Pro Wrestling NOAH looks to kick off the new year with a bang with the return of the “King of Strong Style” Shinsuke Nakamura.
Shinsuke Nakamura sent a video message to the NOAH roster and Korakuen Hall audience at the promotion’s Star Navigation Premium event on Monday, October 14. He says, “NOAH, it’s been a while. After that miraculous fight, WWE’s Shinsuke Nakamura will return to Nippon Budokan on New Year’s Day! Who will be standing in front of me?”
His opponent was later revealed to be former UFC fighter and current NOAH wrestler Ulka Sasaki. Shinsuke Nakamura will face him at NOAH’s upcoming “NOAH The New Year 2025” show on New Year’s Day. As of the time of writing, their match remains to be the only bout confirmed for the show.
His return marks exactly two years since his last NOAH appearance for the promotion’s 2023 New Year event. There, he headlined the show alongside Great Muta who was on his retirement run at the time.
Nakamura is still under contract with WWE, but he has not wrestled on television since April. Despite his absence, Nakamura has competed on WWE live events since then, many of which have been on the company’s tours of Europe and Japan. His last match was a loss to LA Knight on the October 13 event in Cardiff, Wales.
NOAH The New Year will emanate from the Nippon Budokan in Tokyo on Wednesday, January 1, 2025. It will be available for live streaming on Wrestle Universe, and a video on demand will be immediately available following the event.
