10 Absolute Best Matches WWE Could Present In 2017

6. John Cena Vs. Shinsuke Nakamura

Brock Lesnar Braun Strowman
WWE.com

John Cena's best career work has seen him wage war with men perceived as his in-ring superior. For all his faults as an-ring mechanic - and those criticisms will remain warranted until he learns how to properly apply the STF - Cena on his day is a superb storyteller. At his best, he is fantastic at exploiting the real-life dynamics shared with his opponents for maximum resonance.

For that reason, a match with Shinsuke Nakamura promises something totally unique; having Nakamura kick the ever-loving sh*t out of Cena would surely necessitate something beyond Cena's old double shoulder block, missed clothesline, spinout powerbomb routine.

What that is, I don't know. It's impossible to determine how WWE would reconcile Nakamura's ultra-realistic strike-based routine with Cena's oft-cartoonish theatrics, but that's why the match is so intriguing. It would be unlike anything either man has ever wrestled - but on their big match form, just as good.

Cena s. Nakamura is mouthwatering in itself - even more so for those still infuriated by Cena's incomprehensibly counterproductive early 2010s form. The pairing is a schadenfreude delight for those predisposed to hate him, and a Match Of The Year candidate for those who aren't.

Contributor
Contributor

Michael Sidgwick is an editor, writer and podcaster for WhatCulture Wrestling. With over seven years of experience in wrestling analysis, Michael was published in the influential institution that was Power Slam magazine, and specialises in providing insights into All Elite Wrestling - so much so that he wrote a book about the subject. You can order Becoming All Elite: The Rise Of AEW on Amazon. Possessing a deep knowledge also of WWE, WCW, ECW and New Japan Pro Wrestling, Michael’s work has been publicly praised by former AEW World Champions Kenny Omega and MJF, and current Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes. When he isn’t putting your finger on why things are the way they are in the endlessly fascinating world of professional wrestling, Michael wraps his own around a hand grinder to explore the world of specialty coffee. Follow Michael on X (formerly known as Twitter) @MSidgwick for more!