10 Most Believable Performers In WWE Today

3. Shinsuke Nakamura

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WWE.com

Shinsuke Nakamura is in danger of blending into the background. Positioned as an underdog in his protracted series with Samoa Joe, the man who dictated a delirious pace in his awesome New Japan outings fought from underneath like practically every WWE babyface before him.

WWE are missing a trick - though not the most physically imposing performer, Nakamura once compensated for his lack of muscle mass by carving a deranged alien persona, one so credible - his facial expressions are so other that he might as well be directed by David Lynch - that it's entirely immersive. His legitimate MMA background, too, helps underscore his viciousness. As a soft, short non-wrestler nowhere near the level of an athlete, if there's one performer - other than the first man on this list - I'd hate to face in the ring, it's Nakamura.

Afforded the freedom he was in the east, Nakamura would easily top it. His upcoming series with Bobby Roode - an evasive slime of a heel - promises a welcome return to the form of old.

This time last year, Nakamura's aura was far more powerful. Roode offers the perfect platform on which to recover it...

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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!