New Japan Pro Wrestling has announced that Gabe Kidd will forfeit his scheduled G1 Climax tournament match with Shingo Takagi on Wednesday.
Kidd, 28, had been slated to face Takagi in a B Block match in Nagaoka. However, the knee hyperextension he sustained while wrestling Konosuke Takeshita in his first match of the tournament on July 19 will keep him sidelined.
In a statement issued on Tuesday evening (US/Canada eastern time), NJPW confirmed that Takagi would win the match via forfeit, automatically collecting 2 points.
The company noted that further information on Kidd’s status will be released when available.
The full statement reads:
Thank you for supporting New Japan Pro-Wrestling.
Gabe Kidd, who sustained an injury to his right knee on day one of G1 Climax 35 competition July 19, has yet to be cleared for return and as a result, will miss July 23’s event in Nagaoka.
We apologise to fans who were looking forward to seeing Kidd wrestle, and appreciate your understanding.
Tonight’s scheduled match between Gabe Kidd and Shingo Takagi will be cancelled, and Takagi will earn two points via forfeit.
More information on Kidd’s status will be released as it becomes available.
Kidd missed his second scheduled match of the tournament on Sunday, with his opponent, Zack Sabre Jr, earning 2 points via forfeit. Kidd came to the ring on crutches at the beginning of that show, voicing his desire to be put back into the tournament as soon as he was able to wrestle.
