Gabe Kidd is no longer a member of The Dogs, with his future in AEW tied to the Death Riders, and it may be the making of the star.
Previously a member of Bullet Club War Dogs in New Japan Pro-Wrestling, Gabe Kidd signed an AEW contract in March of this year, alongside Clark Connors and David Finlay.
Repackaged as The Dogs in AEW, Kidd would also find himself as a member of the Death Riders, splitting his focus between the two factions.
That all came to an end on October 21, when Finlay and Connors sided with the Bang Bang Gang in an unofficial Bullet Club reunion, taking out the Death Riders and The Conglomeration, with Kidd being ejected from The Dogs.
For Kidd, however, this could be the making of a star who has already made his mark in AEW:
Chat sh*t, get banged
Since debuting in AEW back in 2024, Gabe Kidd has continued a reputation that he carried in NJPW as an abrasive personality who is as vicious with his words as he is with his actions.
He’s seen his fair share on losses in AEW but the current IWGP Global Heavyweight Champion doesn’t back down from a fight, wherever it may take place.
The ‘Mad Man’ shines in AEW
Looking at the lineup of Death Riders in particular, Kidd is probably the most vocal of the members, putting him in stark contrast to the more thoughtful, yet equally dangerous, presentation of Jon Moxley.
Introduced as a “hired mercenary” for the faction, Kidd has butted heads with anyone who crosses his path, friend or foe, during his time in Death Riders, dropping unhinged lines like:
” Are you mad? I’m breaking in your house, and piss on your dog.”
That moment, from the September 9 episode of AEW Dynamite, came after Will Ospreay had asked Jon Moxley to muzzle Kidd so they could talk.
It’s the off-kilter approach that really has Kidd shine among a wealth of talent in AEW.
From one faction to another
A member of The Dogs, then Death Riders and now the latter alone, it’d be easy to suggest that Kidd doesn’t have what it takes to be a standalone star, yet placing him into two factions at the same time is a testament to the talent that he has, showing a faith in his ability to deliver.
Now focused on Death Riders, there’s plenty of opportunity for Kidd to rise even further up the AEW ranks, with Moxley overseeing the direction of travel for the asset.
Gabe Kidd vs. Will Ospreay
A true test of Kidd’s caliber would be placing him against Will Ospreay, a star he hasn’t faced in singles competition since late 2023.
The month prior to that Revolution Pro Wrestling match, Ospreay signed his AEW deal at Full Gear, after interest from WWE.
For both stars, the subsequent years have seen them evolve to even greater heights, and the thought of a feud leading to a World Championship match would play on years of animosity. For Kidd, in particular, it would cement his place as a main event competitor in AEW, regardless of the outcome of the match.
If AEW was looking for a main event at Dynasty, building up to Ospreay vs. Kidd at M&S Bank Arena in Liverpool, England would be a roof-raising way to close the show.
A face Gabe Kidd could be another level
It’s difficult to see Kidd as a face following the well-worn path of Cody Rhodes or John Cena, with the AEW star being a closer fit for the anti-hero persona of someone like Stone Cold Steve Austin.
A rebel, anti-authority figure maintaining that no-nonsense attitude would be an ideal way to use Kidd going forward, with Moxley and his Death Riders cohorts being the ones to reign in the more rebellious side of the star, while allowing him to still push the envelope.
A former World Trios Champion, it’s only a matter of time before Kidd captures his first singles title in AEW.
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