For months, the WWE future of Shinsuke Nakamura has been a topic of quiet speculation among fans, with some wondering if his contract would be renewed following a prolonged absence from television.
That speculation was put to rest on last night’s episode of SmackDown. The “King of Strong Style” made his unannounced return after not being seen since a loss on the June 13th edition of the show, and he appeared to have a clear new target. During a backstage segment, Nakamura was spotted stalking the current United States Champion, Sami Zayn.
While a future title program seems to be on the horizon, Nakamura will likely have to wait his turn. Zayn is currently focused on restoring prestige to the US Title, having just defended it against Rey Fenix and already scheduled to face Carmelo Hayes in another championship match on next week’s show.
Nakamura also has history with the championship. His last reign with the belt, which began after defeating LA Knight at Survivor Series: WarGames in 2024, lasted 97 days with few title defenses. That run drew unfavorable comparisons to Logan Paul’s preceding reign and disappointed fans who were eager to see Knight hold singles gold at the time.