Current Champion Addresses Absence From NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 19 Card

Current NJPW STRONG Openweight Champion Gabe Kidd has addressed his absence from the NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 19 card.

At NJPW x AEW Wrestle Dynasty on January 5, Gabe Kidd will compete in his biggest match to date against AEW’s Kenny Omega.

This bout is currently scheduled to headline this Sunday’s event from the Tokyo Dome.

However, Kidd is not currently scheduled for a match on the January 4 NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 19 card despite currently holding the NJPW STRONG Openweight Championship.

Speaking with Fightful’s Sean Ross Sapp, Gabe Kidd was asked if being left off the Wrestle Kingdom card leaves him with any hard feelings. He answered:

“Of course I do,”

“This is another thing about New Japan, they don’t want to see me shine. They got all their little boys on there. Shota on both shows. Tsuji on both shows.”

“They don’t understand what they have with me, but they’re going to understand after this weekend when I pin who many consider to be one of the greatest wrestlers to ever do it, who I consider just another bum.”

Wrestle Dynasty will also feature Zack Sabre Jr. going one-on-one with Ricochet and Mercedes Mone will face Mina Shirakawa in a double title match for the NJPW STRONG Women’s Championship and RevPro Undisputed British Women’s Championship.

Meanwhile, Zack Sabre Jr. will defend the IWGP World Heavyweight Title against Shota Umino and Konosuke Takeshita will face Shingo Takagi in a double title match for the AEW International and NEVER Openweight Championships.

Transcription via Fightful

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