Gabe Kidd is one of the hottest stars in wrestling, but the NJPW wrestler had humble beginnings in the UK as a child. At only 27 years old, he has cemented his status as a young veteran.
Gabriel wrestled for many well-known British companies, winning his first title in his first year, becoming HOP tag champion and heavyweight champion. From there, the young Gabriel Kidd continued to grow, winning titles across the company and becoming a force to be reckoned with.
In particular, he had a historic 300+ days reign as WCPW Internet Champion, continuing to have matches with huge names across the scene.
Although initially billed as a “babyface,” Gabriel wasn’t afraid to show off his more brutal side. It seemed inevitable that Gabriel Kidd would become a huge star.
Gabe Kidd – War Ready
Before officially making his debut in NJPW, Gabriel Kidd went to the LA Dojo to train under Katsuyori Shibata for 12 days, and unsurprisingly, it led to the wrestler becoming a full part of the class in September 2019 as Young Lion, alongside the likes of Clark Connors, Alex Coughlin, and Karl Fredericks.
With years of experience in the UK, NJPW wasted no time with Gabe. He made his “official” debut by teaming with Tiger Mask against Bullet Club.
The Young Lion Who Roared
While he was a young veteran, Gabriel went through the same “Young Lion” initiation, getting pinned in matches but building experience wrestling some of the best names in the entire industry.
Although the COVID-19 pandemic shut the world down, Gabriel made the most of the circumstances and stayed in Japan rather than returning to the LA Dojo. It gave him huge experiences, such as participating in the NJPW Cup. He finally got his first win against Japan Dojo Young Lion Yuya Uemura.
It seemed like Gabe was capturing the hearts of the fans and showcasing everything he had learnt from his time in the UK, LA, and now Japan. While it wasn’t as emphasized, he graduated from the Dojo in 2021, and many had high hopes for the future.
Yet, the following years were anything but easy. The wrestler suffered with a neck injury that had him out of some huge shows, and he had a battle with his mental health that saw him return to the UK for eight months.
After a long period of absence, Gabriel made his return at Royal Quest II in his home country, defeating fellow Brit wrestler Dan Moloney. Gabe got straight back into action by taking part in World Tag League with fellow LA Dojo Young Lion Alex Coughlin.
Battle Tested
However, a turning point for his career came in June 2023. Kidd and Coughlin made their return to NJPW and dubbed themselves the “War Dogs,” wearing Bullet Club shirts as they attacked Hirooki Goto and YOSHI HASHI. Gabriel Kidd also became Gabe Kidd.
It cemented them as now being “heels.” The faction quickly grew under the leadership of David Finlay (and Gedo), with some of the youngest and brightest wrestlers, including Clark Connors and Dan Moloney.
As part of the Bullet Club, Gabe not only found a new group of friends but a new persona, dubbed the “Mad Man.” His in-ring style was as unpredictable as his personality, making him an enigma in the company. While the first few years in NJPW saw Gabe blend with the roster, his part in Bullet Club made him a main player.
He took part in the historic cage match with War Dogs facing The Empire, won the strong Openweight titles with Coughlin, and beat Eddie Kingston to become the youngest Strong Openweight Champion.
Everything Gabe did had a purpose, and he was catching the eyes of fans not just in Japan but worldwide with his appearances in AEW and huge matches in the States for the NJPW Strong brand. He had amazing matches with some of the best names in the wrestling industry, holding his own and showcasing his skills.
It was this dedication to wrestling and commitment to NJPW that had fans cheering for the young wrestler, despite his “heel” persona. Gabe also knew how to work the mic, making appearances in America to not only promote NJPW but himself.
His rising popularity meant that when Kenny Omega announced his return to NJPW and wrestling after an illness for a match at Wrestle Dynasty, Gabe Kidd was the perfect person to challenge.
His character meant that attacking Kenny after his return promo at Power Struggle created an even more exciting story for fans and a buzz-worthy match set for January 5th.
Gabe Kidd might seem like a “Lone Wolf,” but he thrives with people around him, especially if there are commonalities. He thrived with Alex Coughlin, becoming one of the most dangerous teams until his partner retired due to a serious injury in the cage match.
In June 2024, Gabe started teaming with Pro Wrestling NOAH’s Jake Lee, and the bond between the two wrestlers quickly grew, with a chemistry that was fast and efficient. After Lee’s injury, Gabe announced a team with SANADA for World Tag League, after he betrayed Just 5 Guys.
Even with a tough start and rocky relationship, the team quickly became efficient and dangerous, winning their block and facing Los Ingobernables de Japon’s Tetsuya Naito and Hiromu Takahashi in the tournament final. Although War Dogs didn’t get the win, Gabe Kidd came out looking even stronger.
With Gabe set to challenge Kenny Omega at Wrestle Dynasty, the world is his oyster. Although he might be the “Mad Man,” he has the respect of many NJPW fans and wrestlers, and he is definitely the future of the company.
