On January 1, Shinsuke Nakamura will return to Pro Wrestling NOAH to face The Great Muta in one of Muta's final matches as a professional.
Though Nakamura is signed to WWE, he was given the greenlight to take the match as Muta requested to work with Nakamura. The two have only wrestled two singles matches against each other with both bouts taking place in 2008.
Speaking to Pro Wrestling NOAH, Nakamura was asked how he felt about Muta picking him as one of his final opponents.
"Surprise. We had no direct relationship. We had fought twice and I lost both times. As the pro wrestler Shinsuke Nakamura, there is no way I'm having a positive impression towards him, but when I heard I was chosen as one of his last opponents, I felt honored that he had remembered me somewhere inside him. Remembering the young days when I was a fan of him, it's amazing. I wish I could tell 'you're amazing' to me as a kid. Ever since I became a pro wrestler, he's a wrestler to look up to, but at the same time, a rival. That's how I've been taught ever since. Great Muta, (Masahiro) Chono, the young day's idols were rivals to me. They were my enemy, especially since I lost twice to Muto. I was young, and since I was young, I was beaten up completely. I'm thinking that was going to be the last chance to meet him," he said.
Discussing the match coming to together, Nakamura said, "It's really an impossible situation to occur. Everything is special. You know, this year, many people had passed away or retired. In the midst of changing times this match miraculously took place versus Great Muta. It is a special match in every way. Of course, I take it special, it's Great Muta that I'm having a match with. It might not be the last match of his career, but it's a great pleasure that he chose me as one of his last opponents. 'Special' is not enough for this match, but it is a miracle in the division of the generation."
Nakamura hasn't competed in Japan since 2019 when he was on tour with WWE. He hasn't wrestled for Pro Wrestling NOAH since 2013.
When asked about performing in front of the Japanese fans again, Nakamura said, "If I can, I'd like to go all out, but it's the Great Muta, he's different from the others. Since it's going to be my first and last match with Muta, I really want to enjoy the match all the way."
Nakamura previously revealed that he was initially told "no" about facing Muta in Japan, but WWE's regime change turned the "no" into a "yes." You can find his full comments by clicking here.
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