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#2 Shinsuke Nakamura wins over the WWE Universe on WWE SmackDown
In the main event of WWE SmackDown, Shinsuke Nakamura competed in the Gauntlet Match to determine Roman Reigns’ challenger for WWE Royal Rumble. Given Nakamura's lackluster booking in recent months, few fans considered him to be a legitimate threat in this match. But early on, he blocked a splash attempt from Rey Mysterio and forced the fan-favorite star to tap out.
Nakamura also eliminated King Corbin after a competitive exchange. Suddenly, the former Royal Rumble Winner looked quite impressive.
Nakamura and Daniel Bryan put on a great show when they shared the ring. Eventually, "The Artist" drilled Bryan with a nasty knee strike to eliminate the former WWE Champion. This third elimination made it seem like Nakamura was bound to win the match.
Following the pin, the two Superstars shook hands, and Nakamura looked like a babyface for the first time in almost three years.
"The Artist" is still one of the best wrestlers in the world, and on WWE SmackDown, he showed why many fans believe that his talent is being wasted. Nakamura should have been a multi-time WWE Champion by now. Instead, he has been wasting away in the mid-card. But he could finally be on the right track.
