Shinsuke Nakamura

[7.0] "Great worker who has floundered the past 10 years in WWE. He must be paid a lot to stay or maybe he doesn't have it in him anymore to put on a classic like he did many times in New Japan. People are always gonna wonder what we missed by having Nakamura used as a midcarder during some of his best years."

[10.0] "Extremely talented and criminallt underutilized. This guy has everything he needs and without any doubt could have became a MEGASTAR. His entrances, his matches, his characters, his gimmicks, his charisma, his in ring skills, his promo skills, selling skills, acting skills ge's GOATED in every category. WWE fumbled."

[8.0] "Great wrestler but got wasted in WWE. He had so much potential hopefully he can win a world title before he leaves so he can become Grand Slam champion,"

[8.0] "Good wrestler, had some good feuds and i feel like he is in his prime right now but i cant forget his 2021 IC title run where he defended his title like once in 3-4 months or something like that, and did nothing. I like his work now, he s a good upper mid carder"

[10.0] "He's basically retired at this point, so I don't even like thinking about his run in WWE at all, but man, what immense charisma this man has. I was starstruck the first time I saw him on TV, and he's not just charisma; he's an elite in-ring performer, the torchbearer of strong style, a total package, and a once-in-a-lifetime wrestler"

[8.0] "Shinsuke Nakamura is a wrestler who had a golden period from about 2011 to 2017 and everything sandwiching it has been solid but unremarkable. I can compare him to Satoshi Kojima in that regard. He's still an alright performer but most of the dude's fans are people like me who fondly remember him being the coolest man alive back in 2015."

[10.0] "First and foremost- Shinsuke absolutely rules. He has such a unique style and a very flamboyant character, but somehow he looks great doing it. If anyone else tried to get away with Shinsuke's mannerisms and stuff they'd end up looking like a total goof, but Shinsuke pulls it off and pulls it off well. The King of Strong Style, he has an awesome striking game and moveset in general. He does one of the coolest moves (I think) in the game and that's the slide under to the outside German suplex he does. WWE has not done right by him, but he still rules."

[8.0] "Top tier wrestler in Japan. Has always felt a bit half-assed in comparison in the WWE though, which is what he seems comfortable doing for the latter half of his career. Not really his fault though, the booking was never great for him and WWE clearly never felt he was highcard material."

[10.0] "Great wrestler in his day. Really helped NJPW during their Inoki-ism phase and became a legitimate main event guy despite all that was going on around that time. Had legendary matches in NJPW that people still talk about to this day. His WWE run has been... a whirlwind of emotions to say the least. Started off super, super hot. Was a huge star and did some great work in NXT, went downhill once he joined the main event roster. Just seems like nobody really wants to go all in on him for some reason. He has obviously declined a fair bit, and I think the American pro-wrestling style has undoubtedly allowed him to take a backseat at times and not go 100%. Still a solid hand, but I personally think his WWE stuff has definitely run its course and considering the shape NJPW are in now, he'd be a lot better going back there and helping out the newer talent."

[10.0] "I used to think that nakamura isn't really anything special but when I watched some of his matches back when he was in Japan he was completely different he's very charismatic and loved by the fans and I really enjoy his strong style it's very disappointing that he was wasted in WWE he's easily capable of being a top guy wherever he goes to"

[10.0] "I refuse to let Shinsukes WWE run drop his rating, from his time in Japan to NXT he was one of the best in the ring and most charismatic (despite not being able to cut a promo) WWE failed this man by not giving him the title runs he deserved yes, but if you look at all of his other iconic performances (even now with him and AJ at SNME) it is obvious he is one of the greatest of all time. He can still be a great champion I know it, but TKO and Triple H unfortunately do not. Despite this, I love Shinsuke to death and I believe he is one of the greatest of all time. The KING of Strong Style!"

[5.0] "Shinsuke Nakamura hasn't been good for over a decade. He's charismatic but have been wrestling in the US for a long time and still can't cut a promo to save his life. In the ring he's actually overrated even throughout his days in Japan. He only has had two great matches against Kota Ibushi and another one against Hiroshi Tanahashi. The man is loved by the fans but his time in WWE has been disappointing"

[8.0] "Shinsuke is an amazing wrestler, he deserved so much better in WWE. Half of his title reigns were either terrible or forgettable. Shinsuke in Japan is a completely different wrestler than what he's doing in WWE"

[9.0] "His main roster WWE run has been disappointing. Not really his fault it's just that Vince really dropped the ball on him. With that being said Shinsuke is great. He wrestles really good and has a lot of aura. Like seriously this dude was so over in NXT and even his early days on the main roster. His theme song is iconic and good. I'm glad he brought it back. Despite the fact his main roster run has been disappointing, his match with AJ Styles at SNME was absolutely fantastic. For me it's easily the best WWE match of 2026 by a long shot. It's great to see he hasn't died out yet."

[9.0] "Everything he did before WWE was a 10. Everything he did while in WWE is probably a 5 at best. It's unfortunate to see how underutilized he is, and his ring work as seemed to declined quite a bit. I don't want to average it out because if I did he'd be a 7 which is very unfair because of how good his highs here. I think a 9 is a perfect score for him,"

[10.0] "Despite his bad main roster run which is in no fault of his own, Shinsuke is genuinely an amazing wrestler with amazing in ring skills with amazing charisma. He also had major impact on the scene of professional wrestling by legitimizing the black and gold era of NXT after its earlier days and making the IWGP intercontinental championship one of the greatest titles in pro wrestling history"

[10.0] "i still give Shinsuke Nakamura a 10 out of 10 despite how badly he has been booked on the main roster. his run in New Japan Pro-Wrestling was on another level, hard hitting strong style matches that felt real and intense. his bouts with Kota Ibushi, AJ Styles, and Hiroshi Tanahashi are must watch. and his run in WWE NXT was absolutely incredible too."

[10.0] "Underrated in WWE, a great wrestler in general, Shinsuke can show more than what they're giving him in WWE"

[8.0] "Shinsuke is a very vibey wrestler and incredibly talented. Charismatic Japanese dude who can pull off legendary and iconic wrestling. It's a shame WWE doesn't appreciate him and gives him lousy championship reigns. And the biggest downside is, he's okay with it. Though he could at least once show himself as a world champion. I'd give him a 10. But his laziness and the fact that he's the most useless Royal Rumble winner are major downsides. And part of it is his fault, since he's fine with it given his talent and charisma."

[10.0] "He is the King of Strong Style. Amazing wrestler in NJPW but WWE completely wasted his talent. There is no excuse to why he never became a world champion in WWE. His matches in NJPW, especially his Wrestle Kingdom matches against Hiroshi tanhashi, Kota ibushi, and aj styles are some of the best ever. He mixes martial arts with wrestling so well, he's one of my favorite wrestlers, and he has tons of charisma in every gimmick he has had that I have no choice but to give him a 10."

[4.0] "I've never understood the appeal. People say he has charisma but all I see him doing is convulsing around like he's having a seizure. He is touted for his "strong style" but that is one of the most exaggerated claims I've ever heard in pro wrestling. His style looks mildly "strong" the majority of the time. The list of pro wrestlers with a "stronger" style than his is not a short list. He's also just generally kinda annoying imo. His movements, his personality, his facial expression.... there is a lot I don't like about him."

[10.0] "WWE fucked my boy up BAD. When he won the rumble, I had hopes that he'd go to the top, but all we were given were shitty US title matches with literally no story. Heel or not, they sucked. It doesn't change the fact that he is still one of the best wrestlers on WWE's current roster. Hope he eventually gets booked well."

[9.0] "A very complex character to rate, Nakamura has a divisive career, with completely different moments, but ultimately I have a lot of love for him, and he's undeniably a legend. During the early stage of his career, he was the perfect guy for New Japan and what Inoki wanted, but the problem is that the company was doing very badly, and Nakamura had to reinvent himself, from a good wrestler with a lot of potential, to the King of Strong Style, and all of his supposed 'charisma problems' vanished with that new gimmick. As a heel, Nakamura thrived and made the most out of his style, finally being able to fulfill his potential. By the time he left New Japan for WWE, Shinsuke was arguably the biggest thing in pro wrestling, and that's a huge deal. Unfortunately the WWE chapter is more negative than positive, he had some moments, the presentation was wonderful, but the booking wasn't so good, and he was probably less motivated, to be polite. Despite those mixed feelings, I enjoy a lot to watch him wrestle, specially when he's being stiff and murdering his opponents with the strong style."

[10.0] "Shinsuke is no longer in his prime, but I think he still performs well. His work in NJPW and NXT was very good; he even had good and entertaining matches against Bad Luck Fale and Bob Sapp back in the day, as well as excellent and good matches against Tanahashi, Ibushi, Ishii, Okada, Samoa Joe, Roode, La Sombra (Andrade), Sami, AJ Styles, Naito, and Shibata. His work on WWE's main roster has been disappointing due to poor booking decisions, but he's had some good matches, though not as good as his best matches in NJPW and NXT. I enjoyed his mini-feud with Seth Rollins. He is very charismatic and used to connect with the crowd, but poor booking decisions affected those reactions. They should've pulled the trigger when he faced Jinder, but for some reason they did not. When he lost against AJ Styles, it was the nail in the coffin--it completely buried him. Those poor midcard title reigns did not do him any favors. Many excuse the language barrier and his thick accent, but the man speaks English, and now that you see how Iyo and Stephanie are pushed despite the language barrier, I think there is no excuse why this man never became world champion."

[6.0] "Nakamura's current character just doesn't click the way it used to. The charisma and eccentric "King of Strong Style" persona that made him stand out in NXT and NJPW has lost some of its luster, and his current gimmick feels underdeveloped or stagnant. Fans might find it hard to get invested in his matches because the storytelling around his character isn't compelling."

[10.0] "Shinsuke Nakamura is one of the best things that ever happened to WWE. It's unfortunate they didn't use him properly. Shinsuke doesn't deserve to be mid-card or low-card; he's way above them in terms of character, storytelling, and in-ring performance."

[6.0] "Probably the most obvious example of how much a company really can affect a wrestlers look , feel and performance. Nakamura in NXT had the charisma a modern day Eddie would be proud off. Now.. he is just barely a midcarder who can have good matches at times. He managed to get a bit off a push in a program against Seth Rollins for the world title not to long ago and unfortunately I think that program just proved what everyone was trying to avoid.. he just doesn't have it anymore (atleast in WWE). Nakamura vs Seth 10years ago would've been guaranteed bangers and likely some of the best ever. Instead we got a heel Nakamura allowing himself to be carried to a half decent stretch of matches by easily one of the best active wrestlers right now which is not a bad thing necessarily but it is if you are Shinsuke fricking Nakamura, the king of strongstyle, the guy who had almost nothing but all time classics in NJPW. Also what even frustrates me more is Shinsuke has one of the coolest ring names ever in "The king of strongstyle" and his look very much perfectly matches that, alongside the infamous "Bring it" taunt he really sells himself perfectly. But due to horrible booking, no real promo skills (in English) and him I guess staying for the money he has became your modern day midcard heel whos sole purpose is just filling a blank slot on a weekly show. What a shame. 6/10"

"[10.0] Shinsuke is one of the best wrestlers of all time in my opinion and it is an absolute shame the WWE have never given him the big title push he deserved. The mystique around him during his NXT and early main roster days was truly one of a kind and it feels like with better booking and bigger opportunities he would have never lost that wow factor but unfortunately we live in the timeline where he is now a losing mid carder at best"

[10.0] "Shinsuke is a hell of a wrestler, he is really good and capable of more than we can see now. He always try to put some interesting moments with his gimmicks. But now he is just sitting on contract and gets paid and that's sad for me, cause he should be higher than this, he should become a WWE champion before he finish"

[8.0] "Nakamura is a rare blend of charisma, style, and in-ring ability who made his name as one of the most dynamic performers in the world. His rise in New Japan Pro Wrestling was nothing short of legendary. With his "King of Strong Style" persona, Nakamura became known for his explosive strikes, unorthodox movements, and a magnetic presence that felt like part rockstar, part assassin. His matches with the likes of Hiroshi Tanahashi, Kota Ibushi, and AJ Styles are considered some of the best of the modern era, blending storytelling with brutality in a way few could match. When he arrived in WWE, especially in NXT, there was a clear sense that a star had entered the room. His debut against Sami Zayn is still held up as one of NXT's finest matches. However, Nakamura's main roster run has been inconsistent. He has had moments of brilliance, including a Royal Rumble win and a WrestleMania match with AJ Styles, but his momentum was often stifled by questionable booking and stop-start pushes. Even when underutilized, his entrance alone can electrify a crowd and remind fans of the unique presence he brings. While he may not have fully lived up to his potential in WWE, Nakamura remains a world-class talent with a mystique and style that few can emulate. Whether he's in the title picture or just putting on a showcase match, he brings an unmistakable flavor that elevates any card he's on"

[10.0] "for a very good time frame in like 2013-2014, this was my absolute favorite wrestler in the world, prime shinsuke nakamura might genuinely be one of the best in the world at any point"

[7.0] "It's a testament to how magnetic Nakamura is at his best that anyone rates him at all. Even the height of his New Japan run was filled with phoning it in performances outside the major shows, and his heartfelt promise to bring strong style to WWE has been a pathetic joke pretty much from the day after he arrived with his first and only truly great singles match against Sami Zayn. Since then, he's got a ***3/4 ceiling (which he rarely approaches) and more often than not is an afterthought. But man oh man, when he turns it on, he really was one of the best in the world. From 2012 to 2016 he adjusted to being New Japan's second banana by forging a completely viable alternate path to stardom beneath the IWGP heavyweight chase, allowing a number of workers to breakout while leaving Okada and Tanahashi to work out their brilliant story for the title of Ace. That the IC belt often superseded the main title in terms of crowd draw is a testament to how much he elevated it and his partners (and himself). If that Shinsuke came out even once a year in the WWE, he'd be one of their 10 best workers. As it is, he'll sadly go down as something of a recurring footnote in New Japan's finest era."

[7.0] "Shinsuke is certainly capable of delivering big still, but he doesn't. He was one of the best in Japan during the first decade and a half of this century. When Shinsuke first came to WWE, he was a 9 for me, but the man completely took his foot off the gas and never floored it again in the decade since he arrived."

[10.0] "It's a 10 for me. Completely underutilised in WWE but do not forget that he was New Japan Pro Wrestling's number 2 guy when he left the company. It's one of those wrestlers that I will always defend no matter what. A technical specimen with an amazing strong style."

[7.0] "I don't know what the wrong with him , when i first saw him i thought he would be one of the best in the company , especially with how good his entrance is , but his curve has been going down badly the last 5 years missed opportunity for him and for the company."

[8.0] "This is pissing me off now.Shinsuke has to be one of the most wasted wrestling talents ever. Writing this just after the 7th March 2025 Smackdown episode and finally an end to his US title run that was diabolical. Didnt see his indie work or much NXT so this is based on his main roster WWE. First of all, when he won Rumble 2018 he should've beat AJ Styles and if not then should've been earlier against Jindler or at Backlash 18' when they had a rematch. Fuck me, it pisses me off so much how this guy gets so wasted. How has not won a WWE World Championship? ! AND NOW THEY HAVE BURIED HIS SATANIC SAMURAI DEMON GIMMICK! WELL DONE WWE! At this point he should go to AEW or TNA and hopefully he don't get wasted there. Overall an amazing wrestler but wasted majorly so overall good but not great."

[10.0] "The King of Strong-Style name fits him perfectly. His NJPW run was absolutely legendary, making the Intercontinental Championship so damn prestigious with his matches. Matches against AJ Styles, Okada, Tanahashi, Kota Ibushi etc. were all instant classics. His NXT run was also so damn hype debuting in another classic with Sami Zayn. He won the NXT title twice and got called up. After MITB, man he was fed to dogshit with the Jinder feuds. He won the Royal Rumble and gained back 100% of his momentum. He then LOST against AJ at WrestleMania 34. He never recovered from this. Lackluster midcard title reigns and barely a sniff in the main event. He lost multiple feuds and got a little hope back with his awesome heel gimmick like he was a Yakuza boss. He then lost to Rollins twice for the World Title. He was written off until he became even more demented. Fans got hope and he BEAT LA KNIGHT FOR THE US TITLE! With now people forgetting he's even champion. A legendary career for over a decade with amazing matches and charisma. He has barely survived the main roster, however. TRIPLE H BOOK OUR CHAMPION PLEASE!"

[5.0] "Don't even suggest me watch his japanese performance Shinsuke had many years ago. Everything Nakamura's shown in the ring since he debuted in WWE is average. All his championship ownerships were nonsense, yet he's been considered to win more, even World Title. It would be an uphill battle to note down at least one good plot including him. On top of that, he did absolutely nothing for WWE to make it better. I dare say the only good about Shinsuke is his music themes and always wondered how such a bland overhyped character got banger songs."

[6.0] "I'm not familiar with what Shinsuke has done outside of WWE, but from what I've seen in these years I can't connect with him, I feel like he lacks more confidence in himself, I see him a bit complicated in the ring and promos, although the aura he gives off when he enters is incredible, unfortunately his reigns have been very bad and the one he's having now leaves a lot to be desired, I still remember his beginnings in NXT where he gave everything in the ring but now he doesn't feel the same"

[6.0] "I guess I am sad that I missed out on his greatest work, but all I have seen of him in WWE has been ok. I see flashes of brilliance but he is so seldom there that it just feels absolutely random whenever he comes up to torture some babyface and this disappear again. It's like he is an actual random encounter. He was the one to take the belt off of LA Knight and so far has really done nothing but effectively sandbag the belt as an entity."

[9.0] "Such a great, great performer: it's a shame he's never been a world champion on the main roster he deserved it for years. His work in NJPW speaks for itself. He is a legend."

[8.0] "There was a time when Shinsuke Nakamura was the best wrestler on the planet but that time is long gone. Ever since going to WWE he just dosent seem motivated to try anymore. Goes through the motions and collects a check."

[9.0] "I absolutely LOVE Shinsuke Nakamura. I think it's criminal that he's never won a world title. This current evil samurai character is really cool. Moveset is awesome and so are his promos when he gets to do them in Japanese. Also a legit badass that could of signed with UFC way back in 2005 but chose to pursue professional wrestling instead."

[9.0] "While sadly WWE hasn't treated him well, to those who knew him before he debuted on the brand's main roster, know the man is an eminence of wrestling. NXT showed bits of it, but once you see Shinsuke's work back in his Japan days, you'll see his brilliance and charisma in full display."

"Shinsuke transcends so many superstars on the WWE roster. His style is a refreshing blend compared to the usual style seen on Raw or Smackdown. I have never seen him perform a match and not elevate the match due to his abilities. His promo ability is also super underrated. All around, a very talented performer who could be handled better it utilized to the best of his abilities. His run in 2023 as one of the best heels on Raw deserves a renaissance on Smackdown. Fans love him, all the higher ups need to do is pull the trigger."

[6.0] "Not familiar with Shinsuke's work outside the WWE, but it's been years now and I'm just not that impressed with what iv'e seen. He's not bad in the ring but I personally dont find his style or gimmick that interesting. I find him to be average at best and a solid mid-carder."

[9.0] "Nakamura is the reason why people joke about certain wrestlers retiring when they get signed to WWE. Nakamura went from being the undisputed aura king and one of the best on the planet to being a guy who to the casual audience can best be summed up with the phrase "I don't get the hype." Which you see again and again from people unfamiliar with who he was prior. It really is a shame because he wasn't bad in NXT. Watered down for sure, but he had something there. It was as soon as he hit the main roster and started being micromanaged and put in shitty little 5 minute TV matches with Miz and Jinder that it seemed like his spirit just died. Nowhere in wrestling can this be seen more than when comparing AJ Styles vs. Shinsuke Nakamura at Wrestle Kingdom to AJ Styles vs. Shinsuke Nakamura at Wrestlemania. I'm giving him a 9 cause I've been revisiting his NJPW stuff and he truly deserves that number. If I was looking at just his NXT run I'd say he would be a 7. Main roster run would unfortunately just be a 5. Damn shame."

[10.0] "I personally cant let his run atm downplay how amazing the rest of his career was. From being the youngest iwgp heavyweight champion ever at only 23 years old, to putting on incredible matches, to his NXT run that I thought was great. Some crazy booking decisions have downplayed his career but hes still a 1/100 talent."

[8.0] "Nakamura was the most promising signing WWE could have gotten at one point in time. He had a ridiculous amount of star power, with talent to back it up. Unfortunately, WWE have completely dropped the ball with him and he hasn't had the opportunity to display what makes him so special."

[8.0] "Shinsuke Nakamura is an artist in the ring, in terms of his understanding of wrestling, his intelligence in the ring, his athletic techniques and his movepool. He's a unique character who, unfortunately, due to poor, unflattering writing and a universe perhaps too far apart, hasn't had the opportunity to really shine in the WWE."