WWE SmackDown: How They Can Fix Shinsuke Nakamura
Where Does Nakamura Go from Here?
Well, after SummerSlam, Nakamura took on Randy Orton to see who would face Mahal at Hell in a Cell, and it was another good match. The two had great chemistry in the ring, which was a refreshing sight after seeing Nakamura do so poorly against Mahal a few weeks before.
With John Cena gone, and Randy tied up in an ongoing feud with Rusev and Aiden English, that only leaves two people on the main roster for Shinsuke to feud with that he’s previously had great matches with, and should step inside the squared circle with once more: Sami Zayn, and Bobby Roode.
Zayn would be the obvious choice. Not only because of their stellar match at NXT Takeover: Dallas, but also because Zayn recently turned heel, and will need a babyface to feud with.
Fans would be eager to see a continuation of their feud as well, and the matches they would put on would steal the show every week. Plus, it would keep fans entertained, and give Nakamura the spotlight he needs into a feud with AJ Styles going into WrestleMania 34. Not to mention the things it would do for Sami Zayn.
The best thing for WWE to do is to stop taking him off of weekly programming. One of the biggest complaints from Shinsuke’s rivalry with Jinder, besides the horrid matches, was that Shinsuke didn’t come out to make a response to Jinder’s racist remarks thrown his way week after week.
It made Shinsuke look like he didn’t care, and it made fans not care either. They cared that Jinder was saying horrible things, but if Shinsuke didn’t care enough to come out and do anything about it, why should the fans care
Give Nakamura a Mouthpiece
It’s no secret that speaking English isn’t Nakamura’s strong suit, and WWE has made some steps towards fixing this. They’ve given him less promo’s, and the promo’s he does cut are only one or two lines.
It’s not that Shinsuke can’t speak the language. His accent is just so strong it makes him hard to understand. Speaking with a mouthpiece in his mouth most of the time doesn’t make him easier to understand either.
Watching an excellent Shinsuke Nakamura match, then hearing one of his promo’s is like watching Jet Li beat someone up in a movie, just for the dialog to ruin it.
Because of this, the best thing to do is give Nakamura a mouthpiece. An advocate if you will.
Stop Calling Him ‘The Artist’
While in NXT Shinsuke was just called ‘The King of Strong Style.’ The moniker he used throughout the majority of his career in NJPW. It fits him, he brought strong style back to New Japan, so calling him the King worked.
While in NXT Shinsuke was just called ‘The King of Strong Style.’ The moniker he used throughout the majority of his career in NJPW. It fits him, he brought strong style back to New Japan, so calling him the King worked.
Once Nakamura was called up to the main roster though Vince, had to make him into his own “creation.” So, they dropped the ‘King of Strong Style’ moniker and gave him a new one: ‘The Artist.’
This new nickname makes no sense. Shinsuke doesn’t sing or play any instruments, at least not on TV; he doesn’t paint or draw either. If anyone on the main roster should be called ‘The Artist’ it’s Aiden English or Elias.
Nakamura’s hits and kicks look so stiff that ‘King of Strong Style’ fits him. But Shinsuke doesn’t need an added name for the announcer to say as he makes his way to the ring. His name and his unmistakably grand entrance speak for themselves.
Why WWE feel they need to label everyone is beyond me.
Next: Is Beginning WWE Falling Apart Right in Front of Our Eyes
WWE has one of the best entertainers today, and they are letting him go to waste. Getting him back in the forefront of SmackDown Live though should be easy enough.
The fans like him, and they want to see him do well. It’s just up to WWE to fix these small things, give him a good feud, and watch things take off for the ‘King of Strong Style.’