Who Will Be Shinsuke Nakamura’s Mystery Partner?

Shinsuke Nakamura is once again returning to WWE programming after an absence, appearing in a vignette on the August 7 edition of SmackDown declaring a war that was coming for Tama Tonga & Talla Tonga of The MFTs. After previously feuding with this faction in 2025, Nakamura declared himself as someone coming for revenge… and he wasn’t coming alone.

He made reference to one other “warrior” who would be joining his side, hinting that a new tag team will be formed as he seeks to take down The MFTs, who are now backed by a new leader, Haku. So, who is Nakamura talking about? Who are the most likely names to step up and team with the former multi-time champion?

4

Ilja Dragunov

• Dragunov has been off WWE programming for months.
• He fits the billing of a “warrior” which Nakamura explained.
• Dragunov feuded with The MFTs before his absence.

Ilja Dragunov last wrestled in the Andre The Giant Memorial Battle Royal many months ago before disappearing inexplicably from WWE programming. Prior to his absence, Dragunov had been one of the several wrestlers feuding with The MFTs, with his last singles match coming against Tama Tonga. With how Dragunov has been presented and with his frenetic style, being described as a “warrior” would certainly fit perfectly for whomever Nakamura was referring to in his promo.

With Dragunov seemingly awaiting a return, he is the most likely to be brought back to Friday Night SmackDown to engage in a feud with The MFTs. However, with how negatively he’s been booked since his loss of the United States Championship last year, it would also not be a surprise to see him and Nakamura lose to this new version of The MFTs to build momentum after Haku joined their side. These two men teamed up previously in a ten-man tag team match on SmackDown earlier this year to take on this faction, so there is existing history to build upon. Dragunov is in dire need for something to help him stand out and break out on the WWE main roster, and while this direction would not be ideal, it would at least score him a spot on television, which he has been starved of in 2026.

3

Naraku

• Narakua is the former “EVIL”.
• He may receive a quick call-up from NXT to the main roster.
• Naraku and Nakamura would be a good tag team.

The former IWGP Heavyweight Champion EVIL, now known as Naraku in NXT, made his debut on WWE’s developmental brand back in April. With Naraku being 39 years old already, it would make sense for him to have a speedier route than most to Monday Night RAW or Friday Night SmackDown so as to not waste his potential on the main roster. Although NXT is in serious need for star power in the men’s division, bringing him up to team with Nakamura would be a good way to introduce him to WWE’s main roster fans.

Naraku & Nakamura is a team name that looks good on paper, and his current gimmick does fit the “warrior” style of competitor that Nakamura spoke on during his promo on SmackDown. Nakamura is one of WWE’s biggest Japanese stars, so using him to usher in another would be a solid way to use him at this stage of his WWE career. They would also be a solid addition to a very weak and struggling tag team roster.

2

Hiromu Takahashi

• Hiromu Takahashi is a talented wrestler.
• He left NJPW earlier in 2026.
• Teaming with Nakamura would give him a good platform to debut in WWE.

Earlier this year, former IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion Hiromu Takahashi parted ways with New Japan Pro wrestling, not wrestling in any capacity since all the way back in February. There were reports from the likes of Fightful Select that WWE had interest in Takahashi, but there has been little movement or talk on this front for several months. WWE could have signed him recently and be preparing to push him straight to the main roster, rather than having him come through NXT first.

It would be a bold directive from WWE, but some recent signings have in fact bypassed NXT (such as Royce Keys) and headed straight to RAW & SmackDown. Similarly with Naraku, pairing Takahashi with one of WWE’s most successful Japanese stars would do him a lot of favors in getting the audience familiar with him on a wider scale. Taking on Tama Tonga & Talla Tonga would also provide him with some familiarity given the roles of everyone back during their NJPW days.

1

Finn Balor

• Balor has been directionless on Friday Night SmackDown.
• Balor & Nakamura would be a formidable tag team.
• The MFTs have developed issues with Balor in WWE.

Finn Balor’s move to Friday Night SmackDown has seen him experience a mish-mash of booking. One week he was getting attacked by The MFTs and feuding with them, the next he was thrown into potential world title contention, the next week he was forgotten about completely, and the cycle goes on. With Balor having some recent history facing the likes of Tama & Talla Tonga on SmackDown, him being recruited by Shinsuke Nakamura to take on the heels would not be out of the question, particularly since Balor was once leader of The Bullet Club – the group the Tongans were also previously part of, so there is more history to explore there too.

With Balor lacking in direction on Friday Night SmackDown after losing a number one contenders match to challenge for the WWE Championship at SummerSlam 2026, pairing him with Nakamura would not be the worst of ideas. These two were both stalwarts of NJPW and later NXT, so they could become a formidable unit if WWE wanted to keep them together for the long term. Although Balor has been confined to the tag team division with JD McDonagh for a long time in The Judgment Day, it has become clear that WWE has no real plans to push him as a big time singles competitor in 2026.