On January 1, Shinsuke Nakamura will return to Pro Wrestling NOAH to face The Great Muta.
Nakamura, who is signed to WWE, hasn't competed in NOAH since 2013. Muta (Keiji Mutoh) is currently on his retirement tour, which will conclude on February 21, 2023. He is set to compete in his last bout as The Great Muta on January 22, 2023.
Speaking to Yahoo Sports, Nakamura discussed the bout coming together and getting WWE approval.
"I was like, "No way. I couldn't believe it. I didn't think it would happen," he said. "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."
He continued, "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."
WWE underwent a regime change in July when Vince McMahon retired as CEO amid sexual misconduct and hush money allegations. Triple H took over the creative direction while Stephanie McMahon and Nick Khan were named co-CEOs.
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