10 Wrestlers Who Will LEAVE WWE In 2026

4. Shinsuke Nakamura

It feels as though Shinsuke Nakamura is on this list every year, but the rumor mill is more intense than ever that 'The King Of Strong Style' is in the final furlong of his WWE career. Since a relatively unexpected run with the United States Championship between November 2024 and March 2025, the Japanese superstar has been sparsely used, to put it mildly. 

Nakamura has only been used in multi-man qualifying defeats for King Of The Ring and Money In The Bank, and a short stint in the Andre The Giant Battle Royal since March of this year. The chances of this being a coincidence are minimal at best. 

If Nakamura were to leave WWE, it isn't an exaggeration to suggest that every other company on Earth would clamour for his signature. A legend in his home country and revered by a generation of fans and wrestlers, Shinsuke is one of the most recognisable faces in pro wrestling, and his in-ring work is still superb. Add to this that other companies would probably let him express his hard-hitting style more than he's been able to in WWE, and the prospect of Nakamura being a free agent is very exciting indeed.