10 WWE Wrestlers Vince McMahon Didn’t Know How To Book

10. Shinsuke Nakamura

WWE's longstanding inability to effectively present Japanese wrestlers means this list could realistically consist of Shinsuke Nakamura and nine of his countrymen, though 'The King of Strong Style' is likely delighted with life in the world's biggest promotion. A decade-and-a-half of chasing five-star matches in NJPW had ground his body to dust. Without the weight of critical expectation, WWE allows him to work slower and easier, collect a larger paycheque, and spend his time off surfing in Florida. Good work if you can get it.

Nonetheless, haphazard booking unquestionably dulled Nakamura and his megastar aura upon graduating from NXT. The buzz of an effective April 2017 debut soon wore off through a painfully unengaging feud with Dolph Ziggler, a wholly destructive one with Jinder Mahal, and an uninspiring late-year run. 2018's Royal Rumble victory offered hope of a resurgence, though becoming a sentient d*ck-punch looking for a target in his AJ Styles feud further sabotaged 'The King.'

Nakamura has since settled into a solid midcard role, capturing the SmackDown Tag Team Titles at The Horror Show at Extreme Rules. This is his role now. A shame, but this is where WWE's concerted efforts to make a special character feel decidedly less special have left him.

Shinsuke Nakamura is Just a Guy.