Gabe Kidd forfeits NJPW G1 Climax 35 match due to knee injury
Gabe Kidd’s NJPW G1 Climax tournament could be over already.
Kidd opened night two of the tournament on Sunday by revealing he suffered a knee injury in his round-robin bout against Konosuke Takeshita on night one. Shortly into the match, Takeshita hit Kidd with a shoulder block and then landed on top of Kidd’s right knee.
“The weight of Konosuke Takeshita went right down on the right knee of Gabe Kidd, and Gabe might be in danger,” Chris Charlton said on commentary just after the injury took place.
There was a brief delay as the referee checked on Kidd, but he ultimately continued the match, favoring his knee throughout.
Kidd was scheduled to face Zack Sabre Jr. in the main event of night two, but instead opened the show by cutting an in-ring promo after walking out on crutches. While he withdrew from Sunday’s match, Kidd said he’s not pulling out of the tournament and hopes to return later on.
Speaking to the live crowd on Sunday, Kidd said:
“This is not how I wanted to start the G1.“
“I woke up this morning, I hyperextended my knee yesterday, and I don’t want to go out there if I can’t give 100 percent, if I can’t give great matches to people who have paid their hard-earned money to come and watch me. So, I have no other choice than to pull out of tonight’s show.”
“This was supposed to be my G1. I’m not saying I’m out the G1. The minute I’m ready to go again, put me back in.”
As a result of Kidd’s forfeit, Zack Sabre Jr. is awarded two points in the G1 Climax 35 round-robin standings.