In a recent interview with Yahoo Sports, WWE superstar Shinsuke Nakamura discussed several topics, including getting approval from WWE to work a match against The Great Muta as part of Pro Wrestling NOAH’s “The New Year” 2023 event at the Nippon Budokan in Tokyo, Japan.

“I was like no way, I couldn’t believe it, I didn’t think it would happen, it was something that would never have happened under the previous structure of the WWE. Vince stepped down in the Summer and I was advised by people within the company that it might be possible now. I still thought it would be difficult, but I even talked directly to Triple H and when the decision was actually made, I was shaken.

There was a big change in the WWE between when Mutoh announced his retirement and when the match was decided. Vince, who was the symbol of everything was retiring and that was something that no one could believe. Everything changes in America when the top changes and at that time, there was a feeling that many things would change in the future. One of the changes that occurred to me was this, the fact that no became a yes gave me a boost.”

The full interview is available at this link.