AEW Star Gabe Kidd Announced for NJPW G1 Climax 36 Tournament

By: Ian McCord

During New Japan Pro Wrestling’s DOMINION 6.14 IN OSAKA-JO HALL, 16 of the 20 participants for G1 Climax 36 were revealed, with former IWGP Global Heavyweight Champion and AEW star Gabe Kidd announced for the annual round-robin tournament.

Kidd made his return to NJPW later at DOMINION, attacking the new IWGP Global Heavyweight Champion Shota Umino, seemingly calling his shot to challenge for the championship once again, possibly before the start of G1 season.

Photo Credit: New Japan Pro Wrestling

This will be Kidd’s fourth consecutive entry in the legendary G1 Climax. However, in last year’s tournament he was forced to withdraw after suffering a knee injury on the opening night against Konosuke Takeshita.

Speaking of last year, Konosuke Takeshita, who went on to win G1 Climax 35, defeating EVIL in the finals, will be returning for this year’s festivities. This will be his third consecutive year participating in the event.

Takeshita isn’t the only past winner competing this year. 2008 winner Hirooki Goto and 2024 winner Zack Sabre Jr. will also be competing in the upcoming G1 Climax.

Here are the participants and block assignments currently announced for G1 Climax 36:

A BLOCK

• Konosuke Takeshita
• Hirooki Goto
• Boltin Oleg
• Yota Tsuji
• Jake Lee
• SANADA
• Ren Narita
• Great-O-Khan or HENARE
• Play-in winner
• Play-in winner

B BLOCK

• Shota Umino
• Yuya Uemura
• Shingo Takagi
• Drilla Moloney
• Zack Sabre Jr.
• Callum Newman
• Gabe Kidd
• Great-O-Khan or HENARE
• Play-in winner
• Play-in winner

Great-O-Khan and HENARE’s block assignment have yet to be decided, having earned their way into the tournament by defeating the Knockout Brothers for the IWGP Tag Titles at DOMINION.

The remaining 4 spots will be decided through Play-in matches that have yet to be announced as of this writing.

G1 Climax 36 kicks off on July 11th at the NOW Arena in Hoffman Estates Illinois streaming live on NJPW World streaming service.