5 must-know facts about AJ Styles vs. Shinsuke Nakamura

With WWE WrestleMania 34 on the horizon, we are building up to the event by taking a look at five key facts about every match at this year’s “Showcase of the Immortals”.

In this article, we focus on the potential Match of the Year contender between WWE champion AJ Styles and Shinsuke Nakamura.

Will Styles fulfill his promise of walking in and out of WrestleMania with the WWE Championship? Or will Nakamura add to his Royal Rumble triumph with a huge victory on his ‘Mania debut?

---

#5 Shinsuke Nakamura defeated AJ Styles in 2016

Shinsuke Nakamura was victorious the last time they met

AJ Styles and Shinsuke Nakamura produced a 24-minute classic at Wrestle Kingdom 10 in 2016, with the latter gaining the victory to retain his IWGP Intercontinental Championship.

Both men were signed by WWE just weeks later, with Styles debuting at the 2016 Royal Rumble and Nakamura making his WWE in-ring debut against Sami Zayn at NXT TakeOver: Dallas.

WWE hasn’t mentioned NJPW during the build to Styles vs. Nakamura at this year’s WrestleMania, but it’s fair to say that the “dream match” is essentially a long-awaited rematch between the two men from their days in Japan.

#4 AJ Styles will surpass Ultimate Warrior’s combined days as WWE champion if he wins

Ultimate Warrior held the WWE title for 293 days

On the day of WrestleMania 34, AJ Styles will have held the WWE Championship for a combined 293 days, including his first reign with the title (September 2016-January 2017) and his current reign (November 2017-present).

If “The Phenomenal One” defeats Shinsuke Nakamura to retain at this year’s ‘Mania, he will have held the WWE Championship for more days (294) than Ultimate Warrior did in his entire career (293).

Warrior held the title on just one occasion, winning it from Hulk Hogan at WrestleMania VI in April 1990 before losing it to Sgt Slaughter at the Royal Rumble in January 1991.

#3 Only three of the last nine Royal Rumble winners were victorious at WrestleMania

Randy Orton won the 2017 Royal Rumble and then defeated Bray Wyatt for the WWE title

The Royal Rumble winner has gone on to challenge for a world title (WWE Championship or World Heavyweight Championship) at WrestleMania 22 times, emerging victorious at ‘Mania on 13 occasions.

Between WrestleMania X-Seven in 2001 and WrestleMania 23 in 2007, the Rumble winner won a major title at “The Show of Shows” at all seven events.

Since then, only three of the last nine Rumble winners have walked out of WrestleMania with the title (Sheamus in 2012, John Cena in 2013, and Randy Orton in 2017), which doesn’t bode well for Shinsuke Nakamura!

#2 Shinsuke Nakamura has more 5-star ratings than anyone in WWE

Shinsuke Nakamura is one of the best wrestlers in the world

Dave Meltzer’s match ratings in the Wrestling Observer Newsletter are often the subject of debate among wrestling fans. While the ratings are only the opinion of one man, they still represent a good gauge as to how well a performer’s matches have been received over the course of their career.

In Shinsuke Nakamura’s case, he has received 5-star ratings for matches against Kota Ibushi (Wrestle Kingdom 9, 2015) and Hiroshi Tanahashi (NJPW G1 Climax Final, 2015), which is more than any other current WWE Superstar.

AJ Styles’ only 5-star rating came in 2005 when he defeated Samoa Joe and Christopher Daniels in a Triple Threat match at TNA Unbreakable.

#1 Oldest WWE title singles match at WrestleMania in 26 years

Randy Savage fought Ric Flair at WrestleMania VIII

In April 1992, Randy Savage defeated Ric Flair for the WWE Championship at WrestleMania VIII, with the two veterans' ages adding up to 82 (Savage was 39 and Flair was 43) at the time.

You may not know it based on their in-ring performances, but this year’s WrestleMania will feature the oldest WWE title singles match at the event since Savage and Flair met 26 years ago on “The Grandest Stage of Them All”.

AJ Styles, 40, and Shinsuke Nakamura, 38, have spent half their lives in the wrestling business and it’s incredible to think that both men are still in their prime at an age where many other Superstars start to wind down their career.