10 Shinsuke Nakamura Matches You Must Watch

7. Shinsuke Nakamura vs. AJ Styles – Money in the Bank 2018

I’ll give you a spoiler right now, this is the only main roster match on this list. Nakamura’s main roster run has been extremely disappointing with the exception of his Royal Rumble win and this match. After feuding with AJ Styles over the WWE Championship for most of 2018, their rivalry culminated at Money in the Bank.

This was a Last Man Standing match and so came the appropriate big spots. Their rivalry revolved around them kicking each other in the junk so there was a fair bit of that here. Why neither of them ever wore a cup is beyond me. Regardless, this was a fantastic match and the bright spot of Styles’ reign. Nakamura lost and he seemed to lose interest in putting in his top effort after this. For long time fans, it was very disappointing to see.

---

6. Shinsuke Nakamura vs. Hiroshi Tanahashi – Invasion Attack 2014

If any match in Nakamura’s career illustrates his relationship with the IWGP Intercontinental Championship, it is this one. At a point, this title became more important to Nakamura than the heavyweight title and Shinsuke was able to elevate it to almost equal status. When he won the New Japan Cup in 2014, he chose to face Hiroshi Tanahashi and try to reclaim his title.

This match was incredibly important to Nakamura’s character and just as important for the title. Nakamura would stop at nothing to regain his title. Tanahashi viciously targeted Nakamura’s knee, effectively working heel in the match. However, with the crowd solidly behind him, Nakamura refused to lose. Tanahashi had control until the very end with Nakamura using his other knee to hit the Bomaye and win the match.

---

5. Shinsuke Nakamura vs. Kazuchika Okada – G1 Climax 24 Final

After the redebut of Kazuchika Okada in 2012, Shinsuke Nakamura was always the bridesmaid, never the bride. Okada and Tanahashi began a battle over who was the number one and number two guys in New Japan. Meanwhile, there was Nakamura sitting at number three. Eventually, it is what caused him to leave the promotion.

His spot on the totem pole did allow him to have some fantastic matches though. This was one of them. He and Okada battled in the finals of the 24th G1 Climax for the right to face Hiroshi Tanahashi at Wrestle Kingdom 9. This was another match between Chaos partners but it didn’t stop them from giving it their all. Nakamura was in his element, using his cockiness to through Okada off his game. However, that only worked for a little while as Okada was able to regain control and hit three Rainmakers to win the match and the tournament.

The G1 Climax has risen to another level in recent years but this was a final for the ages.

---

4. Shinsuke Namakura vs. Sami Zayn – NXT Takeover: Dallas

For a while, this was the most widely debated Dave Meltzer star rating. Many people considered this to be a five star match and the best NXT match ever. While both of those things are debatable, what isn’t debatable is this match was a classic.

Shinsuke Nakamura’s NXT debut against Sami Zayn was special. Nakamura was hot off winning wrestler of the year awards and right from his entrance he was special. A flashing strobe light behind his silhouette made him look like a wrestling deity and he backed it up with the match that followed.

Nakamura and Zayn stole the whole weekend with their performance. WWE fans were still not used to seeing Japanese Strong Style in America and this made their match very special.

• new japan pro wrestling
• Sami Zayn
• Shinsuke Nakamura
• NJPW

Share this article with friends