The Goldmine: Nakamura – Welcome To The Dark Side by Alex Gold

Do you recall the James Bond movies? I’m not talking about the lackluster Bond’s of the last fifteen years, mind you; I’m referring to the time when James Bond was portrayed by the legendary Sean Connery and the late great Sir Roger Moore. These gentlemen defined the ultimate masculine hero which all men should strive to be. You’ll also notice that these incarnations of Bond had classic villains to oppose them.

At WWE WrestleMania 34, we saw the birth of a new WWE super villain, Shinsuke Nakamura.

https://youtu.be/K2UPsZfoVrs

It has been a long time since WWE has had a perfectly sculpted foreign villain on their main roster. Let it be clear, I am not including the over-hyped Alexander Rusev, who was so terrible in that villain role they turned him into the clown-act we all know today. When I say foreign super villain I’m talking about guys like former WWE champion, the late Yokozuna and The Iron Shiek. “The Day Of The Super Villain” has finally returned.

I’m willing to bet that Shinsuke Nakamura, “The Japanese Juggernaut” (The Goldmine coined that one) probably wanted to allow his darker self to shine in WWE long before WWE creative decided to make it happen. After all, as a “good guy”, Nakamura has struggled lately, and he hasn’t been on the main roster for all that long. The only thing he ever had going for him while in the role of a “good guy” was that catchy entrance music. There are those who say he can wrestle, true. But this is sports entertainment. You need to be able to do more than wrestle to become a WWE “Superstar”.

In WWE, and I will go so far as to say historically, foreigners especially when the United States is involved, typically play the role of “bad guys” whereas home-grown all-Americans, play the roles of good guys. For example, good guys: Hulk Hogan, Bob Buckland and The Patriot. Whereas guys like, Mr. Fuji, Nikolai Volkoff and Yokozuna played bad guys. Get it? I do realize that I am saying “good guy” and “bad guy” as opposed to “heel” and “baby face”, but you know what, I prefer it.

I am certain that there are many of you out there who are literally crying your little eyes out like babies over the fact Shinsuke low-blowed the beloved, A.J. Styles after having faked him out with a hug of respect. To those of you who are crying I say, get over it. This is sports entertainment and without the dark in this game there can be no light, and the two need to be clearly defined. The world of sports entertainment cannot be filled with “fence sitters”. A fence sitter is someone who agrees with everything and doesn’t have a strong conviction of who they are and their opinions. You’re either good or bad in sports entertainment because that is what makes wrestling work. Somewhere along the line and especially during the past ten years people have forgotten that (not Bullet Club). Unfortunately, the same can be said for life in general. It’s a sad reality little boys and girls, but it’s the truth. The good news is when we get to the “other side” depending on how good or bad we were in this life, there will be eternal peace without conflict. There, we can be all fence sitters.

Shinsuke’s low-blow to A.J. Styles at WrestleMania 34 signaled the nucleus that he so desperately needed to keep his career relevant, bottom line. If he had hugged A.J. and left it at that I guarantee and without a shadow of a doubt, his WWE career would have been over within a year – no more title shots and no more major storylines. You can argue that statement in your own minds but after some careful thought you will realize what I say is the truth. Besides, A.J. beat him at WrestleMania, an event Shinsuke wanted to compete at his entire career. Thank God, Shinsuke should his true feelings at the end of the match. If he hadn’t been upset, he wouldn’t have been a real human.

So, how will this “bad guy” “Japanese Juggernaut” Shinsuke Nakamura work to improve the man’s career? Let me tell you:

Judging by the vastly improved promo Nakamura cut on the Smackdown Live following WrestleMania 34, I’d say this is a good place to start, and we all know promos are one of the most crucial parts of any wrestler’s character. If you can’t cut a decent promo you might as well kiss your career goodbye – Roman Reigns. It’s the only way fans are truly able to connect to a character.

https://youtu.be/HByHD7SSibs

It appeared to me at least that Shinsuke relished cutting his “bad guy” promo, and if he is relishing the fact this will only improve his general moral, and when moral improves in the workplace, new heights of accomplishment can be achieved. Also, playing the foreign super villain will improve the amount of attention Nakamura receives. After all, “heat” is a response. When one receives heat for whatever they do you can bet your last dollar it’s because whatever they are doing is great and others are simply jealous. Look at the great, Maharaja, Jinder Mahal. Jinder receives so much heat from fans who are obviously jealous of his ability to be disciplined and play a great, great character that he doesn’t need cheers from fans for WWE executives to put a title around his waist. Just because fans cheer certain wrestlers doesn’t mean a wrestler has true talent in the eyes of those who make the decisions. Remember that.

The conclusion here is, Shinsuke Nakamura “Japanese Juggernaut” has come over to the darkside. Congratulations WWE creative. You finally did something interesting that makes sense.

And as Nakamura prepares to take the WWE Title away from A.J Styles at The Greatest Royal Rumble next week I can hear the late and legendary WWE Hall of Famer, Mr. Fuji, whispering from that oh-so great beyond. He’s saying, “Take my hand Nakamura-son. I am your father”. Ha, ha, ha!

• WWE WrestleMania 34
• WWE SmackDown Live
• Shinsuke Nakamura
• wwe

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