WWE Superstar set to return to major wrestling promotion months after his last TV appearance
WWE's working relationship with other wrestling promotions is set to continue in 2025. Former Intercontinental Champion Shinsuke Nakamura has been confirmed to appear at Pro Wrestling NOAH's New Year's Day show.
In October 2022, Pro Wrestling NOAH announced that Nakamura would appear in the promotion at the New Year show scheduled for January 1, 2023. At the event, he defeated The Great Muta.
Nakamura has been absent from WWE TV for several months. His last appearance was on the April 22, 2024, edition of Monday Night RAW, where he faced Sheamus.
On X, Pro Wrestling NOAH released a video to announce the return of The King of Strong Style to Nippon Budokan on the upcoming New Year's Day.
Check out the announcement made by Pro Wrestling NOAH:
Despite his absence from television, The King of Strong Style received a shot at the United States Championship during the Stamford-based company's ongoing tour of the UK. Unfortunately for him, he failed to beat LA Knight for the title.
Konnan believes WWE ruined Shinsuke Nakamura's momentum
Wrestling veteran Konnan recently expressed his disappointment over WWE's treatment of Shinsuke Nakamura.
Speaking on the Keepin' It 100 OFFICIAL podcast, the WCW veteran explained how the company was on course to rebuild the Japanese star before eventually dropping the ball on him.
"Nakamura was very disappointing for me personally because he was one of my favorite wrestlers," Konnan said. "When I last saw New Japan, after like, Nakamura, I tuned out. I liked him a lot. I think they did a great job at resuscitating him. And then they did nothing with him."
Nakamura is a two-time NXT Champion, a two-time Intercontinental Champion, a two-time United States Champion, and a one-time SmackDown Tag Team Champion. In 2018, he also won the Men's Royal Rumble Match but eventually failed to beat AJ Styles at WrestleMania.
It remains to be seen if the company decides to bring him back to TV in the future.