Gabe Kidd Wins IWGP Global Heavyweight Title at 7/6 NJPW Road to G1 Climax 2026 Event

Monday’s NJPW Road to G1 Climax event at the Korakuen Hall in Tokyo, Japan featured Gabe Kidd defeating Shota Umino to become the new IWGP Global Heavyweight Champion.

This match was notable for a pre-match angle involving Kidd attacking the referee and confronted NJPW President Hiroshi Tanahashi in the ring. This led to a brawl breaking out between Umino and Kidd that ended with Umino getting bloodied and Kidd spitting in Tanahashi’s face after grabbing the belt off from his table and tossing it to the ground.

🔥Road to G1 CLIMAX🔥後楽園大会‼️

IWGP GLOBALヘビー級選手権試合‼️
ゴング前から場外乱闘‼️いきなり大荒れの展開に💥

🆚 @Shooter_us × @GabeKidd0115

視聴＆登録⏩「NJPW WORLD」で検索#njpwworld #G1Road pic.twitter.com/99bUwPvGjN

— NJPW WORLD (@njpwworld) July 6, 2026

.@GabeKidd0115 "The No.1 Traitor"

From the profile URL#njpwworld #G1Road pic.twitter.com/ggpYkSt55t

— NJPW WORLD (@njpwworld) July 6, 2026

During the match, Kidd hit a piledriver to Umino on the floor and spitted on Tanahashi’s face again at ringside.

.@GabeKidd0115 "Piledriver"

From the profile URL#njpwworld #G1Road pic.twitter.com/DrLsh8lKWC

— NJPW WORLD (@njpwworld) July 6, 2026

Following his victory, Kidd continued his antics tossing the IWGP Global title around and left without it and struck Tanahashi with a slap.

#andNEW
The Madman has gold once again.
Gabe Kidd defeated Shota Umino to capture the IWGP Global Heavyweight Championship

Full report:https://t.co/qSYjawVVi2

Watch the replay:https://t.co/UrAgxpY7Oe#njpw pic.twitter.com/wRrkiI9G4f

— NJPW Global (@njpwglobal) July 6, 2026

This was Kidd’s second IWGP Global Heavyweight Championship victory in his NJPW career.