Shinsuke Nakamura Turns Heel on Raw - Attacks Seth Rollins

[Kemo]

Shinsuke Nakamura will likely be the next Superstar to challenge for the World Heavyweight Championship after turning heel this week.

During the post-SummerSlam 2023 edition of Raw, Cody Rhodes and Seth Rollins had planned to team with Sami Zayn to face The Judgment Day. Zayn was taken out by JD McDonagh, who was called up to Raw as part of this year's WWE Draft.

With Zayn out of action, Nakamura replaced the Canadian in the six-man tag-team match which the trio of babyfaces won. While the group was celebrating, Nakamura hit a Kinshasa on Rollins and left the ring. Earlier in the night, Nakamura had defeated 'Big' Bronson Reed in what appears to have been the final match as part of their feud.

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With Nakamura's heel turn, it seems like the King of Strong Style will be the next to challenge for the World Heavyweight Championship, likely at WWE's next Premium Live Event. WWE Payback will take place on September 2, from the PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. At this time no matches have been confirmed for the show, which will be the first Payback event since 2020.

Interestingly, Nakamura's first heel turn on WWE's main roster also came about in the pursuit of championship gold. After winning the 2018 Men's Royal Rumble match, Nakamura challenged then-WWE Champion AJ Styles at WrestleMania 34. After losing to the Phenomenal One, Nakamura would deliver a low blow to Styles after the match, turning heel in the process. The heel Nakamura would challenge Styles several times but would fail to dethrone him as champion.

What did Shinsuke Nakamura think about wrestling the Great Muta earlier this year? Click here to find out.

[LionDen]

I rather SHinsuke as a heel. Shinsuke as a face seems weird to me.