Shinsuke Nakamura Sets Sights On WWE World Heavyweight Championship
By Craig Ballantyne on 23 October 2025
Shinsuke Nakamura still believes he can become the WWE World Heavyweight Champion.
After a legendary career in New Japan Pro Wrestling, Shinsuke Nakamura signed with WWE in 2016 as part of the NXT brand. The star quickly won fans over with his unique version of Japanese Strong Style, and he became a two-time NXT Champion by the time he left the developmental brand in April 2017.
Nakamura had a mixed start on the main roster. Although he was given World Title opportunities through victories over Randy Orton and John Cena, back-to-back losses to Jinder Mahal hurt the star’s progress. Things seemed to get back on track in 2018 when he won the Royal Rumble, leading to a feud over the WWE championship with AJ Styles. However, by the end of the year, Nakamura was relegated to the midcard, challenging for the United States Title instead.
Since then, Nakamura has achieved success with US and Intercontinental Title reigns, but he has yet to win the top titles in the company. Despite this, he still hopes to reach the pinnacle of WWE someday.
Speaking to Tokyo Sports, Nakamura explained that winning the World Heavyweight Championship would mean he had done something no Japanese wrestler has been able to achieve.
“I believe in it, so I keep going. That’s the World Heavyweight Championship. I just want to win that. For Japanese wrestlers on this American stage, especially the men, that’s the barrier we haven’t broken through yet.”
The King of Strong Style believes this would be a way to leave hope for the next generation of Japanese and Asian stars who join WWE.
“I don’t know if it’s proof or anything, but I sometimes wonder what would happen if I couldn’t do it. I hope I can leave some kind of path, or hope, for the next generation of Japanese and Asian people.”
Shinsuke Nakamura Has No Plans To Retire
With his old rivals, Hiroshi Tanahashi and John Cena, both retiring in the coming months, Shinsuke Nakamura reflected on his own pro wrestling future. The star noted that having been relatively injury-free meant he could keep going for some time yet, although he admitted that nothing lasts forever.
“Fortunately, I’ve had almost no injuries, so it’s not like I have to retire immediately. But nothing lasts forever. If someone said I have 10 more years, I’d have my doubts. If they said five, maybe. You never know what tomorrow brings, so I just have to do what I can now.”
Do you think Shinsuke Nakamura can still become a WWE World Heavyweight Champion? Or has that possibility passed him by? Let us know your thoughts below!