Shota Umino vs. Gabe Kidd for IWGP Global Heavyweight Title Official for 7/6 Road to G1 Climax Event

New Japan Pro-Wrestling has confirmed IWGP Global Heavyweight Champion Shota Umino’s next title defense.

Earlier this month, at NJPW Dominion, Shota Umino defeated Andrade El Idolo and Drilla Moloney in a three-way match to capture the IWGP Global Heavyweight Championship.

However, his celebrations were short-lived, as Gabe Kidd made his shocking return and ambushed the newly crowned champion.

Umino notched up a successful title defense against The Death Riders’ PAC at last night’s Forbidden Door event. Earlier today, NJPW announced that Shota Umino would defend his title against Gabe Kidd at Road to G1 Climax on Monday, July 6.

The July 6 event will be headlined by YOH vs. Francesco Akira for the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship.

Here’s what NJPW wrote in its preview:

“In a massive shock addition to the card, Korakuen Hall will see its first-ever IWGP Global heavyweight Championship defense, with Shota Umino putting the belt on the line against Gabe Kidd. Moments after Umino won the Global title, his first career championship, at Dominion, he was attacked from behind by Kidd. The ‘Madman’ had previously attacked Yota Tsuji when Tsuji still held the white belt back in April, initially challenging for the gold for Dontaku, but a shoulder injury put him on the shelf.

“This time, it wasn’t the belt that was Kidd’s target, but its holder; Kidd has long held some of his deep reserves of ire just for Umino, but now that Shota was a champion, Kidd was eager to rain on his parade and tell the Hontai star that he ‘isn’t and never will be a Death Rider.’ With Kidd currently unable to wrestle in the United States, it was PAC that stepped up to challenge Umino for the Death Riders team instead, and mere hours before the July 6 card was finalized, Umino racked up his first defense with an impressive victory in San Jose at Forbidden Door.

“Umino would endure tremendous punishment from the AEW star, being thrown through ringside tables and enduring PAC’s Brutalizer submission. Once again, though, Umino will have little time to celebrate his victory. Kidd is bound and determined to steal away the Global title from New Japan, but more significantly, to maim Shota and take him from his greatest career high to date to his absolute nadir.”

ICYMI

Shota Umino said any time any place, and we now have both!

Umino puts the IWGP Global title on the line MONDAY July 6 in Korakuen!https://t.co/ghoG5JtZEN#njpw #g1road pic.twitter.com/AyRnAmq3Vf

— NJPW Global (@njpwglobal) June 29, 2026