AEW star Gabe Kidd made a return to NJPW at Dominion 2026, delivering a message to Shota Umino, courtesy of the Death Riders.
In March of this year, Gabe Kidd, Clark Connors and David Finlay officially signed deals with AEW after parting ways with NJPW.
Kidd would suffer an injury the following month at AEW Dynasty, in a match that saw The Dogs lose the World Trios Championship to The Conglomerate (Kyle O’Reilly, Orange Cassidy & Roderick Strong).
NJPW Dominion saw Kidd on fine form as he delivered a message from the Death Riders, attacking IWGP Global Heavyweight Champion Shota Umino, moments after the star won the title from AEW’s Andrade El Idolo in a three-way match also featuring Drilla Moloney.
During the post-match celebrations, Kidd stormed the ring in a black hoodie, striking Umino from behind, delivering a piledriver and would go on to address Moloney stating:
“You see this? This was supposed to be you. This punk f**ked you over in more ways than one and you know it. You know what to do…”
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The words would seemingly strike home for Moloney, who would be seen walking away from the ring, while Kidd went on to address Umino, stating:
“See, Shota. I come with a f**king message. I come with a message from the Death Riders to let you know you were never one of us. It was a token because we stand on business.
“We set the standard, and you have failed every opportunity…”
Spitting on the downed NJPW star, Kidd would go on to further mockery, wiping imaginary tears from his eyes, before declaring:
“F**k you. I put my f**king life on the line for this company.”
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We now know Kidd is definitely gearing up for a NJPW in-ring return, having been confirmed for the G1 Climax 36 Tournament, which starts in July.
Drilla Moloney Makes His Mark In NJPW
An entrant in the NJPW Best of the Super Juniors 30 tournament of April 2023, Dan Moloney has been reborn as Drilla Moloney, bringing his raw intensity, personality and presence to New Japan Pro-Wrestling.
A contract signing earlier this year would see Sean Ross Sapp of Fightful note that Moloney had “politely rejected” approaches from unnamed “American companies”, with a new one-year deal in place for the star.
Clearly, whatever NJPW offered Moloney was, as Sapp notes “favorable to him”, with the star having previously been a member of Bullet Club War Dogs, alongside Kidd, Finlay and Connors, the latter of whom held the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship with him for two separate reigns.
Moloney has become something of a force to be reckoned with in NJPW, originally being a member of United Empire before turning his back on the faction to side with the War Dogs.
Now a member of Unbound Co. following the dissolution of Bullet Club and merger with Unaffiliated, Moloney’s future in NJPW has been assured for another year, with no doubt more to come for the British wrestling star.
A one-year deal takes Moloney to early 2027, with his status likely to see greater interest from the very same “American companies” that he turned down. Looking at Moloney, it’s difficult not to see a prospective top star Stateside, no matter where he lands.
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