8 Reasons Shinsuke Nakamura Is The Perfect 21st Century Wrestler

When was the last time a professional wrestler really caught your attention the moment you saw them? If the majority of your understanding of pro wrestling is WWE, then maybe that moment happened when Kevin Owens debuted, or maybe when the Attitude Era was churning out legends left, right, and centre. 

Or maybe it was back in 1990, when the Undertaker made his WWE debut.

If, however, you keep an eye on more than just WWE, you’ll know that there’s one character out there so outlandish, flamboyant, eccentric and animated that he demands your attention at all times, no matter who his opponent is.

That man is the King of Strong Style AKA New Japan's Shinsuke Nakamura.

For many years, Nakamura was a bland wrestler who adopted an MMA-based gimmick during NJPW’s post-2000 downturn. It brought him some success, but didn’t make him the company ace or bring him much international exposure. Then, in 2011, he re-invented himself as a Michael Jackson-esque badass who wears leather, loves Freddie Mercury, and has more charisma in his fingers than most wrestlers do in their entire bodies.

In transforming, Nakamura has become the perfect 21st century wrestler. He has single-handedly transformed what it means to be a successful pro-wrestler in the 21st century. With his incredible charisma, unique appearance and presence, and amazing wrestling abilities, he’s the ideal wrestler for the 21st century.

Here's why. 

Take a good look at that picture. Compared to the majority of  active wrestlers, Nakamura has a unique appearance that easily separates him from the crowd. His hairstyle is wildly different. He wears leather pants instead of tights or trunks. He has a red jacket, black elbow pad, and wears a black mouth guard. 

All of these things put together create a truly unique-looking wrestler.

Many wrestling promotions around the world are guilty of ‘manufacturing’ stars; ergo, they have their wrestlers look and dress very similarly, stripping them of most of their individuality. WWE is particularly guilty of doing this with many of their generic mid-card wrestlers, but NJPW has done this as well. By making some of their wrestlers wear nondescript black trunks, they take away many aspects of a wrestler’s appearance that would help them stand out.

Nakamura is different in this light because he drops that mentality on its head, wearing leather and doing his hair in an unusual way. 

Also, there’s something about his eyes. Although some might describe his look as ‘funny’ or ‘outlandish’ when he smiles, he can also put on a cold expression that’s made more unnerving with his black, almost soulless eyes. 

Simply put, the man stands out in a crowd. That’s a very important attribute for anyone who wants to be a successful wrestler in the 21st century.