“To lose another match?”- Good news on former champion’s WWE return after almost 6 months, wrestling fans react
In a move that'd enchant a lot of fans, WWE has considered bringing back a former champion, who's been out for a long time.
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Former Champion returning to WWE [via- Wrestle Ops/@X]
Having last wrestled a televised match in April, Shinsuke Nakamura could be returning to the fold as soon as this Friday. Back then, the 45-year-old veteran lost to Sheamus on Raw. Afterward, the Japanese wrestler was drafted to SmackDown but has yet to make an appearance. That streak is about to be broken.
As per PWInsider, the 2-time US Champion is expected at this Friday’s SmackDown from Brooklyn, which is going to be a double taping. The report didn’t specify whether Shin would be there to wrestle a dark match or he’d be used on air. 2024 has been a forgettable year for Nakamura. The King of Strong Style has won only one out of 40 matches he’s had.
In June, Shinsuke told Sportsnet that he loves working for WWE. Despite being with the company for almost 8 years now, Nakamura believes he’s still not an accomplished vet. The Kyoto-born wrestler was pegged for a move back to NJPW after his current WWE deal expires. Dave Meltzer of WON shot down the idea, saying that Shin is now acclimatized to living in the US.
Meltzer also alluded to a substantial gap in pay the two companies offer. WWE contracts are simply more lucrative than those in NJPW. So that’s also a reason to factor into Shin’s reluctance to quit WWE at this stage of his career. He’s already midway through his 40s and would eventually wind down on how frequently he’d compete moving forward.
As stated above, the former IWGP Champion hasn’t had a televised WWE match since late April, despite being healthy. But he’s been constantly on the road for the promotion, having been a constant feature on house shows.
Fans show mixed emotions as Shinsuke Nakamura closes in on WWE return
Shinsuke Nakamura’s addition to SmackDown would be a massive shot in the arm for their roster. The blue brand’s mid-card has been predominantly carried by a handful of names, including LA Knight, Andrade, and Carmelo Hayes, since the draft.
Nakamura’s inclusion sounds fascinating, but not to every single fan on social media. In fact, some are burned out with the fact that he’s already lost loads of credibility in WWE over the years.
As always, there’s also an optimistic bunch of people who expect Shin to build some momentum upon his return. A minority of fans believe that he’d be a natural fit as Knight’s next challenger for the United States Championship.
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