This weekend’s WWE Crown Jewel event kicks off in Perth, Australia, but WWE didn’t wait to deliver some surprises, starting with today’s SmackDown. A popular former champion made a return to the ring, and it was a double surprise when their original theme music – considered by many to be better – played as they entered!
WWE United States Champion Sami Zayn has been regularly issuing open challenges, leading to exciting matches as he strives to be an active, fighting champion. Today, he did so again, and to the surprise of many, Shinsuke Nakamura answered the call. Nakamura hadn’t appeared on WWE television in four months, and his return was made even more special by the return of his original theme music – a welcome change from the music he’d been using previously. It was great to see him back in the ring, complete with his classic entrance.
NAKAMURA ANSWERS THE US OPEN CHALLENGE
AND HE’S GOT HIS OLD THEME SONG BACK #SmackDown
— The Movement – Pro Wrestling (@TheMovementXx) October 10, 2025
Shinsuke Nakamura Returns to WWE and Immediately Jumps Into a Feud
As a wrestling fan, I hadn’t seen Nakamura on WWE television since that *SmackDown* episode back on June 13th. He was in the first round of the King of the Ring tournament, but Cody Rhodes beat him. After that, he just disappeared from TV for a while. But recently, he’s started showing up again, though it’s been pretty subtle if you weren’t really looking for him.
If you caught the behind-the-scenes footage on *SmackDown*, you might have seen Nakamura appearing in the background, hinting at his comeback to wrestling. While it was unclear who he’d be facing, we now have some information about his next steps.
Shinsuke Nakamura has shifted away from the more aggressive, villainous character he displayed during his time as United States Champion. He’s even stopped wearing the mask that was part of that persona. The change started when he began using his original entrance music, and it became clear after he was attacked by Tama Tonga and the rest of the MFTs. It looks like Nakamura will be facing Solo Sikoa’s group, who are the clear villains, making Nakamura the fan favorite in this rivalry.
Shinsuke Nakamura Has Returned, So What Happens Now?
Nakamura was the United States Champion for 97 days, from November 30th, 2024, to March 7th, 2025, before losing the title to LA Knight. Jacob Fatu then held the championship for 69 days, followed by Sikoa for 62 days. Currently, Zayn is the United States Champion and has held the title for 41 days and counting.
Shinsuke Nakamura’s recent performance was inconsistent. While a surprising win over LA Knight initially built momentum, questionable booking choices hindered his progress. Although Nakamura successfully portrayed a menacing character and used underhanded tactics to hold onto his championship, this run didn’t quite live up to his previous success. WWE now has an opportunity to recapture that magic, but Nakamura needs consistent victories and a clear, ongoing storyline. It remains to be seen if he can turn things around.
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2025-10-11 03:10