10 Breakout Wrestling Performances That Went Nowhere

In truth, Shinsuke Nakamura has actually delivered the goods on the back of a star-making showing under the WWE banner.

Jumping all the way back to NXT TakeOver: Dallas in 2016, The King of Strong Style announced himself on the black and gold scene with a typically brutal slice of drama opposite Sami Zayn; a performance that paved the way for a stellar run at the top of the developmental brand.

However, what followed eventually undid all that stellar work that had preceded Nak's first few steps into main roster waters.

After unquestionably taking his place as the undisputed fan-favourite in a Royal Rumble 2018 field that boasted everyone from a returning Rey Mysterio to an Iron Man Finn Balor, The Artist Kinshasa'd his way to the Grandest Stage and seemed to finally prove that Vinnie Mac did actually know how to present highly-regarded Japanese stars after all.

Fast forward a few months, however, and Nak was now spending more time blasting nads than popping crowds with his hard-hitting arsenal. And as of writing, the former NXT Champion hasn't come close to reaching the heights of his Rumble rampage in the four years that have followed that glimmer of game-changing hope.