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Shinsuke Nakamura could make a shocking switch back to New Japan Pro Wrestling, according to Wrestling Observer head honcho Dave Meltzer.

’The Artist’ hasn’t exactly graced the WWE main roster canvas with too many masterpieces since being called up from a substantially more impressive NXT stint in 2017. His year on the celebrated Developmental Brand had an electric start with a Dallas debut against Sami a sun, but Nakamura’s partially reduced workrate later that year didn’t marry up with his magnetic presence and white hot reaction that greeted his instantly iconic entrance theme.

“It wouldn’t completely shock me. I know they do want him back,” said Meltzer on an edition of Wrestling Observer Radio this week. “Gallows and Anderson, if they wanna go back there, they can go back there. They’re kind of treading water [in WWE]. Who knows how that’s gonna go.” He added, “I don’t anticipate anyone going back...you just don’t know how people feel and what people want out of life.”


Nakamura’s Extreme Rules United States Title victory over Jeff Hardy was his first significant victory since a Royal Rumble won that ultimately resulted in a hugely disappointing series with AJ Styles. Expectations had been raised by their epic Wrestle Kingdom 10 clash in 2016, but the lack of quality spoke to both men’s scaled-back style since crossing the Pacific.

A return to NJPW would require an instant return to form for Shinsuke, but the allure of home may yet prove the deciding factor when his existing contract expires in January.