10 New WWE Directions For Shinsuke Nakamura
Ten potential avenues for the King of Strong Style to explore after SummerSlam.
I think we can agree that we're all quite relieved about Shinsuke Nakamura. The former NJPW megastar exploded into WWE with a bang, delivering a barn-burner of a debut match alongside Sami Zayn - but things haven't quite reached those heights ever since.
Shinsuke was portrayed as a dangerous - but not infallible - force in NXT, winning (and losing) the championship from Samoa Joe, before being sent to the main roster after a pair of defeats to Bobby Roode. Since debuting on SmackDown, however, things haven't been quite as impressive...
Accused of 'phoning it in' after uninspiring feuds with Dolph Ziggler and Baron Corbin, Nakamura looked a far cry from his excellent NXT days - although whether that was the fault of Shinsuke himself, or whether he was hamstrung by WWE's stricter main roster style remains debatable.
However, Nakamura looks to have recently turned a corner. Yes, his Battleground match with Corbin was clunky and poor, but his recent number one contender's showdown with John Cena has breathed new life into his WWE career.
Now the number one contender to Jinder Mahal's WWE Championship, it's time to take a look at what lies in store for the King of Strong Style.
10. WWE Champion
First thing's first: Nakamura should absolutely win the WWE Championship at SummerSlam.
From a business point of view, it could be argued that WWE's attempt to break into the Indian market and secure new Network subscribers is smart.
However, from an entertainment point of view, Mahal's reign has hardly been spectacular. His most recent defence, against Randy Orton at Battleground, capped a show widely regarded the worst WWE pay per view of the year - and the US Championship scene has generally been emphasised as more important since Jinder took the belt.
Should Nakamura win the WWE Championship, it could well signify the ushering in of a brand new era. He is absolutely good enough; let's just hope Vince McMahon is willing to break the mould and put the title on somebody so representative of non-WWE wrestling.