Fans in attendance at the latest DDT Pro-Wrestling show in Tokyo, Japan were given a treat over the weekend. Not only was the audience lucky enough to see Chris Jericho wrestle Konosuke Takeshita, but WWE star Shinsuke Nakamura sent along a video message congratulating Tokyo Joshi Pro-Wrestling star Saki Akai on her retirement. Though the event was streamed online for fans, the stream did not include Nakamura’s video message.
This isn’t the first time WWE has allowed Nakamura to participate in another promotion in some form. Earlier this year, Nakamura appeared at Pro Wrestling Noah’s The New Year event to celebrate the impending retirement of The Great Muta. Nakamura and Muta wrestled a singles match – one of the last in Keiji Mutoh’s career. Months later, Muta/Mutoh was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame, and The Great Muta later appeared in the audience at WWE Payback in September.
Nakamura also appeared on tonight’s WWE Raw in a match against Otis of Alpha Academy. The former WWE Intercontinental Champion came out on top, though it required multiple Kinshasas to do it. Ahead of the match, a video package played that saw Nakamura teasing a mystery opponent. With Nakamura having hit CM Punk’s finisher, the GTS, multiple times in recent weeks, speculation is sure to run wild regarding Nakamura’s target. However, recent word is that Punk is not in active talks with WWE for a return, with Nakamura likely set to face a member of WWE’s current roster.
Jericho’s presence at the DDT show was not a surprise, but the outcome was. The veteran AEW performer choked DDT’s homegrown star Takeshita out, coming away with the win after nearly 25 minutes. Jericho and Takeshita will be at odds again on this week’s AEW Dynamite, with both men taking part in the video game-branded Like A Dragon Gaiden Street Fight. The match’s full lineup pits Jericho, Kenny Omega, Kota Ibushi, and Paul Wight against Takeshita, Powerhouse Hobbs, Brian Cage, and Kyle Fletcher.