There is an update on Shinsuke Nakamura’s absence from WWE TV, and it may disappoint his long-time fans.
Nakamura was drafted from the Monday Night Raw brand to Friday Night SmackDown back in April. Despite this, the Japanese wrestling legend has yet to appear on TV since the WWE Draft.
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Nakamura has wrestled in several WWE live events this year, and those are set to be greatly reduced in 2025. On those non-televised events, Nakamura has challenged for the Undisputed WWE Championship and the United States Championship. He even defeated The Bloodline in a tag team match with Kevin Owens and LA Knight in Tokyo, Japan.
So, what is going on with the “King of Strong Style” in terms of TV appearances?
Shinsuke Nakamura Missing TV Time Due to WWE Creative
Dave Meltzer of Wrestling Observer reports that Shinsuke Nakamura hasn’t gotten TV time on SmackDown because the WWE creative team doesn’t have any plans for him at this time. The news might be puzzling to some given that the blue brand is lacking when it comes to top heels.
As of late, WWE has been teasing turning Kevin Owens, and there’s always the possibility that Randy Orton can slide back into the villain role. With that said, leaving a legend such as Nakamura off TV hasn’t been well received by fans online.
Nakamura is a former two-time WWE Intercontinental Champion and he has also won the United States gold twice. While Nakamura was in the losing role more often than not during his recent stint on Raw, he remains a popular name who WWE fans easily recognize.
What happens next with Nakamura should be interesting to follow. Stick with Ringside Intel for the latest updates on your favorite WWE and AEW stars.
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