Major Backstage Update on Shinsuke Nakamura Heading to WWE

When the news broke yesterday that New Japan Pro Wrestling had stripped Shinsuke Nakamura of the IWGP Intercontinental Title, it was a forgone conclusion that the rumors of the former Champion being bound for WWE were true.

Nakamura will be officially finished with the promotion at the end on January. The company stripping him of the IWGP IC Championship sheds light on the current relationship between the promotion and their wrestlers. Not to mention that AJ Styles and several other stars have jumped ship or renegotiated their deals.

Several sources are now confirming that Shinsuke Nakamura will be traveling to the United States after his dates with NJPW have been completed, he’ll be working out for all of February at the WWE Performance Center in Orlando.

It’s being reported that Nakamura will also be undergoing medical testing, and the pending results will allow him to sign with WWE soon after if all works out.

There is no news on whether or not WWE plans to send him to NXT or to debut on the main roster after signing. It’s most likely that with the “smart” fanbase in NXT, he’ll get his feet wet there before coming to the main roster at some point in 2016.