WWE Survivor Series 2018: 3 Reasons Why Shinsuke Nakamura Should Win

2. Shinsuke Nakamura Has More Motivation To Win

In sports, we often hear commentator talk about “Who wanted it more”, and it can sometimes diminish a team’s on-field talent or preparation. However, it is true that an athlete’s mentality going into the game can play a big role in their performance, and, in this match, this is tied to Seth Rollins’s split focus.

Shinsuke Nakamura won the United States Championship at Extreme Rules against Jeff Hardy in impressive fashion, but it’s safe to say that if it weren’t for Randy Orton’s obsession with ruining Hardy’s career, Nakamura may not have retained the title thereafter.

Despite being one of the most entertaining heels in WWE over the summer, with his “pen” incident with Styles during their contract signing being a particular highlight, Nakamura has become an afterthought on SmackDown Live this summer.

While Nakamura has defeated the likes of Rusev, Hardy, and R-Truth, he hasn’t been truly tested as the United States Champion. The SmackDown Live roster is loaded with talent, and it’s only a matter of time before someone like Rey Mysterio sets his eyes on Nakamura.

Mysterio, of course, defeated Nakamura on SmackDown 1000 in his first match back, and Nakamura hasn’t looked like himself in the ring. I’m sure he senses this drop-off in quality in his own performance, and that will drive him to make a statement against Rollins, who has been widely viewed as the main roster’s MVP in 2018. Nakamura is driven by pure passion, and this is the kind of win that can make him feared on the SmackDown roster again.