Shinsuke Nakamura becomes #1 contender for WWE title

Former NXT champion Shinsuke Nakamura will get his first WWE title shot later this month at SummerSlam after the King of Strong Style defeated John Cena – clean – on Smackdown last night.

This was the first-ever match between Nakamura and Cena, and Nakamura pinned his opponent after delivering his Kinshasa finishing move. After the match, Cena congratulated the new number one contender and raised his hand in the ring.

Nakamura will now take on the current WWE champion, Jinder Mahal, in one of the main events of SummerSlam. Mahal has been champion since Backlash, which took place on May 21. Nakamura spent a total of 147 days as NXT champion over two reigns and won his first NXT title at the Barclays Center last year during NXT Takeover: Brooklyn II.