The BEST Wrestling Moment Every Year (1989 - 2026)

11. 2016 | Shinsuke Nakamura’s Debut Entrance

WWE had precedent in signing the coolest wrestler in the world throughout its history - the talent that taste-makers insisted could rule the entire industry, if they were just given the big promotional push. They rarely were.

The already rave-reviewed Steve Austin arrived having convinced fans he was truly special and on the pulse after his legendary stopover in ECW. He initially became the Ringmaster. CM Punk was the hottest heel in the world in 2005. He started out in WWECW as a babyface “one to watch” type at the lowest level. Bryan Danielson was the sicko’s choice as the best wrestler of his and even every generation. He debuted on the NXT gameshow with the Miz as his mentor - and while WWE knew what they were doing there, it was still an affront to a performer of his quality. The debut presentation of Shinsuke Nakamura at NXT TakeOver: Dallas was different. The coolest wrestler got the biggest push. Crazy how that worked so well.

Nakamura was the coolest star of the NJPW resurgence, such a strangely charismatic killer, and he arrived in WWE (or at least a division of it) that actually coveted him and very obviously was going to instantly push him into the main event. The debut was the peak, but what a peak. This was one of the best superstar entrances ever. The swirling violins, the strobe effect designed to convey his blinding star power, Sami Zayn’s mini mark-out reaction as he was crouched down by the turnbuckle: it felt in that admittedly naive moment like WWE itself was the coolest promotion in the world, like a permanent change had happened.