Nogami (10:32) || bgcolor="grey" | X || Anjo (??:??) || Nogami (9:42) || Nogami (8:57) || Nogami (11:17) || Nogami (7:44)
|-align="center"
! [[Yoji Anjo|Anjo]]
| Chono (9:35) || Hashimoto (7:48) || Funaki (15:04) || Anjo (??:??) || bgcolor="grey" | X || Nakano (10:24) || Anjo (11:38) || Anjo (11:05) || Anjo (7:54)
|-align="center"
! [[Tatsuo Nakano|Nakano]]
|Chono (9:08)
| Hashimoto (8:52) || Funaki (5:51) || Nogami (9:42) || Nakano (10:24) || bgcolor="grey" | X || Nakano (8:22) || Nakano (7:23) || Nakano (6:37)
|-align="center"
! [[Kenichi Oya|Oya]]
| Chono (9:41) || Hashimoto (8:19) || Funaki (9:26) || Nogami (8:57) || Anjo (11:38) || Nakano (8:22) || bgcolor="grey" | X || Matsuda (9:26) || Oya (11:35)
|-align="center"
! [[Osamu Matsuda|Matsuda]]
| Chono (8:24) || Hashimoto (8:23) || Funaki (10:27) || Nogami (11:17) || Anjo (11:05) || Nakano (7:23) || Matsuda (9:26) || bgcolor="grey" | X || Katayama (11:16)
|-align="center"
! [[Akira Katayama|Katayama]]
| Chono (9:41) || Hashimoto (11:33) || Funaki (9:13) || Nogami (7:44) || Anjo (7:54) || Nakano (6:37) || Oya (11:35) || Katayama (11:16) || bgcolor="grey" | X
|-align="center"
|}
{{2TeamBracket|compact=y|seeds=n
| align = center
| RD1=Final
| RD1-team1='''[[Masahiro Chono]]'''
| RD1-score1=Pin
| RD1-team2=[[Shinya Hashimoto]]
| RD1-score2=14:11<ref name=YLCBook/>
}}

==1989== 
{| class="wikitable" style="margin: 1em auto 1em auto"
|+Final standings
|-
| [[Naoki Sano]] || Winner
|-
| [[Hiro Saito]] || Runner up
|-
| [[Norio Honaga]] || Unknown
|-
| [[Hirokazu Hata]] || Unknown
|-
| [[Tatsutoshi Goto]] || Unknown
|-
| [[Takayuki Iizuka]] || Unknown
|-
| [[Kuniaki Kobayashi]] || Unknown
|-
| [[Osamu Kido]] || Unknown
|}
{{2TeamBracket|compact=y|seeds=n
| align = center
| RD1=Final
| RD1-team1='''[[Naoki Sano]]'''
| RD1-score1=Pin
| RD1-team2=[[Hiro Saito]]
| RD1-score2=10:43<ref name=YLCBook>{{cite book | author=Royal Duncan & Gary Will | title=Wrestling Title Histories | publisher=Archeus Communications | chapter = Japan: New Japan Young Lion Cup Champion | page = 376 | year= 2000 | isbn=0-9698161-5-4}}</ref>
}}

==1993==
{| class="wikitable" style="margin: 1em auto 1em auto"
|+Final standings
|-
! [[Osamu Nishimura]] !! 7
|-
! [[Hiroyoshi Tenzan|Hiroyoshi Yamamoto]] !! 6
|-
! [[Manabu Nakanishi]] !! 5
|-
! [[Satoshi Kojima]] !! 4
|-
! [[Yuji Nagata]] !! 3
|-
! [[Shinjiro Otani]] !! 3
|-
! [[Kendo Kashin|Tokimitsu Ishizawa]] !! 2
|-
! [[Tatsuhito Takaiwa]] !! 0
|}
{| class="wikitable" style="margin: 1em auto 1em auto"
|- align="center"
!Results !! [[Kendo Kashin|Ishizawa]] !! [[Satoshi Kojima|Kojima]] !! [[Yuji Nagata|Nagata]] !! [[Manabu Nakanishi|Nakanishi]] !! [[Osamu Nishimura|Nishimura]] !! [[Shinjiro Otani|Otani]] !! [[Tatsuhito Takaiwa|Takaiwa]] !! [[Hiroyoshi Tenzan|Yamamoto]]
|- align="center"
! [[Kendo Kashin|Ishizawa]]
| bgcolor="grey" | X || Kojima<br />(8:44) || Ishizawa<br />(7:37) || Nakanishi<br />(7:31) || Nishimura<br />(9:03) || Otani<br />(9:57) || Ishizawa<br />(5:57) || Yamamoto<br />(11:35)
|- align="center"
! [[Satoshi Kojima|Kojima]]
| Kojima<br />(8:44) || bgcolor="grey" | X || Nagata<br />(9:05) || Nakanishi<br />(9:44) || Nishimura<br />(9:59) || Kojima<br />(11:13) || Kojima<br />(8:37) || Kojima<br />(11:00)
|- align="center"
! [[Yuji Nagata|Nagata]]
| Ishizawa<br />(7:37) || Nagata<br />(9:05) || bgcolor="grey" | X || Nakanishi<br />(10:59) || Nishimura<br />(11:19) || Nagata<br />(10:33) || Nagata<br />(9:55) || Yamamoto<br />(10:59)
|- align="center"
! [[Manabu Nakanishi|Nakanishi]]
| Nakanishi<br />(7:31) || Nakanishi<br />(9:44) || Nakanishi<br />(10:59) || bgcolor="grey" | X || Nishimura<br />(8:47) || Nakanishi<br />(8:35) || Nakanishi<br />(9:00) || Yamamoto<br />(13:02)
|- align="center"
! [[Osamu Nishimura|Nishimura]]
| Nishimura<br />(9:03) || Nishimura<br />(9:59) || Nishimura<br />(11:19) || Nishimura<br />(8:47) || bgcolor="grey" | X || Otani<br />(9:30) || Nishimura<br />(5:52) || Yamamoto<br />(13:12)
|- align="center"
! [[Shinjiro Otani|Otani]]
| Otani<br />(9:57) || Kojima<br />(11:13) || Nagata<br />(10:33) || Nakanishi<br />(8:35) || Otani<br />(9:30) || bgcolor="grey" | X || Otani<br />(9:13) || Yamamoto<br />(10:27)
|- align="center"
! [[Tatsuhito Takaiwa|Takaiwa]]
| Ishizawa<br />(5:57) || Kojima<br />(8:37) || Nagata<br />(9:55) || Nakanishi<br />(9:00) || Nishimura<br />(5:52) || Otani<br />(9:13) || bgcolor="grey" | X || Yamamoto<br />(11:03)
|- align="center"
! [[Hiroyoshi Tenzan|Yamamoto]]
| Yamamoto<br />(11:35) || Kojima<br />(11:00) || Yamamoto<br />(10:59) || Yamamoto<br />(13:02) || Yamamoto<br />(13:12) ||Yamamoto<br />(10:27) || Yamamoto<br />(11:03) || bgcolor="grey" | X
|}

{{2TeamBracket
| align = center
| RD1=Final
| RD1-seed1=1
| RD1-team1=[[Osamu Nishimura]]
| RD1-score1=Pin
| RD1-seed2=2
| RD1-team2='''[[Hiroyoshi Tenzan|Hiroyoshi Yamamoto]]'''
| RD1-score2=12:23<ref name=YLCBook/>
}}

==1994==
The 1994 Young Lion Cup featured a league with at least four wrestlers, although more may have participated. The four confirmed participants were [[Satoshi Kojima]], [[Manabu Nakanishi]], [[Nobukazu Hirai]] from [[WAR (wrestling promotion)|WAR]], and [[Tatsuhito Takaiwa]]. The league scores remain unclear but Kojima and Nakanishi qualified for the finals where Kojima defeated Nakanishi by submission.<ref name=YLCBook/><ref name=Cup1994>{{cite web | url=http://www.puroresufan.com/njpw/results94.html | title= Partial results from 1994 | access-date= June 2, 2010 | publisher= Strong Style Spirit}}</ref>

{| class="wikitable" style="margin: 1em auto 1em auto"
|+Final standings
|-
| [[Satoshi Kojima]] || Winner
|-
| [[Manabu Nakanishi]] || Runner up
|-
| [[Nobukazu Hirai]] || Unknown
|-
| [[Tatsuhito Takaiwa]] || Unknown
|}

==1995==
The 1995 Young Lion Cup featured a league with at least six participants, although more may have participated. The confirmed participants were [[Manabu Nakanishi]], [[Yuji Nagata]], [[Yuki Ishikawa (wrestler)|Yuki Ishikawa]] from [[Pro Wrestling Fujiwara Gumi]], [[Tokimitsu Ishizawa]], [[Tatsuhito Takaiwa]], and [[Shinjiro Otani]]. The final league scores remain unclear but Nakanishi and Nagata both qualified for the final match, this was the second time Nakanishi had made it to the main event. In the finals Nakanishi defeated Nagata to claim the Young Lion Cup trophy.<ref name=YLCBook/><ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.puroresufan.com/njpw/results/muscle95.html | title= Muscle Storm 1995 (3/7/95 to 3/27/95) | access-date= June 2, 2010 | publisher= Strong Style Spirit}}</ref>

{| class="wikitable" style="margin: 1em auto 1em auto"
|+Final standings
|-
| [[Manabu Nakanishi]] || Winner
|-
| [[Yuji Nagata]] || Runner up
|-
| [[Yuki Ishikawa (wrestler)|Yuki Ishikawa]] || Unknown
|-
| [[Tokimitsu Ishizawa]] || Unknown
|-
| [[Tatsuhito Takaiwa]] || Unknown
|-
| [[Shinjiro Otani]] || Unknown
|}

==1996==
[[Tokimitsu Ishizawa]] defeated [[Yuji Nagata]] by pinfall (12:27)<ref name=YLCBook/><ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.puroresufan.com/njpw/results96.html | title= Partial results from 1995 | access-date= June 2, 2010 | publisher= Strong Style Spirit}}</ref>

==2000==
NJPW brought back the Young Lion Cup in 2000 with a round-robin tournament that took place between April 14 and May 5, 2000 during NJPW's "Strong Energy II 2000" tour. The tournament featured five rookies from NJPW, [[Shinya Makabe]], [[Kenzo Suzuki]], [[Wataru Inoue (wrestler)|Wataru Inoue]], [[Katsuyori Shibata]] and [[Hiroshi Tanahashi]] as well as [[Masakazu Fukuda]] from the G-EGGS promotion. The tournament was marred by a tragedy on the first night when Masakazu Fukuda was hurt by a flying elbow smash from Shibata. Following the blow he collapsed on the mat and was taken to the hospital. He died five days later from an internal [[brain hemorrhage]]. The rest of the tournament was dedicated to Fukuda's memory. Both Shinya Makabe and Kenzo Suzuki remained undefeated after the first four rounds, qualifying them for the final before they had even wrestled the final match of the league. On April 30, 2000 Makabe defeated Suzuki, making him the only undefeated wrestler in the tournament.<ref name=Cup2000>{{cite web | url=http://www.puroresufan.com/njpw/results/energy200.html | title= STRONG ENERGY II 2000 | date= April 14–30, 2010 | access-date= June 2, 2010 | publisher= Strong Style Spirit}}</ref> On May 5, 2000, during [[Wrestling Dontaku#2000|Wrestling Dontaku 2000]], Kenzo Suzuki defeated Makabe to win the 2000 Young Lion Cup.<ref name=Cup2000Winner>{{cite web | url=http://www.puroresufan.com/njpw/results00.html | title= NJPW "Wrestling Dontaku 2000 - Epilogue of Dragon 1st", 5/5/00 | date= May 5, 2000 | access-date= June 2, 2010 | publisher= Strong Style Spirit}}</ref>

{| class="wikitable" style="margin: 1em auto 1em auto"
|+Final standings
|-
| [[Shinya Makabe]] || 10
|-
| [[Kenzo Suzuki]] || 8
|-
| [[Katsuyori Shibata]] || 6
|-
| [[Hiroshi Tanahashi]] || 4
|-
| [[Wataru Inoue (wrestler)|Wataru Inoue]] || 2
|-
| [[Masakazu Fukuda]] || 0
|}
{| class="wikitable" style="margin: 1em auto 1em auto"
|-align="center"
!Young Lion Cup !! [[Masakazu Fukuda|Fukuda]] !! [[Wataru Inoue (wrestler)|Inoue]] !! [[Shinya Makabe|Makabe]] !! [[Katsuyori Shibata|Shibata]] !! [[Kenzo Suzuki|Suzuki]] !! [[Hiroshi Tanahashi|Tanahashi]]
|-align="center"
! [[Masakazu Fukuda|Fukuda]]
|bgcolor=grey| X || Inoue (Forfeit) || Makabe (Forfeit) || Shibata (Forfeit) || Suzuki (Forfeit) || Tanahashi (Forfeit)
|-align="center"
! [[Wataru Inoue (wrestler)|Inoue]]
| Inoue (Forfeit) ||bgcolor=grey| X || Makabe || Shibata || Suzuki || Tanahashi
|-align="center"
! [[Shinya Makabe|Makabe]]
| Makabe (Forfeit) || Makabe ||bgcolor=grey| X || Makabe || Makabe || Makabe
|-align="center"
! [[Katsuyori Shibata|Shibata]]
| Shibata (Forfeit) || Shibata || Makabe ||bgcolor=grey| X || Suzuki || Shibata
|-align="center"
! [[Kenzo Suzuki|Suzuki]]
| Suzuki (Forfeit) || Suzuki || Makabe || Suzuki ||bgcolor=grey| X || Suzuki
|-align="center"
! [[Hiroshi Tanahashi|Tanahashi]]
| Tanahashi (Forfeit) || Tanahashi || Makabe || Shibata || Suzuki ||bgcolor=grey| X
|}
{{2TeamBracket|compact=y|seeds=n
| align = center
| RD1=Final
| RD1-team1=[[Shinya Makabe]]
| RD1-score1=Pin
| RD1-team2='''[[Kenzo Suzuki]]'''
| RD1-score2=15:08<ref name=Cup2000Winner/>
}}

==2004==
[[Ryusuke Taguchi]] defeated [[Kazuya Yuasa]] by pinfall (11:20).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thewrestlingrevolution.com/tournament.php?id=143|title=NJPW Young Lion Cup History|work=thewrestlingrevolution.com|author=The Wrestling Revolution|access-date=April 29, 2021}}</ref>

==2005==
The 2005 Young Lion Cup was the tenth tournament held by NJPW and ran from to March 3 to March 23, 2005. The league matches took place during NJPW's "Big Fight Series 2005" tour and the final was on their NJPW "Nexess V" show. The tournament was scheduled to feature seven wrestlers but Tommy Williams was injured and had to withdraw from the competition without wrestling a single match, forfeiting all matches. The tournament also featured [[Naofumi Yamamoto]], [[Yujiro Takahashi|Yujiro]], [[Hiroshi Nagao]] and [[Akiya Anzawa]], in addition to the top two point scores [[Hirooki Goto]] (9 points) and Hiroyuki Ito (11 points). In the league Ito wrestled to a draw against Goto and won the other five matches, making him the only undefeated participant.<ref name=Cup2005>{{cite web | url=http://www.puroresufan.com/njpw/results/fightseries05.html | title= Big Fight Series 2005 (3/4/05 to 3/21/05) | access-date= June 2, 2010 | publisher= Strong Style Spirit}}</ref> On March 23, 2005, Hirooki Goto defeated Hiroyuki Ito to win the 2005 Young Lion Cup.<ref name=Cup2005Winner>{{cite web | url=http://www.puroresufan.com/njpw/results05.html | title= NJPW "Nexess V", 3/26/05 |date= March 23, 2005 | access-date= June 2, 2010 | publisher= Strong Style Spirit}}</ref>

{| class="wikitable" style="margin: 1em auto 1em auto"
|+Final standings
|-
| Hiroyuki Ito || 11
|-
| [[Hirooki Goto]] || 9
|-
| [[Akiya Anzawa]] || 8
|-
| [[Hiroshi Nagao]] || 6
|-
| [[Yujiro Takahashi|Yujiro]] || 4
|-
| [[Naofumi Yamamoto]] || 4
|-
| Tommy Williams (withdrew) || 0
|}
{| class="wikitable" style="margin: 1em auto 1em auto"
|-align="center"
!Young Lion Cup !! [[Akiya Anzawa|Anzawa]] !! [[Hirooki Goto|Goto]] !! Ito !! [[Hiroshi Nagao|Nagao]] !! Williams !! [[Naofumi Yamamoto|Yamamoto]] !! [[Yujiro Takahashi|Yujiro]]
|-align="center"
! [[Akiya Anzawa|Anzawa]]
|bgcolor=grey| X || Anzawa (08:51) || Ito (07:59) || Anzawa (07:42) || Anzawa (Forfeit) || Anzawa (07:16) || Yujiro (10:04)
|-align="center"
! [[Hirooki Goto|Goto]]
| Anzawa (08:51) ||bgcolor=grey| X || Draw (20:00) || Goto (06:03) || Goto (Forfeit) || Goto (05:53) || Goto (07:19)
|-align="center"
! Ito
| Ito (07:59) || Draw (20:00) ||bgcolor=grey| X || Ito (03:54) || Ito (Forfeit) || Ito (06:56) || Nagao (08:47)
|-align="center"
! [[Hiroshi Nagao|Nagao]]
| Anzawa (07:42) || Goto (06:03) || Ito (03:54) ||bgcolor=grey| X || Nagao (Forfeit) || Nagao (09:02) || Yamamoto (06:05)
|-align="center"
! Williams
| Anzawa (Forfeit) || Goto (Forfeit) || Ito (Forfeit) || Nagao (Forfeit) ||bgcolor=grey| X || Yamamoto (Forfeit) || Yujiro (Forfeit)
|-align="center"
! [[Naofumi Yamamoto|Yamamoto]]
| Anzawa (07:16) || Goto (05:53) || Yamamoto (06:05) || Nagao (09:02) || Yamamoto (Forfeit) ||bgcolor=grey| X || Yamamoto (06:05)
|-align="center"
! [[Yujiro Takahashi|Yujiro]]
| Yujiro (10:04) || Goto (07:19) || Ito (06:56) || Nagao (08:47) || Yujiro (Forfeit) || Yamamoto (06:05) ||bgcolor=grey| X
|}
{{2TeamBracket|compact=y|seeds=n
| align = center
| RD1=Final
| RD1-team1=[[Hiroyuki Ito (wrestler)|Hiroyuki Ito]]
| RD1-score1=Pin
| RD1-team2='''[[Hirooki Goto]]'''
| RD1-score2=9:55<ref name=Cup2005Winner/>
}}

==2017==
After his match at the [[Lion's Gate Project 7]] event on July 4, 2017, [[Yuji Nagata]] proposed bringing back the Young Lion Cup.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.njpw.co.jp/tornament/95968?showResult=1 | title = Lion's Gate Project 7 | access-date=September 26, 2017 | work=[[New Japan Pro-Wrestling]] | language=ja}}</ref> On September 26, NJPW officially announced the revival of the tournament after 12 years. The round-robin tournament started on October 12 at [[Lion's Gate Project 8]] and concluded on December 21 at [[Lion's Gate Project 10]],<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.njpw.co.jp/122604 | script-title=ja:【12月21日（木）『Lion's Gate』新宿大会の全カード決定！】メインは、永田vs青柳！ 『ヤングライオン杯』最終戦は川人vs海野！ 北村vs岡！ 八木vs成田が激突！ | date=November 17, 2017 | access-date=November 17, 2017 | work=[[New Japan Pro-Wrestling]] | language=ja}}</ref> and included six wrestlers who debuted in 2016 and 2017. The tournament was dedicated to the memory of [[Kotetsu Yamamoto]], who served as the head of the [[NJPW Dojo]].<ref name=11thCup>{{cite web | url = http://www.njpw.co.jp/115667 | script-title=ja: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!! | date=September 26, 2017 | access-date=September 26, 2017 | work=[[New Japan Pro-Wrestling]] | language=ja}}</ref>

{| class="wikitable" style="margin: 1em auto 1em auto"
|+Final standings
|-
| [[Katsuya Kitamura]] || 10
|-
| [[Hirai Kawato]] || 8
|-
| [[Tomoyuki Oka]] || 6
|-
| [[Shota Umino]] || 4
|-
| [[Ren Narita]] || 1
|-
| Tetsuhiro Yagi || 1
|}
{| class="wikitable" style="margin: 1em auto 1em auto"
|-align="center"
!Young Lion Cup !! [[Hirai Kawato|Kawato]] !! [[Katsuya Kitamura|Kitamura]] !! [[Ren Narita|Narita]] !! [[Tomoyuki Oka|Oka]] !! [[Shota Umino|Umino]] !! Yagi
|-align="center"
! [[Hirai Kawato|Kawato]]
|bgcolor=grey| X || Kitamura<br />(4:12)<ref name=NJPW121817>{{cite web | url = http://www.njpw.co.jp/tornament/116496?showResult=1 | title = JRA presents Road to Tokyo Dome | access-date=December 18, 2017 | work=[[New Japan Pro-Wrestling]] | language=ja}}</ref> || Kawato<br />(7:14)<ref name=NJPW101217>{{cite web | url = http://www.njpw.co.jp/tornament/111300?showResult=1 | title = Lion's Gate Project8 | access-date=October 12, 2017 | work=[[New Japan Pro-Wrestling]] | language=ja}}</ref> || Kawato<br />(5:35)<ref name=NJPW121717>{{cite web | url = http://www.njpw.co.jp/tornament/116484?showResult=1 | title = JRA presents Road to Tokyo Dome | access-date=December 17, 2017 | work=[[New Japan Pro-Wrestling]] | language=ja}}</ref> || Kawato<br />(8:27)<ref name=NJPW122117/> || Kawato<br />(6:43)<ref name=NJPW111617/>
|-align="center"
! [[Katsuya Kitamura|Kitamura]]
| Kitamura<br />(4:12)<ref name=NJPW121817/> ||bgcolor=grey| X || Kitamura<br />(5:35)<ref name=NJPW121717/> || Kitamura<br />(11:20)<ref name=NJPW122117/> || Kitamura<br />(10:04)<ref name=NJPW111617/> || Kitamura<br />(8:32)<ref name=NJPW101217/>
|-align="center"
! [[Ren Narita|Narita]]
| Kawato<br />(7:14)<ref name=NJPW101217/> || Kitamura<br />(5:35)<ref name=NJPW121717/> ||bgcolor=grey| X || Oka<br />(13:22)<ref name=NJPW111617/> || Umino<br />(6:08)<ref name=NJPW121817/> || Draw<br />(15:00)<ref name=NJPW122117>{{cite web | url = http://www.njpw.co.jp/tornament/116499?showResult=1 | title = Lion's Gate Project10 | access-date=December 21, 2017 | work=[[New Japan Pro-Wrestling]] | language=ja}}</ref>
|-align="center"
! [[Tomoyuki Oka|Oka]]
| Kawato<br />(5:35)<ref name=NJPW121717/> || Kitamura<br />(11:20)<ref name=NJPW122117/> || Oka<br />(13:22)<ref name=NJPW111617>{{cite web | url = http://www.njpw.co.jp/tornament/114012?showResult=1 | title = Lion's Gate Project9 | access-date=November 16, 2017 | work=[[New Japan Pro-Wrestling]] | language=ja}}</ref> ||bgcolor=grey| X || Oka<br />(10:50)<ref name=NJPW101217/> || Oka<br />(7:13)<ref name=NJPW121817/>
|-align="center"
! [[Shota Umino|Umino]]
| Kawato<br />(8:27)<ref name=NJPW122117/> || Kitamura<br />(10:04)<ref name=NJPW111617/> || Umino<br />(6:08)<ref name=NJPW121817/> || Oka<br />(10:50)<ref name=NJPW101217/> ||bgcolor=grey| X || Umino<br />(7:54)<ref name=NJPW121717/>
|-align="center"
! Yagi
| Kawato<br />(6:43)<ref name=NJPW111617/> || Kitamura<br />(8:32)<ref name=NJPW101217/> || Draw<br />(15:00)<ref name=NJPW122117/> || Oka<br />(7:13)<ref name=NJPW121817/> || Umino<br />(7:54)<ref name=NJPW121717/> ||bgcolor=grey| X
|}

==2019==

The 2019 Young Lion Cup was announced on August 27 and was held on the Destruction tour throughout September. It featured 8 participants: 4 from the [[NJPW Dojo|New Japan Dojo]], 3 from the [[NJPW Dojo|Los Angeles Dojo]], and 1 from the [[Fale Dojo]]. 2 competitors also competed in the 2017 tournament. [[Karl Fredericks]] won with 12 points.

{| class="wikitable" style="margin: 1em auto 1em auto"
|+Final standings
|-
| [[Karl Fredericks]] || 12
|-
| [[Shota Umino]]|| 10
|-
| [[Ren Narita]] || 10
|-
| [[Alex Coughlin]] || 8
|-
| [[Clark Connors]] || 8
|-
| [[Yota Tsuji]] || 4
|-
| Michael Richards || 2
|-
| [[Yuya Uemura]] || 2
|}
{| class="wikitable" style="margin: 1em auto 1em auto"
|-align="center"
!Young Lion Cup !! [[Yuya Uemura|Uemura]] !! [[Yota Tsuji|Tsuji]] !! [[Shota Umino|Umino]] !! [[Ren Narita|Narita]] !! Richards !! [[Alex Coughlin|Coughlin]] !! [[Clark Connors|Connors]] !! [[Karl Fredericks|Fredericks]]
|-align="center"
! [[Yuya Uemura|Uemura]]
|bgcolor=grey| X ||Tsuji<br />(8:50) ||Umino<br />(6:53) ||Narita<br />(8:35) ||Richards<br />(8:47) ||Coughlin<br />(7:49) ||Uemura<br />(9:31) ||Fredericks<br/>(6:12)
|-align="center"
! [[Yota Tsuji|Tsuji]]
|Tsuji<br/>(8:50) ||bgcolor=grey| X ||Umino<br />(7:34) ||Narita<br/>(7:49) ||Tsuji<br />(6:44) ||Coughlin<br />(10:12) ||Connors<br/>(7:43) ||Fredericks<br />(7:23)
|-align="center"
! [[Shota Umino|Umino]]
|Umino<br/>(6:53) ||Umino<br />(7:34) ||bgcolor=grey| X ||Umino<br/>(9:09) ||Umino<br/>(8:00) ||Umino<br/>(8:14) ||Connors<br />(6:50) ||Fredericks<br />(7:17)
|-align="center"
! [[Ren Narita|Narita]]
|Narita<br />(8:35) ||Narita<br/>(7:49) ||Umino<br/>(9:09) ||bgcolor=grey| X ||Narita<br />(7:18) ||Narita<br/>(7:49) ||Connors<br />(7:25) ||Narita<br />(7:06)
|-align="center"
! Richards
|Richards<br />(8:47) ||Tsuji<br />(6:44)||Umino<br/>(8:00) ||Narita<br />(7:18) ||bgcolor=grey| X ||Coughlin<br />(6:13) ||Connors<br/>(7:09) ||Fredericks<br />(6:12)
|-align="center"
! [[Alex Coughlin|Coughlin]]
|Coughlin<br />(7:49) ||Coughlin<br />(10:12) ||Umino<br />(8:14) ||Narita<br />(7:49) ||Coughlin<br />(6:13) ||bgcolor=grey| X ||Coughlin<br />(7:53) ||Fredericks<br />(8:01)
|-align="center"
! [[Clark Connors|Connors]]
|Uemura<br />(9:31) ||Connors<br/>(7:43) ||Connors<br />(6:50) ||Connors<br />(7:25) ||Connors<br/>(7:09) ||Coughlin<br />(7:53) ||bgcolor=grey| X ||Fredericks<br/>(7:06)
|-align="center"
! [[Karl Fredericks|Fredericks]]
|Fredericks<br />(6:12) ||Fredericks<br/>(7:23) ||Fredericks<br />(7:17) ||Narita<br />(7:06) ||Fredericks<br />(6:12) ||Fredericks<br />(8:01) ||Fredericks<br />(7:06) ||bgcolor=grey| X
|}

==References==
{{reflist|30em}}

{{New Japan Pro Wrestling}}
{{New Japan Pro Wrestling events}}
{{Young Lion Cup}}

[[Category:New Japan Pro-Wrestling tournaments]]