5 ways Shinsuke Nakamura could interfere in WWE title match at Clash Of Champions

With Shinsuke Nakamura’s next PPV matchup revealed to be him teaming up with Randy Orton, The Artist looks to notch up yet another victory, adding to his already impressive professional wrestling repertoire.

Nevertheless, when one considers the unmatched talent and undeniable charisma possessed by this SmackDown Superstar, it only makes sense for the WWE to involve him in the very top of the blue brand’s cards.

In other words, Shinsuke Nakamura is WWE Championship material.

Furthermore, when coupled with the relative lack of new opponents for reigning WWE Champion AJ Styles, the WWE could very well have Nakamura insert himself into a storyline with the Phenomenal One. The stage is set for the commencement of a Nakamura-Styles feud, in the form of WWE’s final 2017 PPV.

So, without further ado, here are a few ways in which the real king of Strong Style can interfere in the WWE title match at Clash Of Champions… and should it happen, don’t be surprised. Just stay hype!

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#5 The King Of Strong Distraction Style

Distracting AJ Styles at a pivotal show like the upcoming PPV will set up a future feud between the two

For those unaware, Shinsuke Nakamura and AJ Styles are no strangers to one another inside the ring. And bear in mind, this doesn’t even take into account their in-ring performances in WWE.

Nakamura and Styles have faced each other outside the WWE, and perhaps The Artist can use their previous encounters as a foundation — so to speak — and reignite a new feud with the Phenomenal One in the WWE.

AJ Styles will defend his WWE Championship against Jinder Mahal at Clash Of Champions on December 17th — a matchup that could see Nakamura costing Styles the title by distracting the latter against the ever-dangerous Modern Day Maharajah.

A ringside distraction on part of Nakamura may force Styles to take his eyes off the ball, and with his back turned to Mahal, the unthinkable could happen again. Besides, Mahal has vowed to become a two-time WWE Champion — a fact that has been reiterated by industry experts ever since he dropped the title to Styles.

#4 Revenge for Mr. Miyagi

Shinsuke Nakamura always strikes back when the time is right

It was during Jinder Mahal’s feud with Shinsuke Nakamura over the WWE Championship that the Maharaja mouthed a rather controversial promo on The Artist, likening the Japanese wrestler to popular Hollywood movie character ‘Mr. Miyagi’ from the Karate Kid movie.

The segment didn’t go over well with the vast majority of professional wrestling fans & experts, and Mahal received a ton of heat for delivering the comparison which was alleged by many to have racist undertones. Although Nakamura failed to defeat Mahal for the WWE Championship, the feud was quickly scrapped, as the latter would go on to drop the title to AJ Styles.

Nevertheless, Nakamura never quite got payback on Mahal for the Mr. Miyagi comparison; and what better time for some good ol’ fashion vengeance than a PPV event. Clash Of Champions would be the perfect occasion to exact revenge, by attacking the Modern Day Maharaja, ridding the latter’s chances of regaining the WWE Championship.

Nakamura laying waste to Mahal at Clash Of Champions would be one of the greatest paybacks of all time—considering the intensity of the insult used by Mahal.

Besides, it could very well serve as a launching pad for another feud between the Japanese and Indo-Canadian Superstars—a feud that the Artist badly ends as he’s been relatively unused over the last few weeks on SmackDown Live.

#3 Crooked as a crook

The WWE's villains/heels usually resort to underhand tactics such as stealing their opponent's title belt

Most would know how ‘stealing’ an opponent’s championship title and brandishing said title as one’s own, is a rather villainous or heel move in professional wrestling.

Now, Nakamura isn’t a heel, right?

Regardless, the WWE would be missing out on a ton of future opportunities/openings for Nakamura if they don’t have him interfere in the Mahal vs. Styles matchup at this year’s final WWE PPV. Before The Artist’s fans get out the pitchforks, bear in mind that he doesn’t have to turn heel, per se.

Instead, Nakamura can further cement the mystique surrounding him by attacking both Jinder Mahal and AJ Styles as their matchup is underway at Clash Of Champions. The King Of Strong Style can then stand tall, closing out the show, but not before he gets his paws on the WWE Championship belt and keeps it with him—a heel move, but one that would surely give his character a much-needed boost in the days to come.

The most significant factor here is that Nakamura ought to do it at a PPV show rather than say a run-of-the-mill SmackDown episode in order to ensure that his actions have a resounding impact and send a clear message to the WWE Universe.

#2 The Club

A Nakamura-Styles team is something that a hardcore pro-wrestling fan's dreams are made of

The WWE has often alluded to the existence of a certain ‘Club’, and lest the WWE Universe has forgotten, here’s a reminder… AJ Styles’ awesome rivalry with John Cena over the WWE Championship often saw the good brothers, Karl Anderson & Luke Gallows, lay waste to the leader of the Cenation, thereby helping Styles.

Now, it wouldn’t exactly make sense for Anderson & Gallows to make a SmackDown return just to run back that angle, would it?

Enter, Shinsuke Nakamura.

Nakamura has lost a ton of momentum since his main roster debut, and his lack of involvement in meaningful storylines can be attributed as a major reason behind that.

By Shinsuke attacking Jinder Mahal at Clash Of Champions and helping Styles gain the numbers’ advantage on the Maharajah (not that he needs it!) for once, it would help set up an alliance between the Artist and the Phenomenal One. Clash Of Champions being the 2017 calendar year’s last PPV show, what better place and time for Nakamura and Styles to join forces than at the upcoming pay-per-view.

Besides, with Royal Rumble just around the corner, it’s rather commonplace in the WWE for even the toughest Superstars to scout allies, albeit to gain every possible advantage ahead of the highly prestigious Royal Rumble match.

#1 Clash Of ‘Champions’

Shinsuke Nakamura -- one of the sport's greatest champions -- ought to use Clash Of Champions as a platform to propel himself to the upper echelons of the WWE food chain

Having held the IWGP Heavyweight Championship thrice, besides also winning several other titles in NJPW, Shinsuke Nakamura is also a 2-time NXT Champion. On the other hand, AJ Styles has been a champion virtually everywhere he’s wrestled, right from NJPW, ROH to TNA (Impact Wrestling).

Styles is also a 2-time WWE Champion and has held the United States Champion on a couple of occasions as well. The Phenomenal One is the reigning, undisputed WWE Champion and will defend his belt against former WWE Champ Jinder Mahal.

That’s a laundry list of accolades these men will share with one another when they enter the squared circle, and considering that Mahal faces off with Styles at a PPV which is specifically promoted as ‘Clash Of Champions’, it makes all the sense in the world to have said champions battle it out at the show.

The WWE has two of the most decorated champions in professional wrestling history in Nakamura and Styles, and it would be rather befitting if Mahal gets ‘taken out’ backstage in the beginning of the PPV, following which the WWE swerves the fans and announces Shinsuke Nakamura to be the new challenger for the WWE Championship, to face AJ Styles on just a couple of hours’ notice.

Just imagine the insane pop The Artist would get at the TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts should he defy the odds and defeat Styles, winning the WWE Championship for the very first time!