WWE has seemingly revealed the identity of Shinsuke Nakamura’s mystery partner, and the reveal points to another major international signing joining the SmackDown roster.
After making his first WWE appearance since May during a pre-recorded backstage segment last week, Nakamura promised that he had found an ally to help him take the fight to Tama Tonga and Talla Tonga, collectively known as The MFT’s.
Nakamura Sends Warning To New WWE Tag Team Champions
Friday night’s edition of SmackDown saw Tama Tonga and Talla Tonga capture the WWE Tag Team Championship, defeating Damian Priest, R-Truth, and AAA Tag Team Champions The War Raiders in a triple threat match.
Following the show, WWE released a digital exclusive featuring Nakamura addressing the new champions.
“Congratulations MFT’s. You are now the champions. Are you savoring the feeling, knowing it will be gone soon? Was the victory as sweet, knowing what’s coming next? Me, my partner, your destruction.”
As the promo continued, WWE showed brief glimpses of Nakamura’s mystery partner while teasing his arrival on SmackDown.
“My partner is what you all pretend to be. Experienced, vicious, deadly. He is chaos. He is a ticking time bomb. Take cover.”
Hiromu Takahashi Appears WWE-Bound
The phrase “Ticking Time Bomb” immediately caught the attention of New Japan Pro-Wrestling fans, as it has long been associated with Hiromu Takahashi.
Takahashi, one of NJPW’s most accomplished junior heavyweight stars, departed the promotion earlier this year after a 15-year run.
In February, NJPW officially announced his departure following discussions with company management.
During his career, Takahashi became one of the most recognizable stars in Japanese wrestling and competed for several major promotions, including:
New Japan Pro-Wrestling
AEW
Ring of Honor
CMLL
Pro Wrestling NOAH
The former IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion has been heavily linked to WWE since becoming a free agent, and Nakamura’s latest promo strongly suggests that he will soon arrive on SmackDown.
WWE Continues Adding Free Agents
Reports earlier this year indicated that Takahashi was among several notable free agents believed to be WWE-bound.
Since then, a number of those names have already debuted, including:
Big Cass
Baron Corbin
Cruz Montana
Zilla Fatu
If the tease proves accurate, Takahashi would become the latest high-profile addition to WWE’s growing roster.
When Will Takahashi Debut?
As of now, WWE has not officially announced a debut date for Takahashi.
However, with Nakamura openly teasing his arrival and positioning him as a key ally against the newly crowned WWE Tag Team Champions, it appears only a matter of time before the former NJPW star makes his first appearance on Friday Night SmackDown.
Should Takahashi arrive as expected, WWE fans could soon see one of Japan’s most decorated wrestlers join forces with Nakamura in a battle against The MFT’s and the WWE Tag Team Champions.
The Mysterio family’s legacy in WWE could soon be expanding.
According to a report from PWInsider, Aalyah Gutierrez, the daughter of WWE Hall of Famer Rey Mysterio, has been added to WWE’s internal roster after recently reporting to the WWE Performance Center for training.
The report notes that Aalyah is currently listed under her real name rather than the famous Mysterio surname.
Aalyah Continues WWE Training
While Aalyah has never competed in a WWE match, she has become a familiar face to fans over the years through her appearances alongside her father and brother, Dominik Mysterio.
Most notably, she was involved in a storyline during 2020 that centered around a romantic relationship with then-WWE star Buddy Murphy. The angle became a major part of the feud between Rey Mysterio, Dominik Mysterio, Seth Rollins, and Murphy at the time.
However, Aalyah’s previous appearances were limited to acting roles rather than in-ring competition.
Over the last year, that has reportedly changed.
Full-Time Wrestling Career In The Works
Aalyah first visited the WWE Performance Center last fall, where she participated in basic in-ring drills while Rey Mysterio was preparing for his own WWE return.
She later returned to the facility in February for a more extensive training session.
Following that visit, Rey revealed that his daughter had committed to pursuing professional wrestling on a full-time basis with WWE.
Her continued training appears to be progressing, as she was recently featured in a photo alongside fellow WWE Performance Center trainee Marie Malenko and NXT stars Uriah Connors, Lexis King, and Brooks Jensen.
Another Generation Of The Mysterio Family
Should Aalyah eventually make her WWE debut, she would become the latest member of the Mysterio family to compete for the company.
Rey Mysterio made his WWE main roster debut in 2002 and went on to become one of the most decorated stars in company history, earning a place in the WWE Hall of Fame.
Dominik Mysterio followed in his father’s footsteps, making his WWE in-ring debut in 2020 and becoming a former Intercontinental Champion. He currently remains one of the top stars on the Raw roster.
While WWE has not officially announced any plans for Aalyah’s debut, her addition to the company’s internal roster suggests that her journey toward becoming a WWE Superstar is continuing to move forward.
WWE SmackDown may not remain a two-hour show for much longer.
According to a new report from WrestleVotes via Fightful Select, sources at USA Network expect SmackDown to return to a three-hour format beginning in January 2027.
SmackDown Expected To Expand Back To Three Hours
The report states that the tentative date for the change is the January 8, 2027 episode of SmackDown, though WWE has not officially confirmed the move.
The expected adjustment is reportedly tied to USA Network’s programming plans for the new year and would mark another shift in the blue brand’s broadcast length.
SmackDown returned to a two-hour format in July 2026 after previously airing as a three-hour program. At the time, reports indicated that the shortened runtime could remain in place through the end of the year.
WWE Expected To Alternate Formats
Since WWE’s television rights agreement with USA Network began in 2024, reports have suggested that SmackDown could alternate between two-hour and three-hour formats throughout the duration of the five-year deal.
If the latest report proves accurate, January’s return to three hours would be the latest example of that strategy.
Neither WWE nor USA Network has publicly commented on the reported change.
Timing Coincides With WWE’s European Tour
WWE has not yet announced a location for the January 8 episode of SmackDown.
The show is scheduled to take place one week before WWE kicks off its annual European tour on January 15.
The tour will begin in Brussels, Belgium, before SmackDown heads to Manchester, England. Meanwhile, Raw is scheduled to visit Glasgow, Scotland, and Dublin, Ireland as part of the international run.
For now, SmackDown remains a two-hour broadcast, but according to the report, fans may see the blue brand return to a three-hour format shortly after the start of 2027.
Former WWE Tag Team Champions Kofi Kingston and Austin Creed have been announced for Chris Jericho’s Rock ‘N’ Wrestling Rager At Sea, marking one of their first major wrestling-related appearances since becoming free agents earlier this year.
The cruise revealed the news on social media, confirming that Kingston and Creed will be part of the event as “Super Massive Guest Captains.” The pair are also listed on the official cruise website among the featured talent scheduled to appear.
First Major Appearance Since WWE Departure
Kofi and Creed became free agents following their WWE releases in April 2026 as part of the company’s post-WrestleMania 42 roster cuts.
Since then, speculation has continued regarding what the future holds for the longtime tag team stars and whether they will remain together wherever they land next.
Their inclusion on Jericho’s cruise marks another public appearance for the duo as fans continue to await news regarding their next move in professional wrestling.
Loaded Lineup Announced
The upcoming cruise is set to feature a number of wrestling legends and current stars.
Among those currently advertised are:
The Hardys
The Great Muta
Nic Nemeth
Harley Cameron
Kofi
Austin Creed
Additional wrestling personalities and musical acts are expected to be part of the event as well.
Cruise Sets Sail In November
Chris Jericho’s Rock ‘N’ Wrestling Rager At Sea is scheduled to take place from November 7-11, 2026.
The cruise will depart from Miami, Florida, and travel to Bimini, Bahamas, offering fans several days of wrestling-themed entertainment, live performances, meet-and-greets, and special events featuring some of the biggest names in the industry.
While Kofi and Creed’s long-term wrestling futures remain unknown, their appearance on the popular wrestling cruise is sure to fuel further discussion about what’s next for the former WWE stars.
There is encouraging news regarding WWE Hall of Famer and legendary wrestling commentator Jim Ross.
Ross’ longtime podcast co-host Conrad Thompson shared an update on social media, revealing that the procedure was successful and that JR is expected to return home later this week.
“Happy to report that our pal Jim Ross had a successful procedure this morning!
I heard from his lovely daughter this morning that everything went well and good ole JR is expected to be back home by Friday!
Please keep JR in your prayers as we hope for a speedy recovery!”
Happy to report that our pal @JRsBBQ had a successful procedure this morning!
I heard from his lovely daughter this morning that everything went well and good ole JR is expected to be back home by Friday! 🤠
— Conrad the Mortgage Guy (@HeyHeyItsConrad) August 12, 2026
According to details that have emerged regarding the surgery, doctors drilled a small hole in Ross’ skull in order to insert a shunt. The tube will run from his brain to his stomach and is designed to help drain excess fluid and relieve pressure.
The procedure marks another health challenge for the beloved broadcaster, who has been open with fans about various medical issues in recent years. Fortunately, the initial reports following the operation have been overwhelmingly positive.
Ross remains one of the most respected voices in professional wrestling history. Over the course of a career spanning decades, he became synonymous with some of the industry’s biggest moments through his work in WWE, WCW, Mid-South Wrestling, and most recently AEW.
Following Thompson’s update, fans, wrestlers, and industry figures quickly flooded social media with messages of support and well wishes for Ross as he begins the recovery process.
With the surgery reportedly going as planned and JR expected to return home by Friday, the focus now shifts to rehabilitation and recovery.
Everyone at the wrestling community continues to wish Jim Ross a speedy recovery.
Zilla Fatu made his long-awaited WWE debut during Tuesday night’s episode of NXT, interrupting a No. 1 Contender’s Match and immediately inserting himself into the NXT Championship picture.
The surprise appearance came during the show’s main event, which featured Cruz Montana and Grayson Waller battling for the right to challenge Tony D’Angelo for the NXT Championship at Heatwave on August 30.
Zilla Fatu Appears During NXT Main Event
Prior to the broadcast, False Finish reported that Fatu had been spotted at the WWE Performance Center, with speculation growing that he had officially signed with the company. Fightful’s Sean Ross Sapp had previously reported that discussions between WWE and Fatu had been ongoing since June.
Those reports appeared to be confirmed when Fatu emerged from the crowd during the closing moments of the match.
Montana and Waller had been engaged in a competitive back-and-forth contest, with both men coming close to securing a title opportunity. Montana appeared poised for victory after connecting with his Spin the Block finisher.
Before he could make the cover, however, Fatu stormed the ring and attacked both competitors.
Main Event Ends In Chaos
The interference resulted in the match being ruled a no contest.
Fatu laid out both Montana and Waller as the broadcast came to a close, making it clear that he has his sights set on the NXT Championship.
The attack leaves the title picture in question heading into Heatwave.
What Happens At Heatwave?
With the No. 1 Contender’s Match ending without a winner, it remains unclear who will challenge Tony D’Angelo for the NXT Championship on August 30.
WWE has not yet announced whether Montana and Waller will receive another opportunity to determine a challenger or if Fatu’s actions have earned him a place in the title match.
Given the way Tuesday’s episode ended, a multi-man championship match now appears to be a possibility.
Regardless of the final decision, Zilla Fatu made an immediate impact in his first WWE appearance and has quickly become one of the most talked-about names in NXT.
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