A few hours ago, a top star lost a major match outside AEW. The star is a close ally of The Death Riders and even joined forces with the group to unsuccessfully challenge The Opps for the World Trios Championship at the recently concluded All In: Texas PPV.
Today marked the opening night of NJPW G1 Climax 35, with Block B action taking center stage. One of the most anticipated matches on the card was Death Riders’ ally and reigning IWGP Global Heavyweight Champion Gabe Kidd taking on Konosuke Takeshita. In what was an enthralling contest, The Alpha managed to best Kidd and secure two vital points in his journey to winning G1 Climax 35.
Gabe Kidd’s reason for aligning with The Death Riders in AEW
In May 2025, Gabe Kidd, during an interaction with Denise Salcedo on YouTube, was asked about his actions at the time. The 28-year-old was coming off making a surprise appearance at Dynamite: Beach Break, where he helped Jon Moxley retain the AEW World Championship against Samoa Joe in a Steel Cage Match.
In response to Salcedo, Kidd said that he and Moxley shared a common goal, which is violence.
“You don’t need to worry about that. You know, it’s right in front of your eyes. If you want to ask these questions, and you want to know what’s going on in my mind, it’s right in front of you. So sit back, ’cause you’ll know what’s about to happen. You’ll know. We are very like-minded. That is all I need to say. We are very like-minded in our goals. In our goals, in our violent goals, we are very like-minded,” Kidd said. [H/T: Ringside News]
It is worth noting that before Kidd started appearing in AEW, the Global Heavyweight Champion was actively critical of the Jacksonville-based promotion and its rival, WWE.
Karan Raj is a senior writer in Sportskeeda’s AEW division. He holds an engineering degree from Manipal University, but his passion for sports motivated him to pursue an MSc in Sports Business from the University of Liverpool. Karan has been in the sports marketing industry for the past seven years.
As a lifelong WWE fan and enthusiast of wrestling entertainment, he has always been drawn to the industry’s unique blend of sports and storytelling. Karan was introduced to the business by his elder sister when he was 10 years old.
Before assuming his current role at Sportskeeda, Karan worked for several reputable organizations, such as Ting Works LLP and Sportz Interactive, wearing different hats. He also wrote the anthem of UP Rudras, a hockey team that played in the Hockey India League. Karan conducts thorough research while writing articles and only relies on credible sources for information.
Karan’s favorite pro wrestler is Seth Rollins. He admires The Visionary’s versatility as a performer and his ability to play both heel and babyface characters to perfection. Besides Rollins, Karan looks up to Roman Reigns for his storytelling skills and ability to captivate audiences.
In AEW, he enjoys watching Will Ospreay compete inside the ring. Karan loves The Aerial Assassin’s technical in-ring ability and athleticism. If Karan could go back to the Attitude Era, he would combine forces with Jericho and promise to elevate his career to the same level as The Rock and Stone Cold Steve Austin.When not writing about pro wrestling, Karan loves to play and watch football. It is a huge part of his life.
He is also a massive fan of tennis and is learning to play the sport. Apart from sports, he also knows how to play the ukulele.
