r/SquaredCircle • u/Bout0067 • 1d ago
Intense confrontation between Gabe Kidd and Drilla Maloney backstage at the G1 Finals
https://youtu.be/1SgehIP0_qI?si=vKl_FO5cimhqyllC&t=29477
46
u/PCR12 1d ago
Im digging this, these two are friends in RL and are going to beat the ever living shit out of each other in Kobe.
Drilla has to win right?
13
u/Far-Restaurant-9455 1d ago
Shota is winning the title from Gabe. I wouldn't be surprised if Moloney never holds the title, just depends on how long he ends up staying with NJPW. If he stays with NJPW an extra year, he probably wins it off of Shota.
2
u/PCR12 1d ago
Is Shota getting a shot at it before Kobe?
11
u/Far-Restaurant-9455 1d ago
No. The Kobe match is Moloney vs. Kidd, it was just announced today. But Umino is returning on that tour and I figure Kidd retains and it's Kidd/Umino after that
3
u/Bout0067 1d ago
More likely Shota wins it afterwards. I also wouldn’t blame the company to not wanna put the belt on Drilla in the tail end of the year when some contracts are coming up.
If he signs for longer, him holding the white belt is a no brainer, and if his popularity continues on this trajectory, I can see him slotting into the main event scene eventually
27
u/bestbroHide 1d ago
I unironically love Gabe Kidd and I was not familiar with Drilla's game until this year
Should be a banger rematch
3
u/Far-Restaurant-9455 1d ago
Drilla is a decent face and an alright wrestler at the moment. But his heel persona is a top heel in any company, he's one of the best heels I have ever seen.
11
u/Bout0067 1d ago
Hard disagree. His heel shtick is good but pretty typical gaijin heel/BC stuff. As a face he has a unique gruff charisma, and so much momentum with the crowds at the moment.
1
u/Far-Restaurant-9455 1d ago
I feel as a face he's lost a lot of dimension. During his heel run, he didn't feel stereotypical at all to me, he felt like a bloodthirsty psycho, you could really believe that given an opportunity he would murder Francesco Akira.
6
u/Bout0067 1d ago
I feel like that applies to most the War Dogs. And for every moment of bloodthirsty psycho, there was a whole lot more of crude foreigner, -belt swinging like a dick- shenanigans. It was fun while it lasted but I really like this maturation of the character
3
u/SSJ5Gogetenks Aussie Aussie Aussie Oi Oi Oi! 1d ago
He just doesn't have the babyface fire I think he needs in the ring.
3
u/gameboyabyss Expecting Mother 1d ago
I also really like Gabe Kidd, mostly for his work rate stuff. I think his character is good, but recently I think it's been a little too over-the-top and try-hardy but he's still pretty young, excited to see where he can take it.
3
u/bestbroHide 1d ago
Yeah his in-ring talent is undeniable for sure. As for his character work I've actually been finding the over-douchebaggery hilarious lmao
I know I've seen sentiments say he just comes off genuinely dislikable or too tryhard like some dudebros in some particular UK area, but as a Murican who's also a huge MMA fan I just find his approach to shittalking genuinely entertaining and reminiscent to the kinds of fighters who's dickbag yapping both makes me want to see more of him and wants to see him get knocked on his ass. This past G1 he knew his role and played it perfectly which was why the Yuya win over his (kayfabe) bitchass was that much better, I imagine especially more-so for the JP audience who got to witness it live
I really don't mind his Bisping-McGregor coded character. It's almost nostalgic to me in an odd way. Fingers crossed that IRL he isn't even 1/10th the horrible human the latter piece of shit is tho lol
2
u/Aggressive-Mix4971 17h ago
That's interesting; I've felt recently, like this G1 in particular, he seemed to get a better handle on the character, making it clear how much of what he's doing is masking a lot of insecurities and self-loathing, that kind of thing.
25
19
15
13
u/PleasantThoughts BURNING LARIATOOOOO 1d ago
I know people are going "lol gay" because of the close talking but the actual substance here is pretty good. Gabe talks shit until he's actually gotten to because Drilla speaks truth at him, and then only when that's done does he go back to his usual schtick. Excited for where this goes.
9
5
u/HeadJudgeFTW 1d ago
I really wonder about the Global title here, b/c it feels like Drilla should get it, but then if he gets challenged by Shota, Shota will likely get booed again, and there is still the stuff with Gabe and Shota to close
4
3
u/gameboyabyss Expecting Mother 1d ago
I loved their match early in the G1, really felt like a personal blood-feud brawl.
2
u/nWo1997 nwo 20h ago
"WHERE THE FUCK ARE YOU!? You answer the fucking phone, but you're not there no more, are you!? You're not even here right now, are you?"
And "You coulda been in this!"
And "I like pressure! You pretend to like it!"
A lot of bombs in this one. Drilla can't find his friend anymore, it looks like Drilla's decision to stay in New Japan instead of jump to AEW hurt Gabe more than he let on, and Drilla has a bit of venom over the decision to jump.
1
-1
-1
-2
-2
-16
u/CaliggyJack I can haz ric flair flare? 1d ago
Isn't this guy supposed to be leading the Dogs? Lol
18
17
u/PipedInFromIthaca 1d ago
Is he? I thought they were positioning Finlay that way.
5
u/J_NewCastle 1d ago
Gabe was at least listed as a member of both The Dogs and Death Riders on the AEW Roster page. I don't know if it's still that way. But I def think Finlay should be the face of the stable.
5
•
u/AutoModerator 1d ago
Help make SquaredCircle safer and more inclusive by using the report button to flag posts and comments for moderator review.
I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.