Former Royal Rumble winner to return from his WWE TV absence after 81 days on SmackDown? Exploring the possibility

Several WWE Superstars have been away from television for quite some time. While most have been sidelined due to injury, a few are absent due to a lack of creative plans. With SummerSlam 2024 on the horizon, a former Royal Rumble winner could make a shocking return on the upcoming edition of SmackDown.

The name in question is Shinsuke Nakamura. The King of Strong Style was last seen on television on the April 22, 2024, episode of Monday Night RAW, where he competed against Sheamus. He moved to SmackDown during the 2024 Draft but has yet to make his first appearance on the brand.

There have been talks about him making a shocking return to the blue brand tonight after 81 days as The Biggest Party of the Summer approaches. However, the possibility of Shinsuke Nakamura returning to SmackDown is relatively low, as the upcoming spectacle is just four weeks away.

Therefore, the Triple H-led company would not have adequate time to craft a compelling storyline for him, leading to SummerSlam. Moreover, the landscape for both the Undisputed WWE Championship and the United States Championship seems pretty clear, with no scope for Nakamura to get involved.

Hence, his return before the upcoming spectacle seems implausible, as his current status is unclear. Regardless, WWE could pull off a massive surprise by making the 2018 Royal Rumble winner return on the upcoming episode of SmackDown.

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Shinsuke Nakamura could return to WWE with a faction

Shinsuke Nakamura's WWE career has remained a roller coaster ride, with him experiencing highs and lows. It will be safe to say that his last run on Monday Night RAW has remained quite bittersweet. Although the veteran superstar was involved in great storylines with Cody Rhodes and Seth Rollins, he struggled to get victories.

Therefore, the former WWE Champion could return to SmackDown with a refreshed attitude and a new gimmick. Shinsuke Nakamura could introduce a new faction on his comeback, bringing two new faces from NXT to his potential stable on the blue brand.

This could revitalize his character and pave the way for some incredible feuds and storylines on the brand. The King of Strong Style could dominate Friday Night SmackDown with his potential faction and could hunt down every superstar on the brand, including champions.

However, this is just speculation, and the prospect of its happening remains ambiguous. It will be interesting to see when Shinsuke Nakamura returns to SmackDown and what the creative has in store for him.