5 Reasons why Shinsuke Nakamura made the right choice in choosing Pro Wrestling over MMA

Nakamura chose the WWE, here’s why he was right

Shinsuke Nakamura is akin to a fresh breath of air in a business where things have long gone stale, courtesy of the lack of a ‘saviour’, ingenuity in the form of storylines and a star with whom the fans can relate to.

John Cena, as an entity, has been overused and the world is waiting for a new and distinct turn of events. That is where Nakamura’s signing with the WWE is a blessing. The man exudes charisma and passion in equal proportions.

A beast inside the ring, the man can very well become a torch bearer for the WWE. Having a brief Mixed Martial Arts stint evidences the fact that he can fight inside the octagon and might very well have a potential option of MMA ahead of him.

Moreover, there are fans who hope to see him inside the octagon at some point in time. Yet, despite all of that, he chose to swear allegiance to the WWE. Here are some possible reasons why Nakamura gave MMA a miss!


#5 His charismatic nature is best suited for the WWE

The new Captain Charisma?

Right from the time when his music hits, to the time he enters the ring, the talented superstar reeks of charisma and superstardom.

This is best suited for his stint with the World Wrestling Entertainment, where sports and entertainment tastefully juxtapose to put on a great show for the millions (pause) and millions of wrestling fans.

The charisma that he exhibits in conjunction with the sports-entertainment combination, makes the WWE a perfect haven for Shinsuke Nakamura to show his skills off.

I doubt if he’d be as successful in the Ultimate Fighting Championship as he is in the sports entertainment business (not taking away the fact that he can administer beatings on opponents!)

Nakamura is the sort of person around whom fables can be tailored, making it perfect for storylines that would be in-tune with the WWE product!

#4 Too old to fight in the octagon

Shinsuke back in the day

The last time Shinsuke Nakamura competed in Mixed Martial Arts was way back in May 2004 when he forced his Russian opponent, Alexey Ignashov to submit in the 2nd round after applying a forearm choke at the K-1 MMA Romanex event.

Despite being at a serious size disadvantage against the towering Alexey Ignashov, Nakamura was quick to take Ignashov to the ground in the first round and successfully finished the fight in the second.

As I stated earlier, let not his age fool you, for the 36-year-old definitely has many moves in his arsenal that can give a hard time to anyone willing to embroil with him. Nakamura’s professional mixed martial arts record stands at 3-1.

The Japanese stalwart is definitely a force to reckon with, but I believe he is way past his prime, lest he wants to do a CM Punk! 36 won’t be the right age for him to resurrect his career inside the octagon when most of the roster consists of youngsters.

A fierce combat sport where people go for the kill might not be ideal for Nakamura’s larger-than-life image that he has the potential to do great things with in the WWE!

#3 Global exposure with World Wrestling Entertainment

Doing his signature taunt

While it might take a while to climb the ladder of stardom with mixed martial arts, the WWE brings you en face de with superstardom right from the moment your music hits!

While this might not have been true for the Marty Janettys and the Shawn Stasiaks who are now lost in the whirlwind of obscurity, it definitely counts for talented wrestlers like Shinsuke Nakamura. Nakamura has all it takes to catapult his 6’2” frame to instant fame.

The in-ring skills, the distinct gait that enthrals fans from all over the world, the killer instinct and the perfect theme song to go with his entrance! Though he lacks the mic skills because of his Japanese background, he more than compensates for it with a platter of stellar offerings.

He signed a contract with the NXT exactly a year ago and the entire world is waiting with bated breath for him to make his main roster debut.

#2 He’s the last of a dying breed

Nakamura is what the main-roster needs

In an era of Roman Reigns and his frivolous pursuits of the prime-time spot courtesy Vince’s love for huge, muscly men, Nakamura is a welcome treat to sore eyes.

Someone of the calibre of Nakamura would definitely stir up quite an impact when he makes his WWE main roster debut, the glimpses of which were seen in his stint with NJPW and later with NXT.

The man knows how to pull crowds, sell moves and also entertain the global audience. A fresh face like Nakamura’s is what’s needed at this point in time to succour the business and sustain the interest of the audiences (people who’ve had enough of Reigns and his reign).

Nakamura is intelligent enough to weigh-in the options and select the WWE as his portal to success. Nakamura stepping up to WWE shall spawn opportunities for him that will take him much higher as a professional.

In stark contrast to that, Nakamura will not be much of a success if he decides to make a career out of MMA. Primarily because he has been out of the sport for over 12 years now and he would have to go through the rigmarole again to make an impact, which again, would take years to establish.

#1 Shinsuke Nakamura realises his potential as a saleable commodity

The future is here!

With fans chanting “Nakamura” the moment the violin-driven instrumental sonorously rings out in the arena, Shinsuke Nakamura knows that there are people who have his back.

From proving himself in not just one but two professional circuits, Nakamura knows the thick and thin of the professional wrestling business, but nothing compares to the experience of the WWE, which explains why Conor McGregor and Ronda Rousey have often flirted with the intentions of one day coming over to the WWE.

The former NJPW legend realised that his popularity had reached the hilt with his NJPW career, beckoning him to make a switch to the WWE. In addition, Nakamura’s face can now be on the collector cups, T-shirts, merchandise and other paraphernalia, owing to his already established stardom.

Would he get the same amount of love and adulation in a fierce combat sport like MMA where he’d have to go through the ranks all over again? Would Nakamura have fared better in the UFC? Let us know in the comments below.


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Edited by Staff Editor