Sometimes, blood can make or break a match. It’s a tightrope walk between emotional depth and empty shock value — and this match at NJPW Dontaku 2025 walked that line perfectly. The balance was there: enough blood to remind you this was war, enough violence to make it feel earned.
I still haven’t brought myself to watch the first match between these sides — that was a bit much, personally. But this one? This one was right. And if we ever need to go back and revisit this match down the line, I’ll be okay watching it again.
There’s something visceral about how Gabe Kidd and Ren Narita fought. Watching them go at it, you start to see the story they’re each trying to tell with every suplex and strike. There’s also this small moment — blood on the camera lens — that hits just right. The chaos feels close, unfiltered. Red Shoes just hanging back in the corner, waiting to count the three — it felt like a war zone, not a wrestling match.
And speaking of war zones — can we talk about Evil? The man handcuffed Finlay to the damn cage and hung him with a dog collar chain. My stress levels skyrocketed. I’m putting Evil over here… but I also want him to know he’s stressing me out. Someone translate that for me, please.
Blood and Balance in Wrestling Storytelling
Not all blood is created equal. In men’s matches, the brutality often fits the narrative, the stakes. But women? Most of the time, they don’t need it to be seen as equals. That’s not a knock — that’s a praise. The storytelling is there, with or without the blade.
Gabe Kidd Isn’t a Leader — He’s the Best Soldier You’ve Got
Gabe Kidd getting the pin is interesting, because while he’s had beef with Ren Narita, the real escalation came from Evil. So why not have Evil take the fall?
Here’s why: Gabe Kidd’s win tells us about the power dynamics of Bullet Club War Dogs. If Finlay ever walks away, Kidd might be positioned to take the reins. But for now? I don’t see him as a leader. His temper is too wild. He’s a passionate, violent, layered fighter — but not the calculating general that Finlay is. Gabe is the heart. David is the mind.
Kidd’s victory over Narita isn’t just a result. It’s character growth. Its belief turned into force. Gabe fights like he’s stared death in the face and laughed. That edge — that sheer belief in his ability to win — is what pushes him ahead of others, not just brute strength.
House of Torture: Scoundrels, Soldiers, and Structure
Evil is the king. Dick Togo’s his consigliere. Sho and Ren Narita? Scoundrels. The kind of guys you send in to do the dirty work and make it look clean. They’re not the weakest links — they’re the most cunning. Meanwhile, Kanemaru and Yujiro? The guys you want in a bar fight. They might bail halfway through, but if they show up, things are getting messy.
Narita losing to Gabe Kidd says something about both factions. It affirms Finlay’s role as commander and Kidd’s as his most trusted weapon. It also reminds us of that House of Torture plays dirty — but sometimes, that’s not enough.
Pull Quotes
"Gabe Kidd is a soldier — not a general."
"Sho and Ren are scoundrels — the quiet kind you don’t see coming."
"This is the first time Evil has me stressed out."
"Gabe believes he’s better than everyone else — and that belief gives him the edge."
"Not everyone needs to bleed to be on the same level."
"Red Shoes in the corner like a ref in a warzone — just waiting to count three."
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