Recent online speculation suggested that WWE star Shinsuke Nakamura was on his way out of the company, following reports that PWTorch’s Wade Keller had claimed Nakamura was set to leave soon. The rumors also stated that he would drop the United States Championship to LA Knight as part of his exit plan. However, these claims have now been debunked, with Keller’s words apparently being misinterpreted by social media users.
Speaking on Wrestling Observer Radio, Dave Meltzer provided insight into the situation, revealing what he had gathered after reaching out to WWE regarding Nakamura’s rumored departure.
“When that story first broke, I immediately asked WWE, and they quickly responded,” Meltzer explained. “They did not refute what Wade Keller said, but they did clarify that Nakamura is not leaving.”
Despite this clarification, uncertainty still lingers. Meltzer attempted to confirm whether Nakamura’s match against Knight marked his final appearance with WWE or if the company planned to keep him off television for the remainder of his contract. However, WWE did not respond to those queries.
A major part of the speculation surrounding Nakamura’s rumored exit revolves around a potential return to New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW), possibly to participate in the retirement tour of his former rival, Hiroshi Tanahashi.
“I don’t know when his contract expires,” Meltzer admitted. “Would they let him do a one-off match in New Japan? If this were Vince McMahon’s era, I’d say no. But under the current management, if he really pushes for it, there’s a possibility.”
Meltzer also pointed out that WWE previously allowed Nakamura to return to Pro Wrestling NOAH in Japan to be part of The Great Muta’s retirement festivities. However, WWE has a stronger relationship with NOAH, whereas NJPW maintains ties with AEW, WWE’s biggest competitor. This factor could make WWE hesitant to allow Nakamura to wrestle for NJPW.
For now, Nakamura remains under WWE contract, and the company has denied any plans to release him. While his future remains uncertain, fans can rest assured that as of now, the King of Strong Style is still part of WWE.
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