NJPW: 10 Greatest Wrestlers of All Time

credit: wwe.com

6. Shinsuke Nakamura

If this was a list based solely on charisma, Nakamura may be number 1.  But on top of being insanely charismatic, “The King of Strong Style” was a major force throughout his 14 years with the company.  Bursting on to the scene as rookie, Nakamura wasted no time cementing a legacy that still looms today.  Dubbed the “super rookie” during his first year under the NJPW banner, Nakamura shockingly won his first IWGP Heavyweight Championship at  just 23 years old, a record that still stands today.

When he left for the WWE in January of 2016, it was a massive blow to NJPW and it’s fans.  “The Rockstar” was one of the most popular stars in the company’s history and his accomplishments speak for themselves.  All in all, Nakamura won 3 IWGP Heavyweight Championships, 5 IWGP Intercontinental Championships, 1 IWGP Tag Title, while also bringing home trophies in the G1 Tag Tag League in 2006, the G1 Climax in 2011, and the New Japan Cup in 2014.

But when it’s all said and done, Nakamura may be best known for the pure quality of wrestling he exhibited time after time in a NJPW ring.  His wars with the likes of Kota Ibushi, Kazuchika Okada, and Hiroshi Tanahashi among a host of others stand up to this day as some of the best bouts in NJPW history.  And although his luster in Japan hasn’t had quite the same effect in the states, if given the time and opportunity, Nakamura could be just as big a legend in the WWE as he was in New Japan.