WWE has put plans on hold for SmackDown star

Fans have been wondering where Shinsuke Nakamura is and why he isn’t being used in the Andre The Giant Memorial Battle Royal on tonight’s episode of WWE SmackDown.

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.

The former WWE Intercontinental and United States Champion has been off TV for months. His last TV match was in November when he lost to Santos Escobar on SmackDown, and his last match was a six-man tag at a live event in January.

WWE never gave an explanation for his absence, and no angle was done to write him off television.

In the latest edition of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, Dave Meltzer reported that WWE has put plans on hold for him until after WrestleMania. It’s still unclear why he wasn’t used for the battle royal.