Add as a preferred source on Google Gabe Kidd is back on top in NJPW. On Monday morning, at Road to G1 Climax from Korakuen Hall in Tokyo, Kidd defeated Shota Umino to win the IWGP Global Heavyweight Championship for the second time in his career.
The match started in chaos before the bell even rang. Kidd attacked the referee and went after Hiroshi Tanahashi, the current NJPW President. Umino quickly arrived to start the brawl, which spilled outside the ring and into the stands.
At ringside, Kidd threw the title to the floor and spat in Tanahashi’s face, drawing an even stronger reaction from the Korakuen Hall crowd. Even as Umino tried to fight back at several points, the English wrestler also targeted the psychological side of the match, staring down Tanahashi while hitting some of his biggest offense.
🚨BREAKING🚨 Gabe Kidd defeats Shota Umino with the Death Rider to become IWGP Global Heavyweight Champion
— Dirt Sheet Radio (@DirtSheetRadio) July 6, 2026
Gabe then forced Tanahashi to put the title around his waist before slapping Tanahashi across the face and tossing the championship into the hard ground over and over
In… pic.twitter.com/zpvubqcoRN
In the end, after surviving more than one piledriver, Umino could not withstand the Death Rider. Kidd hit the move and scored the pinfall, quickly ending “Shooter’s” title reign after Umino had won the championship at Dominion by defeating Andrade El Idolo in a Triple Threat Match.
The celebration, however, was even more memorable than the victory itself. Tanahashi was forced to put the title around Kidd’s waist. Moments later, the new champion slapped the NJPW President across the face and threw the championship back to the floor before leaving the arena without the belt.
Kidd and Umino are both part of the B Block in G1 Climax 36. The two are also set for a rematch on Aug. 8 at Yokohama Budokan.