10 Best WWE PPV Moments Of 2018 (So Far)

3. Shinsuke Nakamura Turning Heel

shinsuke nakamura aj styles
WWE.com

Royal Rumble win or not, Shinsuke Nakamura was sinking under the weight of expectation as a babyface in WWE. Unable to properly sell himself on the microphone (hardly something he's to blame for considering English isn't his native tongue), the Japanese star was struggling to connect with fans who didn't watch NJPW or his work on NXT.

Those people needed a reason to care about what Shinsuke was doing. They got one at WrestleMania 34 when he forearmed AJ Styles right in the nuts.

The shocked expressions around ringside indicated that this was the right decision. Suddenly, Nakamura was reborn in WWE and able to show the audience at large a different side to him. Styles, for his part, sold the betrayal brilliantly, even if he might have learned his lesson over the next few months by wearing a cup.

Nitpicking aside, this was a much-needed heel turn for Nakamura, and it was made even more special for happening on WWE's grandest stage. Also, bonus points go to Shinsuke himself for smiling like the devil after he had ball-shotted the champ.

Knee to face? Nah, fist to nuts, mate.

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Lifelong wrestling, video game, music and sports obsessive who has been writing about his passions since childhood. Jamie started writing for WhatCulture in 2013, and has contributed thousands of articles and YouTube videos since then. He cut his teeth penning published pieces for top UK and European wrestling read Fighting Spirit Magazine (FSM), and also has extensive experience working within the wrestling biz as a manager and commentator for promotions like ICW on WWE Network and WCPW/Defiant since 2010. Further, Jamie also hosted the old Ministry Of Slam podcast, and has interviewed everyone from Steve Austin and Shawn Michaels to Bret Hart and Trish Stratus.