Last week, it was reported that several people in NJPW expressed a desire for WWE star Shinsuke Nakamura to be the final opponent of Japanese pro wrestling legend Hiroshi Tanahashi during his retirement tour, as Tanahashi is set to retire following Wrestle Kingdom 20.
According to Fightful Select, Nakamura's name was discussed as a potential candidate; however, it was characterized more as a "pipe dream" than a serious consideration. The report noted that sources within NJPW mentioned multiple factors that could hinder the possibility of a Nakamura vs. Tanahashi match. The most significant obstacle is that Nakamura is under contract with WWE, making it unlikely that they would permit the match to occur. Additionally, there are concerns about how involving a WWE talent could affect NJPW's relationship with AEW and CMLL.
The report also indicated uncertainty regarding Nakamura's availability for events outside of WWE. NJPW executives believe that Nakamura actually re-signed with WWE last year, although this has not been confirmed. Nakamura made his return to WWE television on the October 10th episode of SmackDown, responding to Sami Zayn’s open challenge for the United States Championship.
