Shinsuke Nakamura’s absence from the Andre The Giant Memorial Battle Royal on tonight’s episode of WWE SmackDown has left fans wondering where he is and why.
Names confirmed for the match include Joaquin Wilde, Cruz Del Toro, Mace, Mansoor, Karl Anderson, Luke Gallows, Shelton Benjamin, Cedric Alexander, Angel, Humberto, Ashante Adonis, Top Dolla, Santos Escobar, Dexter Lumis, Butch, Ridge Holland, Dolph Ziggler, Mustafa Ali, Rick Boogs, Elias, Johnny Gargano, Xavier Woods, LA Knight, Bobby Lashley, Karrion Kross, Baron Corbin, Bronson Reed, and Madcap Moss.
For months, the former WWE Intercontinental and United States Champion has been away from television. His final match was a six-man tag at a live event in January, and his final TV match was a loss to Santos Escobar on SmackDown in November.
No angle was created to write him off on television, and WWE never provided an explanation for his absence.
According to Dave Meltzer’s report in the most recent Wrestling Observer Newsletter, WWE has postponed plans for him until after WrestleMania. It’s still unclear why he wasn’t used in the battle royal.
