WWE SummerSlam 2017: Development Needed Before Shinsuke Nakamura Wins

The charismatic Shinsuke Nakamura has a career that justifies a WWE Championshp match.  However, the lack of clarification of this career to the WWE audience, an abbreviated list of accomplishments thus far on Smackdown Live, and the current state of the WWE Championship, means Nakamura should not win the title at Summerslam.

This Sunday, at SummerSlam, Shinsuke Nakamura gets his first shot at the WWE Championship.  The image of Nakamura holding the strap over his head is one that would bring jubilation to WWE fans, especially those who have followed his career since his days in New Japan Pro Wrestling.

However, his time with the belt has not come — not yet, anyway.

Please do not misunderstand this opinion.  Shinsuke Nakamura is undoubtedly one of the most talented performers in professional wrestling.  In in-ring move set finds him striking with the force of a man twice his size.  He does not even have to speak to show his incendiary charisma, as he has already captivated fan whilst speaking on a somewhat limited basis.

Despite his seemingly bottomless talent reserve,  defeating Jinder Mahal at SummerSlam for the WWE Championship would diminish the lasting legacy of what should be a glorious (pardon me, Bobby Roode) first major title run in the WWE.

Nakamura’s WWE Narrative is not yet Ready for the WWE Championship

Hardcore wrestling fans would have been able to justify Nakamura receiving a title shot the night he showed up on Smackdown Live.  His brilliant matches in Japan with the likes of AJ Styles, Kota Ibushi, Kazuchika Okada, and Hiroshi Tanahashi should qualify “The King of Strong Style” for a shot at any title he desires.

Hardcore wrestling fans, meaning fans that are fluent in all facets of the current state of professional wrestling, unfortunately make up a small percentage of the WWE audience.

WWE, possibly to not give credit to other promotions regardless of the quality of the product, has not told the remaining viewers the full narrative that justifies not only the path that has led to his title contention, but just what makes Nakamura’s acquisition such a blessing to the company.

In addition, his NXT run has been barely mentioned.

So, besides the fact that there is an undeniable charisma about him, what has been shown to the entire WWE audience that justifies such accelerated title scene consideration?

It could not be his brief feud with Baron Corbin.  Corbin has plenty of time and youth to become great, but he is not sending the world on fire at the moment. His stock may have even dropped a bit this past Thursday night when he became the second man ever to not successfully cash in the Money in the Bank briefcase.

His defeat of Dolph Ziggler definitely could not have been his launching pad to the title. With the exception of cashing in Money in the Bank on Alberto Del Rio in 2013, Ziggler’s last major victory took place at Kent State.

There is typically a lengthy string of successes that leads one to receive a shot at the WWE Championship.  Nakamura simply has not had enough time, nor enough presented narrative, to construct this string.

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When it is time for a major program ending with Nakamura capturing the WWE Championship, fans need to know exactly what he did in Japan, why his presence is vital to the WWE, and why he more-than-deserves to be in world title contention.  This story simply has not been told to the entire WWE audience yet. All the audience really knows about Shinsuke Nakamura is that he is irrefutably cool.

The Current State of the WWE Championship

Fans are still somewhat flabbergasted when watching Smackdown Live and seeing Jinder Mahal carrying the WWE Championship.  Mahal has certainly improved from a character standpoint during his shotgunned push, but it cannot be denied that his run with the WWE Championship has somewhat diminished the strap’s value. This has less to do with Jinder physically carrying the belt, but more so to do with the creative choices being made in and around his character’s narrative.

Having Mahal win a feud with Randy Orton should certainly have not “Hinder(ed) the Jinder”, but the feud will be forever remembered for the claustrophobia breeding ground that was their Punjabi Prison match featured a returning Great Khali (for some reason).  Then, weeks later, Orton beat Mahal clean, further denting Mahal’s stock since it became apparent that he cannot win without the Singh Brothers.

While Mahal and Nakamura are heading into a WWE Championship match, a far sexier narrative is being presented surrounding the United States Championship involving AJ Styles, Kevin Owens, and Shane McMahon.  Styles and McMahon have a story that dates back to AJ’s heel run prior to WrestleMania 33, and Owens in on a siege to remain the “New Face of America” in spite of all of us.

Smackdown Live simply contains more to invest in regarding the latter feud.

A compelling character such as Shinsuke Nakamura requires suitable journey that eventually ends with the WWE Championship around his waist.  WWE has done an excellent job displaying his unique demeanor, presenting him as an “artist” constructing his masterpiece for the worldwide leader in sports entertainment.  Fans now need to be provided with the full narrative that has brought Nakamura’s already-legendary career from his home in Japan, to the professional wrestling mecca that is WWE.

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Before his masterpiece comes to fruition, WWE needs to clarify what “art” Nakamura has cultivated to deserve such a grand stage.  The lack of narrative, combined with the current state of the WWE Championship, does not provide the grand stage he deserves.