Shinsuke Nakamura vs Keiji Muto/Great Muta certainly was not something wrestling fans were expecting to see anytime soon. The surprise announcement of the match taking place on Jan 1 2023 definitely caught a lot of fans off guard.
Shinsuke Nakamura last wrestled in a NOAH ring 9 years ago. This on top of WWE being known in recent years for not playing nice with other companies all added to this being a huge surprise.
Many wondered how this match actually came together, and according to a new report by Tokyo Sports, NOAH had Shinsuke they immediately circled as somebody they wanted to bring in as soon as Keiji Muto/Great Muta announced his retirement tour. The report also stated that NOAH was persistent with trying to get the deal done when Vince McMahon resigned as the WWE CEO.
Shinsuke Nakamura also commented on the match being made possible;
“There were people in WWE who pushed me forward. It’s nothing short of a miracle. Of course, I wanted to do it. It was an area that no one had ever stepped into, or rather, I opened a door that no one had been able to pry open. Ha ha ha… It’s a real ‘Fоrbidden Dооr’.
– Shinsuke Nakamura
