WWE SmackDown: How They Can Fix Shinsuke Nakamura

April 1st, 2016 – NXT Takeover: Dallas

The night before WrestleMania 32 and Shinsuke Nakamura is set to make his in-ring debut for WWE. His opponent, a man who has held the position as the top babyface in NXT since his debut two years earlier, Sami Zayn.

This was a passing of the torch done right. Zayn was on his way to the main roster, and NXT was in need of a new top babyface.

Shinsuke was coming to the promotion from New Japan Pro Wrestling, and the hardcore fan-base that attended that night knew who he was and what he was capable of, the excitement for his debut was palpable.

Sami Zayn came to the ring first, and once his music cut off the fans were already chanting Nakamura’s name, and during his entrance they began chanting, “Holy Sh*t,” the place was electric.

Nakamura and Zayn stood across the ring from each other, as dueling “Nakamura-Sami Zayn” chants filled the arena. The crowd was into this match before the two even locked up, once they did, a “This is Awesome!” chant broke out.

More chants would come from the raucous crowd throughout the match, “This is Wrestling,” “NXT,” and “Fight Forever.” The fans were right for chanting throughout this match. It was a match of the year contender, and definitely the best match of the weekend for WWE.

Shinsuke would go on to become a two-time NXT Champion, and Sami would make his WrestleMania debut the next night in a ladder match for the Intercontinental Championship.