NJPW Strong Openweight Champion Gabe Kidd returns to All Elite Wrestling this Saturday on AEW Collision.

His first appearance in in June 2024 was as a spectator on the June 26, 2024 episode of Dynamite, followed by a match on Rampage where he teamed with Roderick Strong to defeat The Infantry.

Gabe Kidd was most recently seen in action at Wrestle Dynasty on January 5, 2025, where he lost to Kenny Omega. He also recently re-signed with NJPW in March 2024, making him primarily contracted to the Japanese promotion.

The upcoming episode of AEW Collision already has announced matches including:

• Daniel Garcia defending the TNT Championship Mark Briscoe
• Private Party vs. Lio Rush and Action Andretti

Kenny Omega’s long-awaited return to the ring was a triumphant one. The former AEW World Champion defeated Gabe Kidd at Wrestle Dynasty in a thrilling penultimate match of the show, marking his first bout since December 2023.

Omega, who had been sidelined due to diverticulitis and underwent surgery in 2024, made a significant impact with his return. Fans were also treated to a surprise when Omega debuted a brand-new entrance theme composed by Masayoshi Soken, the acclaimed composer behind Final Fantasy XIV and Final Fantasy XVI.

With Omega back in the ring, fans are excited to see what’s next for him, both in New Japan and AEW. The Cleaner appeared at Worlds End following the Continental Championship match, where he presented Kazuchika Okada with the gold. Omega will be part of next week’s Dynamite, and after his successful return at Wrestle Dynasty, fans can expect many more high-profile feuds and matches for the 41-year-old wrestler.

New Japan Pro Wrestling star Gabe Kidd could soon become a free agent and depart the promotion.

NJPW Strong Openweight Champion Gabe Kidd’s contract is expiring soon, according to Fightful. However, the exact timeline has not been shared. It is unclear whether the negotiation process has started between the two parties. However, the outlet reported that Kidd is expected to be retained by NJPW.

Kidd is set to face Kenny Omega at AEW Wrestle Dynasty following his return at AEW Worlds End pay-per-view. The pair got into a backstage altercation back in November after Omega announced his return after a year-long battle with diverticulitis.

During NJPW Power Struggle, Kenny Omega opened up on his recovery from diverticulitis and stated that he’d love to make an in-ring comeback at Wrestle Dynasty on January 5th. He had also expressed his desire to square off against one of the young talents from NJPW at the event.

However, chaos ensued when Omega got backstage as he came across Gabe Kidd. The reigning NJPW Strong Openweight Champion took some shots at him and a massive brawl broke out between the two.

Gabe Kidd’s future with NJPW might be up in the air but doesn’t mean he will be heading to AEW. Kidd previously made it clear that he was not interested in joining Tony Khan’s promotion. Kidd had expressed his frustration over AEW in an interview where he said he not only doesn’t plan to join AEW. He further said that he’s not happy with the relationship between NJPW and AEW.

Kenny Omega’s return to action will come on January 5, at Wrestle Dynasty against Gabe Kidd, it has been confirmed. In a statement from New Japan Pro Wrestling, it was confirmed that the match has been made official:

“Kenny Omega will step into a pro-wrestling ring in anger for the first time in 396 days, and in an NJPW ring for the first time in two years exactly. Will he prevail against the violent mad man in the Tokyo Dome?”

Omega and Kidd have been at odds since NJPW Power Struggle where the AEW EVP teased wrestling at Wrestle Dynasty. After speaking of wanting to face one of New Japan’s young talent, Omega had an altercation with Gabe Kidd backstage.

Omega has been out of action since December of 2023 due to a battle with diverticulitis. The former AEW World Champion’s last match came against Ethan Page at the December 12, 2023 episode of Collision and he underwent surgery earlier this year. Now, Omega is poised for his long-awaited return, in what should be a must-see match at the first-ever Wrestle Dynasty pay-per-view.

New Japan Pro Wrestling has ‘punished’ Gabe Kidd following his altercation with Kenny Omega at NJPW Power Struggle 2024. On X, NJPW President Hiroshi Tanahashi had the following announcement:

“On November 4 in Osaka, after he delivered an address to the crowd, Kenny Omega was involved in a physical altercation with Gabe Kidd.

“We take this type of incident seriously, and after investigation have determined that Kidd’s actions in physically assaulting a non active wrestler were unbecoming of a professional.

“Gabe has been issued with a formal warning and a fine as a result.

“I would like to formally apologise to Kenny Omega and AEW for the distress caused.”

The incident between Omega and Kidd came after the former AEW World Champion teased a return to the ring as part of the Wrestle Dynasty event on January 5. After going backstage, Omega and Kidd ‘brawled’ in the closest Omega has come to a fight since December of last year. It was also the first time Omega has gotten physical at a wrestling event since being attacked by The Elite in May.

Omega’s brawl with Kidd has sparked talk among fans of a match between the pair for the latter’s Strong Openweight Championship at Wrestle Dynasty. The first-of-its-kind show will feature talent from AEW, New Japan, CMLL, Ring of Honor, and Stardom and will take place from the famed Tokyo Dome in Tokyo, Japan. The show will take place one day after NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 19, which will also emanate from the Tokyo Dome.

Any match for Omega will hinge on him being cleared in time, though Kota Ibushi has predicted a return is not too far away. Nevertheless, the idea of Omega finally getting back in the ring to wrestle is welcomed news to his legion of fans eager to see him back in the ring.

Kenny Omega wasn’t afraid to get physical at NJPW Power Struggle 2024, as Gabe Kidd discovered firsthand at the event in Osaka, Japan. During the show, Omega spoke about his recovery from diverticulitis and said he’d love to return to the ring at Wrestle Dynasty on January 5. Omega added that he wants to face one of the young talents from New Japan at the event.

When Omega got backstage, he was confronted by one of those young stars, 27-year-old Gabe Kidd. The reigning NJPW Strong Openweight Champion had some barbs for Omega, resulting in a brawl between the two. The segment marked the closest Omega has come to a fight since December of last year, and his first time getting physical at a wrestling event since being attacked by The Elite in May.

It’s not just at NJPW Power Struggle that Kidd and Omega have been at each other’s throats, as Kidd and Omega beefed via X in August.

Omega’s brawl with Kidd has already sparked talk among fans of a match between the pair at Wrestle Dynasty. The first-of-its-kind show will feature talent from AEW, New Japan, CMLL, Ring of Honor, and Stardom and will take place from the famed Tokyo Dome in Tokyo, Japan. The show will take place one day after NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 19, which will also emanate from the Tokyo Dome.

While Kota Ibushi has predicted Omega’s imminent return, a match with Kidd or anyone else will hinge on the AEW EVP being cleared in time. Nevertheless, the idea of Omega finally getting back in the ring to wrestle is welcomed news to his legion of fans who could get to see him tangle with Kidd once again soon enough.