Gabe Kidd just hijacked New Japan and I am entirely here for it

Chaos at Korakuen Hall

Pour yourself a double because we need to talk about what went down in Tokyo yesterday. If you thought New Japan Pro-Wrestling was going to ease into the G1 Climax 36 tournament with some polite undercard matches, Gabe Kidd just threw a steel chair through that window. The Road to G1 Climax tour reached Tag 6 at Korakuen Hall, and what was supposed to be a standard title defense turned into a glorious, blood-soaked riot.

Before the opening bell even rang, the Bullet Club War Dogs leader decided that rules were merely suggestions. Kidd did not just walk to the ring; he storm-trooped it, immediately dropkicking the referee out of his boots. He then marched straight over to ringside to threaten NJPW President Hiroshi Tanahashi, forcing Shota Umino to sprint from the back to save his boss.

A wild pre-match brawl erupted before the bell could ring. Umino connected with a massive punch that had the Korakuen crowd roaring in approval. But the momentum shifted when Kidd caught the champion, hurling him into the cement stands where Umino emerged bloodied, painting the picture of a classic 1990s brawl.

Kidd spent the next few minutes screaming in Tanahashi's face, mocking the legendary figure who represents the old guard. He grabbed the IWGP Global Heavyweight Championship belt and chucked it down the entrance ramp like a piece of garbage. By the time Umino crawled back inside and leveled Kidd with a clothesline to start the match, the arena was practically shaking.

The Nine-Minute Murder

Wrestling purists love twenty-minute matches filled with complex counter-wrestling, but this was a sprint of pure hatred. Umino looked to end it early, targeting Kidd and looking for his signature Second Chapter. Kidd managed to escape to the floor, but Umino stayed on him, executing a brutal brainbuster right on the floor.

The referee somehow recovered enough to get the match back in the ring, where the violence only intensified. Kidd answered with a brainbuster of his own for a near fall that had fans gasping. He then trapped Umino in the corner, hammering him with stiff shots and stomping the boots right into his face.

What followed was a sequence that felt more like a bar fight than a sport, with both men trading super stiff slaps to the face with zero regard for self-preservation. Kidd finally got the upper hand, dropping Umino to his knees with a ferocious strike. The crowd rallied behind their champion, chanting Umino's name as he struggled to stand.

This is where Kidd showed why he is the most dangerous heel in the industry today. Sensing he was losing control, Kidd fell to the mat, faking a shoulder injury and causing Umino to hesitate. That brief pause was all the opening Kidd needed as he suddenly sprung up, leveling a surprised Umino with a vicious clothesline.

Kidd then executed a piledriver for a close two count, but he was not done punishing the champion. He threw Umino to the outside and hit another piledriver directly on the floor right in front of a horrified Tanahashi. To add insult to injury, Kidd spit in the President's face, rolled Umino back inside, and hit a third piledriver.

Kidd made a cocky, lazy cover, but Umino somehow kicked out at two. With the champion completely out of gas, Kidd dragged him up and hit the Death Rider, Umino's own mentor's move, to seal the victory. The referee counted the three, ending the match at exactly 8:48 to crown Gabe Kidd as the new champion.

The Ace Getting Slapped

As Sean Radican of PWTorch reported, the post-match scene was even wilder than the match itself. Tanahashi, trying to maintain some semblance of order, brought the title belt into the ring, only for Kidd to snatch it and throw it back down. Undeterred, the President picked it up and wrapped it around the waist of the uncooperative new champion.

Kidd did not offer a handshake or a nod of respect; instead, he got in the legend's face and leveled him with a hard slap. The legendary Ace went down, leaving the crowd in stunned silence. Kidd ripped the belt off, threw it back to the floor, and kicked it around the ringside area before walking out empty-handed.

Meanwhile, a bloodied Umino had to be helped to the back by a group of Young Lions. Slapping Hiroshi Tanahashi in Korakuen Hall is the ultimate wrestling sacrilege, equivalent to walking into Boston Garden and spitting on Larry Bird's jersey. The fans did not just boo; they looked genuinely offended by the level of disrespect.

A Masterclass in Violence or Russo-Level Garbage?

Now, let's talk about the booking because we cannot let New Japan off the hook completely. Shota Umino's title reign ended after just 22 days, going from winning the gold at Dominion and defending it against PAC at Forbidden Door to dropping it in under nine minutes. That is a questionable decision that risks making Umino look like a chump.

We are constantly told that Umino is the future of this company, the heir apparent to the main event throne. Yet, the moment he gets some momentum, the office pulls the rug out from under him with booking that feels reminiscent of Vince Russo in WCW. Giving Umino a cup of coffee with the title does not help him; it makes him look like a placeholder.

Yet, despite that criticism, it is hard to deny that Gabe Kidd is the most compelling thing in New Japan right now. In a world of choreographing dance routines, Kidd looks like he is trying to commit a felony. He brings a raw, unpredictable energy that makes him must-watch television.

His heel persona works because it does not feel like a character he turns on when the cameras start rolling. When he spit on Tanahashi and slapped him, it felt real, gritty, and dangerous. In his analysis, Sean Radican gave the match four stars, noting that the crowd reaction was incredible throughout the brawl.

This was a really good night for Umino even though he lost the Global title.

While Umino lost the gold, the match did wonders for his babyface credibility. He fought through the pre-match attack, bled for the fans, and refused to back down even when he was clearly outmatched. He took a beating, but he won the respect of the audience as a true fighting underdog.

This match sets the stage perfectly for the upcoming G1 Climax 36 tournament. Both men are placed in the B Block, and they are scheduled to clash again on August 8th. The story is no longer about a belt; it is about personal pride and revenge.

Umino will have a chance to redeem himself, and the crowd will be foaming at the mouth to see him get his hands on Kidd. If New Japan plays their cards right, this short title reign could be the catalyst that finally turns Umino into a main-event player. It was a chaotic, violent, and highly controversial night, but it got everyone talking.