Shinsuke Nakamura recaptures the NXT Championship in Japan
Shinsuke Nakamura is once again NXT Champion.
Nakamura defeated Samoa Joe to recapture the title at today’s NXT house show at the Edion Arena in Osaka, Japan. Their rematch was announced on last week’s episode of NXT TV after Joe had beaten Nakamura for the championship at NXT TakeOver: Toronto.
The result of that match almost immediately led to speculation that it was done to set up Nakamura winning the belt back in his home country. The Osaka show was NXT’s first ever event in Japan and was taped to air on the WWE Network in some fashion. It also included other notable Japanese talents with Asuka taking on Nia Jax, Tajiri and Akira Tozawa facing DIY (Johnny Gargano and Tommaso Ciampa), and Hideo Itami appearing in front of the live crowd.
NXT will now head to Australia for a multi-show tour, including an event in Melbourne that will also be taped for the Network. It was previously announced that Nakamura would face Joe in a steel cage match for the NXT Championship on that show.
UPDATE: Nakamura’s title win will air in full on next week’s episode of NXT. The new champion did an interview after the match:
Joseph Currier is the lead editor of F4WOnline.com, directing daily news coverage and writing articles on professional wrestling. He is a graduate of the University of Massachusetts, obtaining a journalism degree in 2016. Joseph joined F4W during his time at UMass and has now been writing about the industry for nearly a decade.
In addition to his work with F4W, Joseph has previously contributed to Sports Illustrated's wrestling coverage. He lives in Massachusetts and is a diehard fan of the Boston sports teams and Liverpool Football Club.