While he has not appeared on WWE television for several weeks, Shinsuke Nakamura showed up on UFC Fight Pass last night at UFC 303 during the early preliminary fights.

Nakamura was in the corner of Rei Tsuruya, who defeated Carlos Hernandez via a unanimous decision in the second fight of the night. Tsuruya entered the Octagon using The Rising Sun theme song, which Nakamura uses in WWE.

In a post-fight interview with Sportsnet, Nakamura said that he knew Rei’s father for a long time and he asked him if he could corner him at the show.

“I said of course, it’s my honor,” Nakamura said.

Nakamura added that he has a passion for fighting and he used to corner friends back in the day in Japan. The former NXT champion also said that he wants to keep wrestling for WWE and show his passion in the ring and still has a lot to accomplish in the company.

Full interview with wrestling legend Shinsuke Nakamura, who cornered Rei Tsuruya earlier tonight.

(Come for Nakamura, stay for my Macho Man Randy Savage impression) pic.twitter.com/6a6WdSyAIq

— Aaron Bronsteter (@aaronbronsteter) June 30, 2024