After January 4th, 2016, the word quickly spread out that WWE had signed AJ Styles, Doc (Luke) Gallows, Karl Anderson and Shinsuke Nakamura. As we know, AJ Styles made his debut 21 days after at the Royal Rumble, Luke Gallows, and Karl Anderson made their debuts two weeks after Wrestlemania 32, and Shinsuke Nakamura made his debut at NXT Takeover: Dallas, in what was Sami Zayn's final match for NXT.
The match was an instant classic, which has been claimed by many to be the best match of 2016 (so far).
The arrival of The King of Strong Style came at the apt time because it was the time around which everyone knew Finn Balor – the face of NXT, would be called up to the main roster. Also, 2016 has seen quite a raid of NXT talents called up to the main roster from both sides, male and female, and thus, NXT would definitely be looking for a draw for house shows.
Shinsuke Nakamura is the answer to be the next face of NXT.
However, it must be noted that Shinsuke Nakamura is reportedly the first NXT talent to be paid “main event level money”, which would imply that he is being groomed for a quick main roster call up. However, the way Nakamura is being built, it is almost being seen as an inevitability that he will beat Samoa Joe at NXT Takeover: Brooklyn II, to become the NXT Champion, and thus the face of NXT for a while.
Nakamura winning the NXT Championship would allow Samoa Joe to be called up after a while. But the rumor is that Shinsuke Nakamura may follow him sooner than expected. According to Cageside Seats, it is being reported that The King of Strong Style will be called up to the big leagues soon. It is being speculated that WWE wants him before Wrestlemania 33. There is no doubt Nakamura is making money for NXT, but he will undoubtedly make more for the main roster.
But Triple H may be able to convince Vince McMahon to let him stay down a while longer like he did for Finn Balor when Vince wanted to call him up last year. Nakamura leaving NXT would not necessarily impact the developmental brand too badly, as they have stars such as Bobby Roode, Austin Aries, among others, and it is being rumored that Roderick Strong is NXT bound as well.
Would you like to see Shinsuke Nakamura be called up soon?
