How Gabe Kidd’s Injury Affected NJPW G1 Plans

Gabe Kidd is sidelined with an injury and out of the NJPW G1. This caused some issues with NJPW’s planning, but not too much.

Fightful Select spoke to New Japan Pro Wrestling sources who admitted the situation was touch and go as the tournament started, and they weren’t initially sure how things would go. Early on, NJPW sources feared a torn MCL, but ended up being a hyperextension. Still, NJPW felt it was best to have Kidd removed from the tournament.

With someone like Kidd withdrawn, this causes natural shifts in the tourney, as he now has forfeited all of his matches. As a result this affects the plans for the standings. However, it was specified to us by New Japan sources, that they didn’t believe he was slated for the semifinals. As a result, that ended up helping ease things in adjusting for Kidd’s absence.

This article first appeared on our premium service, Fightful Select and was republished here on Fightful for SEO reasons. If you complain about it being “old news,” you have to fight everyone that is mean to SRS. Subscribe to get exclusive news every day, and a half-dozen weekly podcasts.

To directly support us and our continuing breaking news, interviews, and the like, subscribe to FightfulSelect.com. You’ll get exclusive news sent to you directly before anyone else, and dozens of podcasts monthly including Alex Pawlowski’s Sour Graps, Sean Ross Sapp’s Q&A, Retro Reviews and more