Shinsuke Nakamura: ”If there’s anything I can do for Okada, I will do it”

By: R. Faliani

Kazuchika Okada is leaving New Japan Pro Wrestling, and as the major players in the pro-wrestling industry keep track of his choice, one fellow partner from his time in CHAOS has given his thoughts on Okada leaving, and has said he would do anything for “The Rainmaker” in the position he has in the company: Said partner is none other than “The King of Strong Style” Shinsuke Nakamura, who had an interview with Tokyo Sports.

【ＷＷＥ】ムタ戦ベストバウトの中邑真輔　新日退団オカダに激熱エール「何でもしてあげたいなと」｜東スポWEB #WWE #noah_ghc #プロレス大賞https://t.co/myl6UsHqap

— 東スポ　プロレス格闘技担当 (@tospo_battle) February 13, 2024

Last year, Nakamura was the chosen opponent of The Great Muta in his match for Pro Wrestling NOAH’s The New Year 2023. A match that saw Nakamura like he had never left Japan and gave him one of the best matches of his career since leaving Japan. This match won the Best Bout Award from Tokyo Sports and both Nakamura and Muto were given their respective awards.

Nakamura sat down with Tokyo Sports and expressed his thoughts on various topics, such as his career in the WWE, his desire to come back to Japan but most importantly what he thinks of Okada leaving New Japan, and Hiroshi Tanahashi being the brand-new president for 2024 and beyond.

Kazuchika Okada Shaken After Outpouring of Korakuen Hall Love

When asked about Tanahashi being the president of NJPW, Nakamura specified the changes that the pro-wrestling industry is having both in Japan and America, with Endeavor merging WWE and UFC under the same banner, and Okada leaving NJPW:

“Expectations? There are many. I think this means that Mr. Tanahashi’s focus on professional wrestling has gone up a notch or two. The change of WWE’s parent company (to TKO), the addition of The Rock (Dwayne Johnson) to its board of directors, and the signing of a 10-year contract with Netflix were also hugely significant. I believe that many things will change and that there will be another big wave.”

When asked about Okada’s departure and his next destiny as a pro wrestler, Nakamura said he supports Okada in everything he does and specified the hardships that come for Japanese wrestlers to adapt in America:

“I had the courage to take the step Okada took. Once you take that step, all you can do is move on. Of course, I’ll support him, and if there’s anything I can do, I’d like to do it.

“There were a lot of hardships that I had to bear that I shouldn’t have had to bear. I don’t want him to experience that kind of thing, and I want them to be pampered.”

Okada’s fate is a question that remains unanswered, but it seems like every time we get closer to the answer. One of the biggest Japanese stars of the modern era is a free agent now, and the two biggest companies in wrestling today are looking at every detail to get one of the best wrestlers in the world on their roster.