In 2019, when Gabe Kidd arrived for his training in New Japan Pro-Wrestling, he'd already had roughly a decade under his belt in the industry. Like the majority of NJPW recruits, however, he was forced to start at square one, living in the promotion's training facility in Japan as a "young lion." Speaking on "Talk Is Jericho," Kidd described his difficulty adjusting to the experience."100%, it was hard [to check my ego]," Kidd stated. "I went there September 2019, but I was on like a three-month training period, but it was me and [Katsuyori] Shibata. ... I remember running the ropes one day, and Shibata's like, 'No. Do it again.' But it's the New Japan way, it's not the way that I've been running the ropes for 12 years at that point it's the New Japan specific way, which is the right way to do it, and I just can't understand."That struggle served as a blow to Kidd's confidence, but he now acknowledges that while there is a place for a large ego in pro wrestling, it can also be a detriment in some situations. Looking back at the situations throughout his life where he has learned valuable lessons, it always comes after having to put his feelings aside and admit there is room for him to improve.
Kidd also had trouble dealing with the language barrier, as no one else in the dojo at that time spoke fluent English. Although he tried to learn Japanese, he was never able to fully pick up the language. Even with that aside, the lifestyle was tough to get used to."Unless you've been in the New Japan dojo, you don't know what it's like," he said. "Every day, you're living in a place that's just work. You wake up in the morning if you go to a job in the office, you have that morning time to yourself. ... I walk downstairs, I have to see my elders and greet them, and wash their laundry from the get-go, and then have to make the food all day, and then do the training."After putting in plenty of hard work in the dojo, Kidd was confident that he was ready for a prominent position in NJPW. It took longer than he would've liked, however, and he feels that he never gained the full confidence of the company, despite believing he'd done everything in his power to earn it. Because of that, Kidd made the decision to leave NJPW for AEW.If you use any quotes from this article, please credit "Talk Is Jericho" and provide a h/t to Wrestling Inc. for the transcription.
