Shinsuke Nakamura believes his retirement is near

John Cena will hang up his boots on December 13, ending a retirement tour that has extended throughout 2025. Next year will be AJ Styles' turn, as the wrestler has declared on multiple occasions in recent weeks. Such is his conviction that he wanted to take advantage of the recent WWE tour in Japan to bid farewell to one of the places where his career shone brightest.

Shinsuke Nakamura has been present on this Japanese tour, witnessing - and being part of - the tributes that "The Phenomenal One" has received. A feeling that has led him to consider his own retirement, which seems not too far away. This was indicated in his latest post on his social media.

"What a special place Japan is, especially for those of us who fight. As AJ said, it's a place worthy of giving it your all. Of course, that may be true anywhere in the world... but there is something sacred here. I don't know if it's because I'm Japanese, but I believe that the wrestlers and fans who share this space feel the same. Maybe.

He felt it too. John Cena. AJ. They have all chosen to step away from the ring. It makes me think that my own moment may not be far off. But I still have things I must do. I'm still fighting, I'm still moving forward, not knowing what tomorrow will bring. All I can do is live this day with all I have. Thank you. If only... one more time...," Nakamura wrote.

Almost a decade in WWE

After a successful career in Japan, Shinsuke Nakamura decided to make the leap to the United States, signing with WWE in 2016. The Japanese wrestler landed in NXT, where he quickly became a fan favorite, swiftly winning the brand's top championship. Nakamura didn't have to wait long to be promoted to the main roster, where he continued to achieve success, including his victory in the 2018 Royal Rumble.

Throughout almost a decade in the company, Shinsuke has been involved in prominent rivalries both solo and in teams, in addition to winning eight championships. However, he has not been fortunate enough to capture a world title, which would make him the first Japanese Grand Slam Champion in WWE history.

Currently, Nakamura is 45 years old, three years younger than John Cena and AJ Styles, who will retire before reaching 50. If the Japanese wrestler wants to follow in their footsteps, he may be able to continue competing for another 3 or 4 years. Enough time to have one last run where he could potentially win the elusive world championship, putting the finishing touch on an excellent career.

A career that, on the other hand, could end in Japan, as has been rumored in recent months. Nakamura himself has expressed in his message the importance that his homeland has for any wrestler, so retiring surrounded by his people seems like a perfect way to close this chapter.