Shinsuke Nakamura is deeply grateful for his Pro Wrestling NOAH match with The Great Muta.
As part of The Great Muta’s retirement tour, Shinsuke Nakamura went one on one with the legend at Pro Wrestling NOAH The New Year in January of 2023. It was recently announced that their clash was the winner of Tokyo Sports’ Best Bout award, marking the third time Nakamura has received this honor.
Speaking with Tokyo Sports about the award, Nakamura reflected on being able to leave a legacy and called the match one of the most beloved of his career.
“When I was in New Japan, people used to say that it was hard to win the award for the match on January 4th (Tokyo Dome), no matter how good the match was. In that sense, this year’s New Year’s Day match left behind a universal art form in pro wrestling that will never fade away. The timing, the story we followed, the content of the match…. I was able to leave behind something beautiful in many aspects, and I think it is one of the most beloved matches of my career.”
“I Am Grateful” – Shinsuke Nakamura
Continuing, Shinsuke Nakamura admitted that he’s been frustrated in recent years with his role in WWE, but this match did wonders for his morale.
“To be frank, I have been feeling frustrated that I haven’t been able to show my potential for the past few years, and then suddenly I got an offer from NOAH, and that match was born from a miraculous combination of the timing and the swell of the times. I felt that it was also a ‘salvation’ for me. It was a work that came to fruition and I was able to perform the match with sincerity. I am grateful for the public recognition.”
In a December 2022 interview, Shinsuke Nakamura revealed that WWE initially rejected his opportunity to face The Great Muta in Pro Wrestling NOAH.
h/t Fighful, translation by DeepL