Shinsuke Nakamura has been part of the WWE roster for years now, but the former United States Champion has returned to Japan where he is set to wrestle a match at an upcoming Pro Wrestling NOAH event. Nakamura recently made his way to Japan ahead of the match and Pro Wrestling NOAH posted the following footage of his arrival:
SHINSUKE NAKAMURA enjoying the atmosphere of Japan while being surrounded by reporters.
On Friday 30 December, he will attend a press conference before the Nippon Budokan with Great Muta's agent, Keiji Muto!#noah_ghc #byebyeMUTA #WWEpic.twitter.com/gVGM0eLKfy
— Pro Wrestling NOAH Global (@noahglobal) December 28, 2022
WWE Superstar triumphant return ‼ ︎ ‼
SHINSUKE NAKAMURA is in Japan ‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️
In order to have a DREAM MATCH with Great Muta at the Nippon Budokan on 1 January!
BACK TO JAPAN! #noah_ghc #byebyeMUTA #WWEpic.twitter.com/fYR9fj9Vvl
— Pro Wrestling NOAH Global (@noahglobal) December 28, 2022
As noted in the tweet above Shinsuke Nakamura will be part of a press conference at Nippon Budokan on December 30. He will then face the Great Muta during the Pro Wrestling New Year show on January 1. Nakamura recently talked about the match and he explained how he went through the process of getting it approved by WWE management.
“I was like, “No way. I couldn’t believe it. I didn’t think it would happen. It was something that would never have happened under the previous structure of the WWE. Noah came to me with the idea, and we discussed it, but my answer was no. Vince (McMahon, Chairman and CEO of WWE) stepped down in the summer, and I was advised by people within the company that it might be possible now. I still thought it would be difficult, but I even talked directly to Triple H (WWE’s vice president). When the decision was actually made, I was shaken.”
“There was a big change in the WWE between when Mutoh announced his retirement and when the match was decided. Vince, who was the symbol of everything, was retiring, and that was something that no one could believe. Everything changes in America when the top changes. At that time, there was a feeling that many things would change in the future. One of the changes that occurred to me was this. The fact that ‘no’ became ‘yes’ gave me a boost.”