Gabe Kidd’s comeback is officially on the books as he’s set to compete in the G1 Climax tournament following his injury earlier this year.
NJPW took to Twitter and announced that Kidd will return from injury as part of the G1 Climax 36 tournament, which begins on July 11. That is a major deal after Kidd had been out indefinitely following the shoulder injury he suffered at AEW Dynasty. NJPW confirmed Kidd for the B Block lineup on Twitter while revealing part of the tournament field.
“#G1CLIMAX36 LINEUP REVEALED
B BLOCK
Shota Umino
Yuya Uemura
Shingo Takagi
Drilla Moloney
Zack Sabre Jr.
Callum Newman
Gabe Kidd
+ 1 IWGP Tag Team Champion
And 2 Play-in winners”
The announcement is notable because Kidd’s last major update made his injury sound very serious. After AEW Dynasty, Tony Khan said Kidd was out indefinitely with a shoulder injury and would need further evaluation: “Gabe is out indefinitely. It’s a shoulder injury—we will be evaluating him.” Kidd also posted a heated Instagram Story after the match, wearing a sling and saying it took nearly two hours for doctors to put his shoulder back in.
“Listen, I just got back to the hotel. It took them near enough two hours to put my shoulder back in. “So I’m still gonna f*** everyone up, and then I’m gonna come back, and then it’s game over for everyone.”
Now, that return appears to be happening through one of NJPW’s biggest annual tournaments. Kidd being placed in B Block puts him in the same group as Shota Umino, Yuya Uemura, Shingo Takagi, Drilla Moloney, Zack Sabre Jr., Callum Newman, one IWGP Tag Team Champion, and two play-in winners.
For Kidd, the G1 Climax return gives him a chance to turn all that anger from Dynasty into momentum. He left AEW hurt, furious, and wearing a sling, but now he is heading into one of the toughest tournaments in wrestling.
What do you think about Gabe Kidd returning in the G1 Climax? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
