Pedzisa mutsara unotevera: Nakamura akakwikwidza mumutambo wake wekutanga kubvira SummerSlam paSeptember 11 episode ye "SmackDown Live", achirasikirwa naJeff Hardy kuburikidza nekuregererwa mushure mekupindira kubva kuna Randy Orton. Mushure mekuramba kudzivirira WWE United States Championship paHell in a Cell pay-per-view, maneja mukuru Paige akaraira Nakamura kuti adzivirire Championship paSeptember 18 episode ye "SmackDown Live", iyo yaakaita zvinobudirira, achikunda Rusev. PaSmackDown 1000, Nakamura akarasikirwa naRey Mysterio akadzoka mumutambo wekukodzera weWWE World Cup kuCrown Jewel. Nakamura aizobudirira kuchengetedza zita iri muna Gumiguru 30 episode ye "SmackDown Live" kurwisa R-Chokwadi uyezve kurwisa Rusev kuCrown Jewel. Nakamura akarasikirwa neRaw's WWE Intercontinental Champion Seth Rollins mumutambo weChampion vs Champion mumutambo weSurvivor Series. Musi waZvita 25 episode ye "SmackDown Live" (yakanyorwa musi waZvita 18), Nakamura akarasikirwa neWWE United States Championship kuna Rusev, achipedza kutonga kwake pamazuva 156. Musi waJanuary 27, 2019, pa
Royal Rumble, Nakamura akakunda Rusev kuhwina yake yechipiri WWE United States Championship. Gare gare usiku ihwohwo, akapinda mumutambo weRoyal Rumble achipinda pa # 3 asi akabviswa naMustafa Ali.