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Shinsuke Nakamura is one of the best wrestlers in the world. Over the past several years, he has evolved from a relatively boring and straightforward shootfighter of a wrestler to a wacky and esoteric character that oozes charisma like nobody else.
This drawing power of his hasn’t gone unnoticed, as he has become the first Japanese wrestler to win the WWE Royal Rumble. Now, Nakamura’s set to take on his erstwhile rival A.J. Styles for the WWE Championship, and many people are looking forward to the instant classic that will be.
But some people might not be too familiar with Nakamura’s matches outside of WWE and NXT, and thus might not understand why he’s such a big star. This list will help solve that problem, by presenting five matches Shinsuke Nakamura had outside of WWE that helped elevate him into the world-class-calibre athlete that he is today.
#5 Shinsuke Nakamura vs. Kevin Steen – ROH War of the Worlds 2014
Before both men made their way to WWE, Nakamura and Steen had a match at ROH War of the Worlds, which was one of the biggest matches that promotion had seen that year. The audience loved the match so much that they began chanting ‘This is awesome’ before the bell had even been rung.
The match is also memorable for a short ‘comedy’ segment’ involving Steen mocking Nakamura for his unusual ‘Good Vibrations’ foot stomping attack. Although this isn’t as much of a technical grappling masterpiece as other matches on this list, it’s an exciting match nonetheless because it gave fans a glimpse of Nakamura wrestling in a more ‘Americanized’ style, and needless to say he passed the test with flying colours.
#4 Shinsuke Nakamura vs. Kazushi Sakuraba, Wrestle Kingdom 7
During his early years, Nakamura did some training in MMA and actually finished with a 3-1 record in that sport. But in pro wrestling, he faced his most dangerous ‘legit’ fighter ever at Wrestle Kingdom 7: Kazushi Sakuraba, also known as the ‘Gracie Hunter’ for his legendary bouts with four members of the Gracie Family who are considered royalty in Mixed Martial Arts.
Although the match started off rather slowly, it kicked into high gear after about five minutes. After that, it transitioned into a phenomenal match that brought the crowd alive. Featuring extremely stiff strikes, realistic MMA-based submission holds and a wildly hot crowd, Nakamura managed to defeat one of Japan’s biggest MMA names and further cement himself as one of that country’s biggest athletic stars of any kind.
#3 Shinsuke Nakamura vs.Hiroshi Tanahashi, G1 Climax 25 Finals
This was a 5-star classic match between two rivals whose history together goes back over a decade. Nakamura was the embodiment of NJPW’s Strong Style traditions, while Tanahashi was the symbol of the future and of change. So when they clashed to determine the winner of the 2015 G1 Climax tournament, it was an instant classic.
Featuring excellent scientific grappling, well-crafted psychology, and incredible agility and athleticism for two guys known to be heavyweights. The match kicked into high gear at the 15-minute mark or so, as both men proceeded to kick out of each other’s finishers and put on a dazzling display of emotion and storytelling.
Even the Japanese audience members, who are known for their silence and respect during wrestling matches, roared in approval with every move these two legendary wrestlers executed. Truly a fantastic match.
#2 Shinsuke Nakamura vs. A.J. Styles, Wrestle Kingdom 10
This was the dream match that the entire world got to see two years ago, and is a match that we’re likely to see in a WWE ring in a month’s time. Nakamura’s wrestling style meshed perfectly with Styles’, which brought two of the world’s greatest wrestlers together a singles match that helped make Wrestle Kingdom X the best wrestling show of 2016.
It was both a technical masterpiece and an outstanding exercise in non-verbal storytelling that left the audience breathless throughout the contest. Throughout the match, the audience cheered both Styles and Nakamura equally, which is a testament to both men’s enormous popularity as wrestlers.
What makes this match so good is that the signature sequences are so dramatic. There are so many reversals and teases that the audience is left on the edge of their seats, wondering if each move will actually land and if will result in a decision.
Because of this, the match is that much more unpredictable and exciting, making it a must-watch match for any fan of either pro wrestler.
#1 Shinsuke Nakamura vs. Kota Ibushi, Wrestle Kingdom IX
This is the match that elevated Shinsuke Nakamura to a new level. No longer was he just a flamboyant mid-carder with out-of-this-world charisma that struggled to break the glass ceiling. After this match, there was no doubt in anyone’s mind that Nakamura was a world-class athlete and one of the few that could make a believable claim as best wrestler alive.
Not only was Nakamura’s entrance for this match in a league of its own (the guy literally came out dressed as a king), but he and Kota Ibushi proceeded to steal the show from an otherwise stacked Wrestle Kingdom IX card (which also included a stellar main event between Hiroshi Tanahashi and Kazuchika Okada).
This match featured a stellar combination of stiff and believable strikes, outstanding aerial offence from Kota Ibushi, and outstanding drama that made every near fall as believable as the one the one before it.
Extra credit goes to Ibushi in this match for proving that, despite being a ‘junior/cruiserweight’, he could hang with one of the best heavyweight wrestlers NJPW had to offer. It shouldn’t come as a surprise to anyone that this match won the Wrestling Observer’s Match of the Year award for 2015.
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