Gabe Kidd made his return from injury at NJPW Dominion on Sunday, immediately targeting IWGP Global Champion Shota Umino and making clear he has no intention of waiting long before making his move.
Kidd attacked Umino after he won the IWGP Global title in a three-way match against Drilla Moloney and Andrade El Idolo, cutting a profanity-laced promo declaring Umino was never a true member of the Death Riders and that he would take the championship on his own terms.
Drilla Moloney stood on the entranceway looking uncertain about the situation. Kidd acknowledged him and told him to ignore the crowd, noting he himself once received the same kind of reaction before turning.
Kidd closed the promo by dismissing both WWE and NJPW, reaffirming his allegiance to AEW as the home of the best wrestlers in the world. He then spat at Hiroshi Tanahashi, who was doing commentary at ringside, before also spitting on the NJPW lion mark and making his exit.
Kidd had been out since suffering a shoulder injury at AEW Dynasty in April during a match for the AEW Trios titles. Since his absence, his Dogs stablemates David Finlay and Clark Connors have remained active, feuding with The Young Bucks and attacking Cope and Christian Cage following their AEW Tag Team title win at Double Or Nothing.