Injury Update On Shinsuke Nakamura – When Will He Return To The Ring?

Shinsuke Nakamura

It’s been a rough week for Shinsuke Nakamura.

At a WWE live event on Monday night, “The King of Strong Style” got bit by a police dog, which resulted in him being pulled from challenging Jeff Hardy for the United States Championship the following night on SmackDown LIVE.

With Nakamura not medically cleared to compete, he was pulled from his scheduled match against WWE Champion AJ Styles on Friday in Tokyo, Japan at Ryōgoku Kokugikan Sumo Arena.

While Nakamura didn’t wrestle on the show, he did address the fans in attendance as he stood in the middle of the ring on a crutch. This led to Samoa Joe confronting Nakamura, who wanted to challenge Styles for the WWE Championship in his place. After the two argued, Nakamura struck Joe in the groin. Joe then locked Nakamura in the Coquina Clutch until Styles ran out to make the save and set up the main event for later in the show (which Styles won).

On Saturday, WWE held its second of two house shows at Ryōgoku Kokugikan Sumo Arena this week and Nakamura was pulled from wrestling in a Fatal 4-Way Match against Styles, Joe, and Daniel Bryan. As a result, Styles, Joe, and Bryan faced off in a Triple Threat Match.

Nakamura again had a crutch and interfered at the finish when Joe had the Coquina Clutch locked on Styles. Nakamura hit Joe with his crutch, Joe blocked it, and Nakamura gave him a low blow. Styles then hit Joe with the Phenomenal Forearm to retain the WWE Championship.

Luke Gallows and Karl Anderson came out after the match and, along with Styles, teased a “Too Sweet” hand gesture with Nakamura. But Nakamura said that the next time WWE comes to Tokyo, he’ll either hold or win the WWE Championship.

Fortunately for Nakamura, he will be back in action relatively soon. The SmackDown LIVE Superstar addressed his injury status earlier today during an interview with Nikkan Sports and said that he expects to make a complete recovery in two weeks.