Ren Narita and Shota Umino set for excursion

Two of the hottest young lions in New Japan are now set to embark on their obligated excursions away from their home company.

Ren Narita and Shota Umino are arguably to the two hottest young lions in New Japan today and their potential is perceived as being through the roof.

Now both men can show off their skills they have honed on an international level.

When young lions are finished with the first stage of their tutelage they go out on and perform with an international partner of NJPW’s for a long period of time. These partners have been Ring of Honor in America, Revolution Pro in the UK, and CMLL in Mexico. As of right now NJPW already has two young lions, Hirai Kawato and Tomoyuki Oka, out on excursion in the UK and Mexico.

Umino, who has quickly endeared himself to fans all over the world due to his forced partnership with IWGP US Champion Jon Moxley, is set to go to the UK and work with primarily with Rev Pro. Umino has stated he was very disappointed with his loss to Karl Fredericks in the finals of the Young Lions Cup and he requested to go out on excursion to help further his skills. The sky is the limit for Umino and UK fans should count themselves lucky that Umino will be a fixture in their scene for the foreseeable future.

Ren Narita, a man who is no stranger to NJPW fans, is set to train under Katsuyori Shibata and take his excursion with the LA Dojo. Narita has huge promise and has lived up to his hype as he performed solidly in this year’s Best of the Super Juniors tournament, in which he was a last-minute replacement.

Narita is the first NJPW young lion to embark to the LA Dojo for his excursion which is strange as usually the excursion point for the US is Ring of Honor but the relationship between NJPW and ROH seems to be nearing an end. Narita was shown asking Shibata himself if he could train at the LA Dojo after the Young Lions Cup. Narita will be in action alongside the other LA young lions at the Fighting Spirit Unleashed show.

Both men will be gone from New Japan anywhere from six months to two years. NJPW wished both men well on their excursions.