Wrestling: Five Possible Dream Matches For 2018

A.J. Styles vs Shinsuke Nakamura

Styles and Nakamura might not have the same match that they did at Wrestle Kingdom 10 two years ago, but it should still be very good. Workrate is the least of this matches problems.

While Styles has established himself as a bonafide star, Nakamura has struggled thanks to inconsistent booking. Right out of the gate, the creative team presented Nakamura as some sort of Michael Jackson cosplayer who happened to be a good wrestler. Additionally, his matches with Baron Corbin and Jinder Mahal were fairly lackluster at best, though that may have more to do with them than Nakamura. Simply put, WWE hasn’t treated Nakamura like the superstar he was in Japan. It isn’t DDP circa 2001 or anything, but “The King of Strong Style” doesn’t feel as special as he should.

That said, there is still plenty of intrigue in this match. Fans were excited about the prospect of seeing them fight down the line when Styles and Nakamura teased it at Money in the Bank. With Nakamura the favorite to win the Royal Rumble and Styles likely to retain his title in his handicap match against Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn, odds are that this match takes place at WrestleMania. Even with the damage WWE has done to Nakamura, the bout can still feel special.