Gabriel Michael McMenamin (born 24 April 1997) is an English

professional wrestler Professional wrestling, often shortened to either pro wrestling or wrestling,The term "wrestling" is most often widely used to specifically refer to modern scripted professional wrestling, though it is also used to refer to real-life wrest ...

. He is working for

New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW) is a Puroresu, Japanese professional-wrestling Professional wrestling promotion, promotion founded on January 13, 1972, by Antonio Inoki, and based in Nakano, Tokyo. It is currently majority owned by card-game company Bushiroad, with TV As ...

(NJPW) under the ring name Gabe Kidd, is a member of the

Bullet Club , stylized as BULLET CLUB and sometimes shortened to BC, is a professional wrestling Glossary of professional wrestling terms#stable, stable primarily appearing in the Japanese Professional wrestling promotion, promotion New Japan Pro-Wrestling ...

and its War Dogs sub-group, and is the

IWGP Global Heavyweight Champion The is a professional wrestling Professional wrestling championship#Location-specific championships, championship owned and promoted by the New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW) Professional wrestling promotion, promotion. "IWGP" are the initials of NJP ...

in his first reign. He is also a former Strong Openweight Champion and

Strong Openweight Tag Team Champion The is a professional wrestling tag team championship owned and promoted by the New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW) promotion. The title is exclusively featured on NJPW's Strong brand and is usually defended at NJPW Strong branded shows in America ...

. He also makes appearances for partner promotion

All Elite Wrestling All Elite Wrestling (AEW) is an American professional wrestling promotion headquartered in Jacksonville, Florida. It is owned and operated by Shahid Khan, Shahid and Tony Khan, with the latter serving as President (corporate title), president an ...

(AEW).

Professional wrestling career

Early career (2011–2019)

McMenamin made his debut in 2011 under the name Kid Danger and at that time, he wrestled under a mask to conceal his age. In 2013, McMenamin switched to the name of Gabriel Kidd. On 29 April 2017, Kidd won the WCPW Internet Championship, one of the titles of WhatCulture Pro Wrestling, in a triple threat match involving defending champion

Cody Rhodes Cody Garrett Runnels Rhodes (born June 30, 1985) is an American Professional wrestling, professional wrestler. As of April 2022, he is signed to WWE, where he performs on the SmackDown (WWE brand), SmackDown brand. He is also known for co-fou ...

and

Joe Hendry Joe Hendry (born 1 May 1988) is a Scottish Professional wrestling, professional wrestler and musician. He is signed to Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA), while also making appearances for partner promotion WWE on its NXT (WWE brand), NXT WW ...

. He lost the title to

Zack Sabre Jr. Lucas James Uggles Eatwell (born 24 July 1987), known by his ring name and its abbreviated form ZSJ, is an English-born professional wrestler. He is signed to New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW). In NJPW, he is the second and current leader of the ...

on 21 September. On 2 June 2019, Kidd lost to Hendry in a " Loser Leaves Town" match, after which he left Defiant Wrestling. On 29 June, at a

Revolution Pro Wrestling Revolution Pro Wrestling (RevPro/RPW) is a British professional wrestling Professional wrestling promotion, promotion founded on 26 August 2012 by Andy Quildan after separating from International Pro Wrestling: United Kingdom. Revolution Pro Wre ...

event, Kidd teamed with Kenneth Halfpenny and Shaun Jackson where they defeated Brendan White, NJPW

young lion Professional wrestling has accrued a considerable amount of jargon throughout its existence. Much of it stems from the industry's origins in the days of Traveling carnival, carnivals and circuses. In the past, professional wrestlers used such term ...

Clark Connors Connor Deutsch (born October 6, 1993), better known by his ring name Clark Connors, is an American Professional wrestling, professional wrestler. He is signed to New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW), where he is a member of the Bullet Club stable and ...

and Karl Fredericks.

Katsuyori Shibata } is a Japanese professional wrestler, trainer, and former mixed martial artist. He is signed to All Elite Wrestling (AEW), where he is a member of The Opps and is one-third of the AEW World Trios Champions with Samoa Joe and Powerhouse Hobbs. ...

, was so impressed with Kidd and he went on to recommend him to NJPW officials, leading Kidd to be signed by NJPW.

New Japan Pro-Wrestling (2020–present)

Young Lion (2020–2023)

On 25 January 2020, Kidd made his debut at

. Later the same year, he entered the

New Japan Cup __NOTOC__ The New Japan Cup (NJC) is an annual single-elimination professional wrestling tournament held by New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW) since 2005. It is considered the second most prominent heavyweight tournament in NJPW, after the G1 Climax wh ...

and lost to

Taiji Ishimori is a Japanese Professional wrestling, professional wrestler. He is signed to New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW), where he is a member of Bullet Club and its List of Bullet Club members#War Dogs, War Dogs sub-group. Ishimori is a three-time IWGP Junio ...

in the first round on 17 June. On 20 November 2022, at Historic X-Over, Kidd teamed with LA Dojo stablemates, Clark Connors, Kevin Knight and Alex Coughlin to defeat

Kosei Fujita is a Japanese Professional wrestling, professional wrestler. He is signed to New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW), where he is a member of The Mighty Don't Kneel stable. He is a former IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship, IWGP Junior Heavyw ...

, Oskar Leube, Ryohei Oiwa and Yuto Nakashima. A few days later, Coghlin and Kidd teamed together in the

World Tag League The World Tag League may refer to any of the following professional wrestling tournaments held in Japan: * World Tag League (JWA), 1970 to 1972, hosted by Japanese Wrestling Association * World Tag League (NJPW), annually since 1991, hosted by New ...

, where they finished bottom of their block with just 2 points.

Bullet Club; War Dogs (2023–present)

On 4 June 2023, at

Dominion A dominion was any of several largely self-governance, self-governing countries of the British Empire, once known collectively as the ''British Commonwealth of Nations''. Progressing from colonies, their degrees of self-governing colony, colon ...

, Coughlin and Kidd, branded as Bullet Club War Dogs attacked Bishamon (

Hirooki Goto is a Japanese Professional wrestling, professional wrestler. He is signed to New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW), where he is the IWGP World Heavyweight Champion in his first reign. He is also one-half of the tag team Bishamon alongside Yoshi-Hashi. ...

and

Yoshi-Hashi is a Japanese professional wrestler, signed to New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW), where he performs under the ring name Yoshi-Hashi (stylized in all caps as YOSHI-HASHI), and is a former four-time IWGP Tag Team Champion, with Hirooki Goto; as well ...

), following their victory of capturing both the

IWGP Tag Team Championship The is a professional wrestling world tag team championship owned by the New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW) promotion. "IWGP" is the acronym of the NJPW's governing body, the . The title was introduced on December 12, 1985 at an NJPW live event. T ...

and the

Strong Openweight Tag Team Championship The is a professional wrestling tag team championship owned and promoted by the New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW) Professional wrestling promotion, promotion. The title is exclusively featured on NJPW's NJPW Strong, Strong brand and is usually def ...

s, signalling their challenge for both titles, officially turning both men

heel The heel is the prominence at the posterior end of the foot. It is based on the projection of one bone, the calcaneus or heel bone, behind the articulation of the bones of the lower leg. Structure To distribute the compressive forces exerted ...

for the first time. The duo later accompanied Bullet Club leader, David Finlay to the ring in Bullet Club shirts, officially joining the stable. On 4 July, night 1 of NJPW Independence Day, Kidd (now under the shortened name Gabe Kidd) and Coughlin defeated Bishamon to win the Strong Openweight Tag Team Championships, marking both men’s first NJPW championships. Later in the month, Kidd participated in the

G1 Climax The is a professional wrestling tournament held each August by the New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW) promotion. Though it has sometimes been held as a single-elimination tournament, it is usually – and currently – held as a round-rob ...

making his tournament debut and competing in the A Block. Before the tournament, at the press conference Kidd attacked fellow A Block participants,

Yota Tsuji is a Japanese professional wrestler signed to New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW), where he is the IWGP Global Heavyweight Champion in his first reign. Tsuji is the winner of the 2024 New Japan Cup and is a one-time NEVER Openweight 6-Man Tag Team ...

and

Kaito Kiyomiya is a Japanese professional wrestler. He is signed to Pro Wrestling Noah, where he is former and three-time GHC Heavyweight Championship, GHC Heavyweight Champion. He also makes appearances for partner promotion New Japan Pro-Wrestling. Early lif ...

, causing him to be removed from the conference prematurely. In the tournament, Kidd finished with 5 points, failing to advance to the quarterfinal round. On 9 October at Destruction in Ryōgoku, Kidd and Coughlin lost the Strong Openweight Tag Team Titles to

Guerrillas of Destiny The Tongans, formerly known as Guerrillas of Destiny (G.O.D), is a Tongan-American professional wrestling tag team currently signed with WWE, founded by and consisting of brothers Alipate Leone and Tevita Fifita, who both perform on the Smack ...

(

El Phantasmo Riley Vigier (born October 24, 1986) is a Canadian Professional wrestling, professional wrestler. He is signed to New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW), where he performs under the ring name El Phantasmo (often shortened to ELP) and is the NJPW World Tel ...

and Hikuleo), ending their reign at 97 days. The duo attempted to rebound the following month, entering the annual

, competing in the A-Block. Kidd and Coughlin finished joint top of their block, with 10 points, advancing to the semi-final round. In the semi-final round, the duo were defeated by Bishamon, eliminating them from the tournament. On 17 March 2024 it was reported that Kidd had re-signed with NJPW. Kidd participated in the 2024 New Japan Cup, where he defeated Callum Newman in the first round, but would be eliminated by

Shingo Takagi (born 21 November 1982), known by the ring name Shingo Takagi (鷹木信悟, ''Takagi Shingo''), is a Japanese professional wrestling, professional wrestler. He is signed to New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW). He is a former member of the ''Los Ingob ...

in the second. At

Sakura Genesis Sakura Genesis is an annual professional wrestling event promoted by New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW) since Invasion Attack (2013), 2013. Held annually at Tokyo's Ryōgoku Kokugikan, the event has been nicknamed . Originally known as Invasion Attack ...

, Kidd attacked Takagi after the latter defeated

Evil Evil, as a concept, is usually defined as profoundly immoral behavior, and it is related to acts that cause unnecessary pain and suffering to others. Evil is commonly seen as the opposite, or sometimes absence, of good. It can be an extreme ...

for the

NEVER Openweight Championship The is a professional wrestling championship owned by the New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW) promotion. NEVER is an acronym of the terms "New Blood", "Evolution", "Valiantly", "Eternal", and "Radical" and was an NJPW-promoted series of events, which ...

and cut a

worked shoot A shoot in professional wrestling is any unplanned, unscripted, or real-life occurrence within a wrestling event. It is a carny term shortened from "straight shooting", which originally referred to a gun in a carnival target shooting game that ...

promo, criticizing NJPW, spitting in the face of NJPW President

Hiroshi Tanahashi is a Japanese professional wrestler, sports executive and Podcast, podcaster. He is signed to New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW), where he serves as the president and representative director of the promotion, and is also an active wrestler. Widel ...

, and then challenged Takagi for his championship. On night 2 of Wrestling Dontaku, Kidd was unsuccessful in winning the championship from Takagi. On 11 May he defeated

Eddie Kingston Edward Moore (born December 12, 1981), better known by the ring name Eddie Kingston, is an American professional wrestler. , he is signed to All Elite Wrestling (AEW), where he is out of in-ring action because of a leg injury, but continues to mak ...

in a No Ropes Last Man Standing match at Resurgence to become the youngest ever Strong Openweight Champion. On June 9, Kidd appeared in Pro Wrestling Noah, teaming with Jake Lee, who was aligned with Bullet Club War Dogs, to face All Rebellion's Kaito Kiyomiya and Kenoh in a double count out. During the match, Kidd busted open Kiyomiya, though afterwards Kiyomiya got the upperhand and proclaimed that the title wasn't for him to own and that he would return the "bloodbath" in their title match. On June 16, at Grand Ship In Yokohama, Kidd unsuccessfully challenged Kiyomiya for the GHC Heavyweight Championship, ending Bullet Club War Dogs' feud with Kiyomiya's All Rebellion. From July 20 and August 14, Kidd took part in the 2024 G1 Climax finishing the tournament with a record of four wins and five losses, failing to advance to the play-off match of the tournament. For the 2024 World Tag League, Kidd teamed with the newest War Dogs addition

Sanada Sanada is a Japanese surname. Notable people with the surname include: * Asami Sanada (born 1977), Japanese voice actress *, Japanese shogi player * Juzo Sanada (1923–1994), Japanese baseball player * Hiroki Sanada (born 1984), Japanese baseb ...

, where they were placed in A-Block. The duo finished at the top of their block and advanced to the grand finals, where they lost to

Tetsuya Naito is a Japanese Professional wrestling, professional wrestler. He is best known for his 20-year run in New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW), where he served as the leader of the ''Los Ingobernables de Japon'' stable, and was a multi-time world champion. ...

and

Hiromu Takahashi (born December 4, 1989) is a Japanese professional wrestling, professional wrestler. He is signed to New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW), where he is a member of the ''Los Ingobernables de Japón'' stable. Takahashi made his debut for NJPW on Augus ...

. On 5 January 2025 at Wrestle Dynasty, Kidd was defeated by

Kenny Omega Tyson Smith (born October 16, 1983), better known by the ring name , is a Canadian-born professional wrestler. He is signed to All Elite Wrestling (AEW), where he is the current AEW International Champion in his first reign. He also works as an ...

. Kidd then wrestled

at The New Beginning in Osaka to a double knockout draw, failing to capture the IWGP Global Heavyweight Championship. After the bout concluded,

returned to action as the

House of Torture House of Torture is a villainous professional wrestling stable primarily appearing in the Japanese promotion New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW); it was formerly a sub-grouping of the stable Bullet Club. The stable is led by Evil and also consists of ...

contingent of the

attacked Kidd, declaring that they cut ties with the War Dogs sub-unit. On 11 April at Windy City Riot, Kidd lost his Strong Openweight title to

Tomohiro Ishii is a Japanese professional wrestler. He is signed to New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW), where he is currently a double champion: being the Strong Openweight Champion in his first reign, and one-half of the current IWGP Tag Team Champions with Ta ...

in a 30-minute Iron Man match in sudden death overtime 2-1.

All Elite Wrestling / Ring of Honor (2024–present)

Due to the relationship between NJPW and

(AEW), he has appeared on both AEW and its sister promotion

Ring of Honor Ring of Honor (ROH) is an American professional wrestling promotion based in Jacksonville, Florida. The promotion was founded by Rob Feinstein on February 23, 2002, and was operated by Cary Silkin from 2004 until 2011; the promotion was subs ...

(ROH) in 2024 and 2025, defeating the likes of The Butcher and Anthony Henry. Starting in May 2025, Kidd aligned himself with

Jon Moxley Jonathan David Good (born December 7, 1985) is an American professional wrestler. He is signed to All Elite Wrestling (AEW), where he performs under the ring name Jon Moxley and is the current AEW World Championship, AEW World Champion in his ...

and his stable the

Death Riders The Death Riders are a villainous professional wrestling stable that performs in All Elite Wrestling (AEW), New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW), and Ring of Honor (ROH). The stable consists of the leader Jon Moxley, Claudio Castagnoli, Wheeler Yuta, ...

, assisting them in matches at ''Dynamite'': Beach Break and

Double or Nothing Double or nothing (UK often double or quits) is a gamble to decide whether a loss or debt should be doubled. The result of a "double or nothing" bet is either cancellation of a debt ''or'' the doubling of a debt. It can be seen as a gentleman's ag ...

Championships and accomplishments

Gabe Kidd with the Strong Openweight Championship

*Empire Wrestling **Empire Tag Team Championship (1 time, inaugural) – with

Saxon Huxley Ross Cooke (born 1 February 1988) is an English professional wrestler best known under the ring name Saxon Huxley. He is currently signed to Pro Wrestling Noah. He is best known for his time with WWE, where he performed on the NXT UK brand, a ...

*House Of Pain Wrestling **HOP Heavyweight Championship (1 time) **HOP Tag Team Championship (2 times) – with Moustachio (1) and Matt Hopkins (1) *Kamikaze Pro **Relentless Division Championship (1 time) *

** IWGP Global Heavyweight Championship (1 time, current) ** Strong Openweight Championship ( 1 time) **

( 1 time) – with Alex Coughlin *Underground Wrestling Revolution **UWR Empire Championship (1 time) *What Culture Pro Wrestling **WCPW Internet Championship (1 time) *''

Pro Wrestling Illustrated ''Pro Wrestling Illustrated'' (''PWI'') is an American professional wrestling magazine that was founded in 1979 by publisher Stanley Weston. ''PWI'' is headquartered in Blue Bell, Pennsylvania, and published by Kappa Publishing Group. The maga ...

'' **Ranked No. 194 of the top 500 singles wrestlers in the ''

PWI 500 ''Pro Wrestling Illustrated'' (''PWI'') is an American professional wrestling magazine that was founded in 1979 by publisher Stanley Weston. ''PWI'' is headquartered in Blue Bell, Pennsylvania, and published by Kappa Publishing Group. The maga ...

'' in 2024

References

External links

New Japan Pro Wrestling Profile
* {{DEFAULTSORT:Kidd, Gabriel 1997 births Bullet Club members Living people Sportspeople from Nottingham English male professional wrestlers 21st-century male professional wrestlers Expatriate professional wrestlers in Japan Strong Openweight Champions Strong Openweight Tag Team Champions 21st-century English sportsmen IWGP Global Heavyweight Champions