Final week on “WWE SmackDown,” Shinsuke Nakamura advised that he discovered somebody keen to assist him get revenge on the MFTs. This week, he confirmed he had finished as such, with a shadowy determine seemingly resembling a former NJPW star seen within the background of his newest promo.
“MFTs, congratulations. You at the moment are the champions,” Nakamura mentioned in a WWE digital unique, referring to Talla Tonga and Tama Tonga’s WWE Tag Staff Championship win on “SmackDown.” His congratulations stopped proper there, although, as he then despatched a stern warning to them.
“Are you savoring the sensation, understanding it is going to be gone quickly? Was the victory as candy, understanding what’s coming subsequent? Me, my companion, your destruction. My companion is what you all fake to be. Skilled, vicious, lethal. He’s chaos. He’s a ticking time bomb. Take cowl,” Nakamura mentioned.
.@ShinsukeN is again on #SmackDown and he is bringing a harmful new companion together with him. #SmackDown pic.twitter.com/t7GvXRnDY9
— WWE (@WWE) August 15, 2026
On-line followers rapidly identified that the darkish define behind Nakamura appeared to match that of former New Japan Professional-Wrestling star Hiromu Takahashi. The potential of Takahashi coming to “SmackDown” is additional supported by Nakamura’s reference to a “ticking time bomb,” the nickname Takahashi himself has lengthy carried.
Studies of Takahashi being WWE-bound emerged in Could, with Nox Raijin rumored as his new potential in-ring identify. The identical month, Nakamura fell quick to Talla Tonga on WWE’s blue model, then discovered himself on the receiving finish of a post-match MFT assault. He subsequently disappeared from WWE programming, solely simply resurfacing in early August.
Takahashi, a former IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion, departed from NJPW in February.
