What If Shinsuke Nakamura Shows Up On SmackDown?

There have been rumors swirling that Smackdown might be getting a new addition very soon. We previously acknowledged these reports and it forced us to ask that grand question: what if?

Reports started when Shinsuke Nakamura made the point of saying AJ Styles didn’t have a WreslteMania opponent and he’d love to fill that spot. AJ came back by saying that he would have a WrestleMania match as soon as he won the #1 contender battle royal. But he didn’t. In fact, nobody did.

At the NXT house show this week in Miami, Shinsuke Nakamura got a heartfelt birthday celebration courtesy of every face on the roster. It was awesome, and we loved it. But could it have also been somewhat of a send off?

The King of Strong Style wasn’t featured on any of the shows taped at the beginning of February and he competed in a non-canon match against TJ Perkins at the television taping on his birthday in Miami.

Is Shinsuke Nakamura being slowly written off of NXT?

Shinsuke hasn’t been booked for a match at NXT Takeover: Orlando yet. It is merely speculation that he would get his rematch against Bobby Roode, after all just because you lost a title doesn’t mean that you’re owed a legit rematch (ask AJ Styles).

The only match actually confirmed for Takeover: Orlando so far is (spoiler) The Authors of Pain, DIY, and Revival in a triple threat elimination tag match for the titles which is sure to blow the roof off the Amway Center.

Kassius Ohno vs. Booby Roode would be just as deserving of a main event slot on that card as well. This could give Nakamura the chance to jump to the main roster sooner.

The fact is Shinsuke Nakamura is such a huge name that he shouldn’t be confined to the barriers of a simple draft scenario. It would be very cool if they booked him to come and go as he pleases for a bit and work both NXT and the main roster like Kevin Owens did.

They could transition Shinsuke Nakamura slowly between both brands and eventually settle him into the main roster after Mania. It’s like my dad always said, “the best way to boil a frog is to put it in cool water and turn up the heat slowly until it’s scalding hot.” My dad is a very twisted fella.

Early reports were the plan for AJ Styles was to face Shane McMahon in Orlando. It might be because of the whole WWE Title shot angle they’ve thrown into the Wyatt program, but Shane and AJ haven’t done much to build a match at this point. AJ’s been preoccupied with the WWE Title hunt, and he needs to focus on Mania.

Please god, let that focus come in the form of a Kinshasa to the face!

Oh course, even if Vince might be considering that he could always change his mind at a moment’s notice. He might not have even seen Wrestle Kingdom 10 and know how money that match would be at WrestleMania 33.

We’ll just have to wait and see what will happen on Tuesday. Because none of us really control what goes on in WWE (unless you’re a member of WWE creative and if that’s the case, my DM’s are open).

One thing is for sure, that this writer will be typing heavily during that #1 contender’s match between Luke Harper and The Phenomenal One on Tuesday’s Smackdown Live.