Report: Update On Shinsuke Nakamura's WWE Status

Shinsuke Nakamura has not been seen on WWE TV in 2023, with his last match on the company's programming taking place back in November 2022 when he lost in the first round of the SmackDown World Cup to Santos Escobar.

Nakamura has been featured outside of WWE this year, defeating Keiji Muto at Pro Wrestling NOAH's show on New Year's Day from the Nippon Budokan as part of the legendary wrestler's retirement tour. That arrangement has led to Muto accepting an induction into the WWE Hall of Fame. Nakamura has also competed at WWE house shows, last wrestling on January 22 when he teamed with Braun Strowman and Madcap Moss to defeat Imperium. 

In an update, Dave Meltzer of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter has reported that any plans for Nakamura are "on hold" until after WrestleMania 39. There is no word on when Nakamura will return to TV, only that it will be after April 2, which is when night two of WrestleMania 39 will take place. 

Nakamura has been a part of WWE since 2016. He is a former NXT, Intercontinental, and United States Champion. He also held the SmackDown Tag Team Titles with Cesaro (AKA Claudio Castagnoli) in 2020.