Ren Narita (成田蓮 ''Narita Ren'', born November 29, 1997) is a Japanese

professional wrestler Professional wrestling is a form of theater that revolves around staged wrestling matches. The mock combat is performed in a ring similar to the kind used in boxing, and the dramatic aspects of pro wrestling may be performed both in the ring or ...

currently signed to

New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW) is a Japanese professional wrestling promotion based in Nakano, Tokyo. Founded on January 13, 1972, by Antonio Inoki, the promotion was sold to Yuke's, who later sold it to Bushiroad in 2012. TV Asahi and Amuse, Inc. own minority shares ...

(NJPW).

Early life

Narita has played several sports before becoming a wrestler, including

baseball Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each, taking turns batting and fielding. The game occurs over the course of several plays, with each play generally beginning when a player on the fielding tea ...

and

kendo is a modern Japanese martial art, descended from kenjutsu (one of the old Japanese martial arts, swordsmanship), that uses bamboo swords (shinai) as well as protective armor (bōgu). Today, it is widely practiced within Japan and has spread ...

Professional wrestling career

New Japan Pro Wrestling (2017–present)

Young Lion (2017–2019)

Narita was trained under New Japan Pro-Wrestling's (NJPW) "

young lion Professional wrestling has accrued a considerable amount of jargon throughout its existence. Much of it stems from the industry's origins in the days of carnivals and circuses. In the past, professional wrestlers used such terms in the presence ...

" system. Narita made his professional wrestling debut for NJPW's

developmental territory In sports, a farm team, farm system, feeder team, feeder club, or nursery club is generally a team or club whose role is to provide experience and training for young players, with an agreement that any successful players can move on to a higher ...

Lion's Gate Project Lion's Gate is the Farm team#Professional wrestling, developmental branch of professional wrestling promotion New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW), which holds events under the banner of Lion's Gate Project. The branch was officially announced on July 1 ...

, where he wrestled

Shota Umino is a Japanese professional wrestler currently signed to New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW). Early life Umino was born on April 13, 1997, in the special ward of Setagaya in Tokyo, Japan. He is the son of NJPW referee Hiroyuki Umino (also known un ...

to a ten minute time limit draw at the Lion's Gate Project 7 event on July 4, 2017. Later that month, Narita had his second match, teaming with Umino where they lost to El Desperado and

Zack Sabre Jr. Lucas Eatwell (born 24 July 1987), better known by his ring name Zack Sabre Jr. (Katakana: ザック・セイバーJr, ''Zakku Seibā Jr.''), is an English professional wrestler. He is currently signed to New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW). Outsid ...

of Suzuki-gun on day eight of the 2017 G1 Climax tournament. Narita competed in the 11th Young Lion Cup, gaining 1 point after a time limit draw against Tetsuhiro Yagi. During the following year, Narita wrestled several tag team matches with NJPW veterans. In May 2019, after

Flip Gordon Travis Gordon Lopes Jr. (born December 12, 1991) is an American professional wrestler currently wrestling under the name Flip Gordon. Professional wrestling career Early career Gordon trained under Brian Fury and the New England Pro Wrestlin ...

pulled out of the Best of the Super Juniors 26 tournament, Narita was announced as a last minute replacement. He ended the tournament with a final standing of 0 points. Throughout the Destruction tour in September, Narita took part in the 12th Young Lion Cup. He finished with a record of 5-2. Afterwards, it was announced that he was heading to America for his excursion and joining The LA Dojo.

Excursion to United States (2019–2022)

Narita wrestled his first match in the United States at Fighting Spirit Unleashed Boston, losing to

Lance Archer Lance Hoyt (born February 28, 1977) is an American professional wrestler, currently signed to All Elite Wrestling (AEW) under the ring name Lance Archer. He also makes sporadic appearance for New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW). He is also known for ...

. Narita earnt his first win in the states, defeating fellow LA Dojo teammate

Alex Coughlin Alex Coughlin (born December 3, 1993), is an American professional wrestler. He is currently signed to New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW), mainly competing on their American show, NJPW Strong. Professional wrestling career Early career (2018) Coughl ...

, in November at NJPW Showdown in San Jose. In March 2020, New Japan suspended all of its activities, due to the

COVID-19 pandemic The COVID-19 pandemic, also known as the coronavirus pandemic, is an ongoing global pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The novel virus was first identif ...

, causing American-based talent to not be able to travel to compete. Therefore, Narita appeared primarily on New Japan's new American-based show ''NJPW Strong''. In March 2021, Narita competed in the

New Japan Cup USA New Japan Cup USA is an annual professional wrestling tournament produced by New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW). The tournament is a spin-off of NJPW's annual New Japan Cup introduced in 2020. The tournament was promoted under NJPW's North American ...

tournament, defeating Misterioso in the qualifying round. In the first round, Narita lost to eventual winner,

Tom Lawlor Thomas Joseph Lawlor (born May 15, 1983) is an American professional wrestler, retired mixed martial artist and podcast host. He is best known for his time in Major League Wrestling (MLW), where he was a former one-time MLW World Heavyweight Cham ...

. In July, Narita teamed with

Yuji Nagata is a Japanese professional wrestler currently signed to New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW). A two-time IWGP Heavyweight Champion, World Heavyweight Champion and a GHC Heavyweight Champion, making him a four-time world champion in major professional ...

to compete in the Tag Team Turbulence tournament, where they defeated Fred Yehi and

Wheeler Yuta Paul Gruber (born October 26, 1996), is an American professional wrestler better known by his ring name Wheeler Yuta (sometimes stylized as Wheeler YUTA). He is currently signed to All Elite Wrestling (AEW), where he is the current ROH Pure Cha ...

, in the first round. In the second round, the duo lost to eventual winners,

the Good Brothers The Good Brothers are a Canadian country, bluegrass and folk music group originating from Richmond Hill, Ontario. The band's core members are Brian Good (guitar), his twin brother Bruce Good (autoharp) and younger brother Larry Good (banjo). B ...

. In September, at Autumn Attack, Narita challenged Tom Lawlor for the

Strong Openweight Championship The is a professional wrestling championship owned and promoted by the New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW) promotion. The title was officially announced on April 2, 2021. The title is exclusively featured on NJPW's American television program ''NJPW St ...

, in a losing effort. In November at

Battle in the Valley Battle in the Valley was a professional wrestling pay-per-view (PPV) event produced by New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW). It took place on November 13, 2021, at San Jose Civic in San Jose, California. Production Background In October 2019, NJPW an ...

, Narita lost to

Will Ospreay William Peter Charles Ospreay (born 7 May 1993) is an English professional wrestler who is currently signed to New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW), where he is the current IWGP United States Heavyweight Champion in his first reign and leader of the ...

. After La Dojo head-coach

Katsuyori Shibata is a Japanese professional wrestler, mixed martial artist and professional wrestling trainer. In professional wrestling, he is known for his hard hitting offense. He is currently working for New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW). In NJPW, he is a f ...

returned from injury on the finals of the

G1 Climax 31 The G1 Climax 31 was a professional wrestling tournament promoted by New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW). The tournament commenced on September 18 and concluded on October 21, 2021. It is the thirty-first edition of G1 Climax, and forty-seventh editi ...

, he announced he would compete in a match at

Wrestle Kingdom 16 Wrestle Kingdom 16 was a three-day professional wrestling pay-per-view (PPV) event co-produced by the New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW) and Pro Wrestling Noah (Noah) promotions. The event took place on January 4 and 5, 2022, at the Tokyo Dome, in To ...

against a mystery opponent. At said event on January 4, 2022, Shibata's opponent was revealed to be Narita, who Shibata defeated. Narita returned to compete on ''NJPW Strong'' until September, defeating

Juice Robinson Joseph Ryan Robinson (born April 10, 1989), better known by his ring name Juice Robinson, is an American professional wrestler, currently signed to All Elite Wrestling (AEW). Robinson is also a member of the Bullet Club stable and also wrestles ...

in his final match.

Return from excursion (2022–present)

Narita returned from his excursion, in October at Declaration of Power, teaming with Robbie Eagles and David Finlay, to defeat Suzuki-gun. Later in the month, Narita competed in a 16-man tournament, to crown the inaugural NJPW World Television Champion, in the first round Narita achieved a shock victory over

Tomohiro Ishii is a Japanese professional wrestler currently signed to New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW). He also makes additional appearances for All Elite Wrestling (AEW). He is also known for his work with the independent Fighting World of Japan Pro Wrestling ( ...

. He then went on to defeat established heavyweight wrestlers, such as

Toru Yano , is a Japanese Professional wrestling, professional wrestler, trained by and currently signed to New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW), where he is the KOPW (New Japan Pro-Wrestling), KOPW 2020 and the provisional KOPW (New Japan Pro-Wrestling), KOPW 2 ...

and

Sanada Sanada is a Japanese surname. Notable people with the surname include: * Asami Sanada (born 1977), Japanese voice actress *, Japanese shogi player * Juzo Sanada (1923–1994), Japanese baseball player * Hiroki Sanada (born 1984), Japanese basebal ...

, thus advancing to the finals at

Wrestle Kingdom 17 Wrestle Kingdom 17 was a two-day professional wrestling pay-per-view (PPV) event co-produced by the New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW) and Pro Wrestling Noah (Noah) promotions. The first day of the event took place on January 4, 2023, at the Tokyo Dom ...

, where he will face

Zack Sabre Jr Lucas Eatwell (born 24 July 1987), better known by his ring name Zack Sabre Jr. (Katakana: ザック・セイバーJr, ''Zakku Seibā Jr.''), is an English professional wrestler. He is currently signed to New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW). Outside ...

All Elite Wrestling (2021)

Narita appeared on the May 12 2021 edition of

AEW Dynamite AEW or aew may refer to: * Airborne early warning, airborne radar system for detecting aircraft * Aerosvit Airlines, an airline based in Kyiv, Ukraine (ICAO airline designator: AEW) * AEW Capital Management, a property investment management company ...

, where he accompanied

for his

IWGP United States Heavyweight Championship The is a professional wrestling championship owned and promoted by the New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW) promotion. "IWGP" is the acronym of NJPW's governing body, the . The current champion is Will Ospreay, who is in his first reign. History Backgr ...

match vs champion

Jon Moxley Jonathan David Good (born December 7, 1985) is an American professional wrestler and actor. He is currently signed to All Elite Wrestling (AEW), where he performs under the ring name Jon Moxley. He also makes appearances for New Japan Pro-Wr ...

. On the May 24, 2021 episode of AEW Dark: Elevation, as part of the partnership between New Japan Pro Wrestling and

All Elite Wrestling All Elite Wrestling (AEW) is an American professional wrestling promotion based in Jacksonville, Florida. It is considered the second largest wrestling promotion in the United States behind WWE. AEW is owned by Shahid Khan and his son Tony, w ...

(AEW), Narita made his in-ring debut for the promotion defeating Royce Isaacs.

Championships and Accomplishments

Pro Wrestling Illustrated ''Pro Wrestling Illustrated'' (''PWI'') is an American internationally sold professional wrestling magazine that was founded in 1979 by publisher Stanley Weston. ''PWI'' is headquartered in Blue Bell, Pennsylvania, and published by Kappa Publish ...

**Ranked No. 428 of the top 500 singles wrestlers in the ''

PWI 500 ''Pro Wrestling Illustrated'' (''PWI'') is an American internationally sold professional wrestling magazine that was founded in 1979 by publisher Stanley Weston. ''PWI'' is headquartered in Blue Bell, Pennsylvania, and published by Kappa Publishi ...

'' in 2021

References

External links

* 1997 births Living people People from Aomori (city) Japanese male professional wrestlers {{prowrestling-bio-stub