Gabe Kidd assaulted NJPW President Hiroshi Tanahashi after capturing the IWGP Global Heavyweight Championship.
At Dominion on June 14th, Shota Umino pinned Andrade El Idolo to win the IWGP Global Title in a Triple Threat match that also featured Drilla Moloney. Umino didn’t get long to celebrate his first title victory, however, as Gabe Kidd ran to the ring and launched an assault on the Roughneck.
Kidd then blasted Jon Moxley‘s former protege, saying he was “never” one of the Death Riders and failed every opportunity he was given. He then turned his attention to Hiroshi Tanahashi, saying The Ace could go to hell.
After Umino successfully defended the Global Title at Forbidden Door, NJPW announced that Kidd would be his next challenger on the July 6th Road to G1 Climax show in Tokyo’s Korakuen Hall. Kidd kicked off the bout early, attacking the referee and having words with Tanahashi before Umino ran to the ring.
The pair fought around the arena before the bell even rang, and when the match officially started, Kidd dropped Umino on the floor with a Piledriver. During the battle, Kidd spat in Tanahashi’s face twice and repeatedly let the crowd know how little respect he now had for NJPW.
.@GabeKidd0115 "The No.1 Traitor"
From the profile URL#njpwworld#G1Roadpic.twitter.com/ggpYkSt55t
— NJPW WORLD (@njpwworld) July 6, 2026
Gabe Kidd Captures IWGP Global Heavyweight Title
Despite Shota Umino’s best efforts, he wasn’t able to overcome Gabe Kidd, who finally put him away with a Death Rider DDT and became a two-time IWGP Global Heavyweight Champion to jeers from the crowd.
Kidd wasn’t finished there, though, and after Tanahashi performed his duties and put the title around his waist, he slapped the NJPW President, knocking him to the ground, before throwing the belt and making his exit. After he recovered, Tanahashi was helped to the back by the Young Lions at ringside.
Backstage, Kidd sent a message to Shota, telling him that “life ain’t fair,” before asking him what he would do next and offering a chance to attack him at the upcoming press conference for the G1 Climax, where both men will be in B-Block.
