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 LOCK UP was announced as part of a New Japan brand extension at the end of March, 2006, along with WRESTLE LAND. With New Japan in the midst of a reconstruction, the two brands were created to show two extremes of professional wrestling, which would allow New Japan management to study each style for ideas to use in the regular brand. LOCK UP was organized by Riki Choshu and was essentially the sequel to his Riki Pro independent promotion, but with New Japan wrestlers added. Focusing on the very basics of professional wrestling, stiff and physical action, LOCK UP was promoted with the idea of bringing fans as close to the severity of professional wrestling as possible. It also allowed New Japan's young wrestlers a new stage on which to study their craft, and gave them the unique chance to face many different types of wrestlers they normally wouldn't be able to battle. In 2008, it became independent from New Japan, but continued to work closely with it.
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