Why WWE Could Have Let Shinsuke Nakamura Appear At Wrestle Kingdom

Was WWE behind one of its stars being forbidden from celebrating Hiroshi Tanahashi’s career at Wrestle Kingdom?

Wrestle Kingdom 20 saw Hiroshi Tanahashi compete in the final match of his legendary career. In the build-up to the match, many fans worked themselves into a shoot as they became convinced WWE’s Shinsuke Nakamura would be Tanahashi’s final opponent despite New Japan Pro Wrestling having a strong working relationship with AEW.

Mental gymnastics led many easily influenced people to believe that Tony Khan was therefore behind the decision for Tanahashi’s final opponent to be AEW’s Kazuchika Okada. After Okada defeated Tanahashi, several stars, including The Great Muta, Kenny Omega, Kota Ibushi, Katsuyori Shibata, and Tetsuya Naito, appeared to pay tribute to Tanahashi, but Nakamura wasn’t even afforded that chance. Instead, Nakamura gave Konosuke Takeshita one of his arm bands to wear during his Wrestle Kingdom match so his presence could at least be in the building.

Did WWE Stop Shinsuke Nakamura From Appearing At Wrestle Kingdom?

Speaking on Wrestling Observer Radio, Dave Meltzer discussed the situation and suggested that there would never have been an era where wrestling politics would have allowed Shinsuke Nakamura to share in Tanahashi’s final moments in the ring:

Kota Ibushi left New Japan on the worst of terms, and he was welcomed back. Katsuyori Shibata left New Japan on the worst of terms, and he was let back.

This is what really spurred it. Takeshita did an interview; he had an armband on for Nakamura, and they go, “Is that an armband for Nakamura?” He’s like, “Nakamura told me, since he’s not allowed, he wanted me to wear this so it’s kinda like he can be there.” And saying he was not allowed to be there, a lot of people got really upset.

Wrestling politics is what it is. There is no period in wrestling history where Nakamura would have been allowed to do this show. That’s not a defence because it tells you just how f*cked up promotional wars are. Obviously, he should have been there. I will say this: I know there are people who will argue this greatly, but Okada proved he should have been the guy in the match. There’s no way Nakamura could have a match this good with [Tanahashi].

But Nakamura should have been allowed to be there. I don’t know what the reason was that Nakamura couldn’t be there; the presumption was that WWE would not allow him. AEW let Billy Gunn do the WWE Hall of Fame, they let Jericho do the John Cena tribute thing, and they let Danielson do the John Cena tribute thing. WWE could have let him do the show.

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