Huge update on Shinsuke Nakamura's WWE return - Reports
Shinsuke Nakamura has been largely absent from WWE television in recent months, though he has competed in house shows. However, recent reports indicate that The Artist's return to the Stamford-based promotion is imminent.
The King of Strong Style faced Sheamus on the April 22, 2024 installment of Monday Night RAW. Since then, Nakamura has competed in live events against Cody Rhodes for the Undisputed WWE Championship, LA Knight for the United States Championship, and a few other superstars.
A new report from Sportskeeda Wrestling's Dr. Chris Featherstone has revealed that Shinsuke Nakamura is set to return to Friday Night SmackDown within the next few weeks as a heel. The 44-year-old star's return was initially planned for the November 8th episode of the blue brand but has been delayed due to storyline reasons.
"Shinsuke Nakamura will be making his imminent television return to SmackDown within the next few weeks. He was originally scheduled to return at the upcoming episode on November 8, but plans changed due to storyline reasons. He was last seen on television on the April 22 episode of Raw, losing to Sheamus, and his last televised match on SmackDown was a win against Karrion Kross on May 5, 2023. Current plans are for him to return as a heel," Featherstone wrote this on X.
Wrestling veteran criticizes WWE for Shinsuke Nakamura's booking
WCW veteran Konnan discussed the decline of the former Intercontinental Champion within the company. This revelation follows the intense feud between Shinsuke Nakamura and Cody Rhodes that dominated the late 2023 and early 2024 WWE landscape.
On his Keepin' It 100 podcast, Konnan said he was disappointed by the company's handling of Shinsuke Nakamura, despite initially being excited about his signing and the potential it held.
"Nakamura was very disappointing for me personally, because he was one of my favorite wrestlers," Konnan revealed. "When I last saw New Japan, after like, Nakamura, I tuned out. I liked him a lot. I think [the WWE] did a great job at resuscitating him. And then they did nothing with him."
Watch the video below:
Only time will tell whether The King of Strong Styles will make his potential return as a heel on SmackDown TV ahead of Survivor Series.
