WWE WrestleMania 34: Revisiting the Original, Nakamura vs. Styles 1
By Joe Hulbert
Though their upcoming WrestleMania encounter certainly has wrestling fans excited, this isn’t the first time that Shinsuke Nakamura and AJ Styles have clashed inside the squared circle….
It was January 4th 2016 and New Japan Pro Wrestling was about to change. First though, they had one small matter to attend to: their biggest show of the year. WrestleKingdom 10 had finally arrived and one year after their US PPV debut, looked set to be a pivotal event. There wasn’t a PPV deal in place this year but NJPW World was now well-established and with a very accessible price-point, seemed an ideal platform for international growth. The event’s match card was a strong one, with Kazuchika Okada’s coronation triumph over Hiroshi Tanahashi taking top billing. Before that classic could occur though, a dream match took centre stage.
Battling for the IWGP Intercontinental crown in the show’s co-main event, Shinsuke Nakamura and AJ Styles would finally battle one-on-one. After returning to NJPW as the Bullet Club’s ace, Styles went 18 months before even sharing a ring with Nakamura, but at Power Struggle 2015, the challenge was made. Nakamura had just successfully defended his faded white strap against Karl Anderson, and now needed a new foe for the annual Tokyo Dome show. Intending to right his brother in arms’ wrong, Styles stepped up to the plate.
As Nakamura and Styles went head to head, an unforgettable shriek sounded through that Osaka arena. Something special was happening and thus far, not a move had been made. With the match officially booked, the two former IWGP Heavyweight champion would finally clash in a World Tag League encounter: a brief preview of what was to come. However, these things rarely come without drama, and AJ’s struggles with a back injury certainly caused some concern amongst fans. After departing the tag league early and utilising a little DDP Yoga though, Styles was ready for promotion’s biggest show of the year.
That was pivotal too, not just for ticket sales but also for NJPW’s expanding international audience. No current Japanese wrestler had connected more with western audiences than Nakamura, a veteran that’s stock had risen exponentially following his WrestleKingdom 9 classic opposite Kota Ibushi. With undeniable charisma, memorable mannerisms and some unique offence, Nakamura had made a big impression and for good reason. On a show filled with talent, no star shined brighter than his. On the other hand, Styles’ name value went without saying.
After years on national television as TNA’s enduring and admired workhorse, AJ had been revitalised by a change in scenery. With some Bullet Club polish making him feel new again, Styles thrived opposite fresh opponents that unsurprisingly, he made magic with. Any fan with an appreciation for long-term storytelling can admire the saga between Okada and Tanahashi, but with two Tokyo Dome main events already clocked in, some had moved on. It must be said that when the bell rung, those two proved their worth as headliners but going in, many viewed AJ and Nakamura as the show’s most enticing encounter, and understandably so.
As you’d expect, both men entered looking like stars: Styles even sporting a mask whilst Nakamura strutted out somewhat low-key, relatively speaking of course. A feeling out process got us started nonetheless, and the early ‘AJ Styles’ chants are a reminder of his incredible popularity this deep in his NJPW run. The initial grappling exchanges came packed with intensity and purpose, and that’s always ideal, especially when the crowd is watching on with bated breath. Some theatrics followed before Shinsuke yanked Styles to the mat, leading to one of this match’s most memorable moments.
Clutching his aforementioned back seemingly in agony, Styles muttered “I did it again.” As Nakamura turned his back though, Styles took advantage, leaping to his feet and attacking the champion from behind. With a smug smile on his face, AJ was now in control. Shinsuke soon turned things around regardless, focusing to Styles’ back with more spite and less sportsmanship. The Phenomenal Forearm then came back in response, and whilst it wasn’t a move of major importance back then, it still turned the tide in the challenger’s direction.
Both men’s signature offence now began to filter into the match, with enthralling back and forth sequences breaking out. The Calf Crushed only escalated the drama but AJ’s knack of avoiding the then Bomaye soon deserted him, leaving both men floored. After a wild strike exchange, another Bomaye landed but AJ kicked out as the crowd’s excitement only grew, even more so when Styles heavily dropped Shinsuke with a sharp knee out of nowhere.
His 450 Splash came next but to a huge ovation, Nakamura got his shoulder up and this match briefly breathed as both men recovered. That reprieve didn’t last long though, with Styles staying on offence until Nakamura countered, swiftly catching an armbar. After a scramble, Nakamura transitioned into a triangle choke but Styles dragged him upward, hitting an incredible Styles Clash to escape the hold. Shinsuke kicked out again and quickly turned things around, halting AJ’s Super Styles Clash plans and countering to gain control.
A violent Bomaye to the back of Styles’ head came next and then a follow-up one to the challenger’s jaw closed the show. Nakamura had retained his crown and with Styles, he’d made pure wrestling magic in doing so. With both men on their back, the physicality of this match couldn’t have been more obvious. A now unforgettable fist-bump followed, a symbolic sign of respect that in hindsight, left a lasting image that will likely be forever etched in wrestling history.
As the Tokyo Dome dust settled, NJPW’s foundations were infamously shaken. News broke that along with DOC Gallows and Karl Anderson, Nakamura and Styles would be departing the promotion, together heading to WWE. AJ’s last match came on January 5th, leaving Korakuen Hall to a standing ovation after being banished from the Bullet Club ranks. Nakamura remained until the month’s end, eventually departing in a quite emotional farewell. Now over two years later, these two industry icons clash again, this time at WrestleMania.
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It’s fair to say that Nakamura and Styles have taken different paths within the WWE landscape. Since arriving on the main roster at the 2016 Royal Rumble, Styles has established himself as one of the company’s elite: a trusted in-ring genius capable of greatness opposite any size or style. Nakamura’s NXT route meant for a less rapid rise but as he now approaches a full year on SmackDown Live, Shinsuke looks to prove his main event worth on the grandest stage of them all. The circumstances may be different but if this Tokyo Dome classic is anything to go by, Styles and Nakamura will put on something quite special at WrestleMania.