Here’s your daily, necessary reminder that this is really happening.
In an interview with Tokyo Sports, current IWGP Intercontinental Champion Shinsuke Nakamura confirmed that he will leave New Japan Pro Wrestling at the end of the month. You can read a translated version of the interview here.
The day after Wrestle Kingdom 10, New Japan’s biggest event of the year, news broke that a handful of NJPW’s top stars had given their notice and would be leaving for WWE. WWE and NXT stars have been like, “HEY WELCOME IT’S GREAT TO HAVE YOU,” and even WWE.com posted an article addressing the rumors. That’s funny for two reasons:
1. WWE not knowing WWE’s own news. “We heard these WWE rumors, but we don’t know who to ask!”
2. A lot of people read the article as confirmation of the rumors — why else would WWE themselves publish a piece on it if it wasn’t true? — but it also reads as, “we’d like some of this web traffic until we confirm or deny.”
As PWInsider points out, Nakamura is under contract with New Japan until the end of the month, meaning he hasn’t officially spoken to WWE about signing. Officially. That said, it looks like Kenny Omega may be the #1 gaijin by February. With A.J. Styles’ emotional, apparent goodbye, we’re just waiting for the other shoe to drop.
