10 Most Drastic Differences Between Wrestlers In And Out Of WWE

9. Shinsuke Nakamura

Ricochet King To Commoner
WWE

Outside of WWE:

Shinsuke Nakamura used to be amazing. His utterly idiosyncratic charisma set him apart as the man who made New Japan Pro Wrestling cool where Hiroshi Tanahashi made it acclaimed, but his ring work was so fantastic at his best. He was known for the stiffness of his strikes - King of Strong Style and all that - but it was the suddenness that added so much drama to his matches. He gave his opponents a millisecond timeframe with which to save themselves from head trauma. Wrestling never felt more like a legitimate combat bloodsport when Nakamura was at his peak.

In WWE:

It's funny; people had a right go at Maria Kanellis for taking WWE for a ride, and yet Nakamura literally has the surf board to prove he's actually doing it, and yet, it's "creative". In truth, it's both; WWE's sterile, overly verbose presentation can't hope to harness his crazed energy, but it's not as if, like compatriot Asuka, he is willing it through the screen. He can't really be ar*ed to do owt but a lethargic version of his old act.

This strange WWE effect is, until a revision happens years from now, almost erasing Nakamura from the realm of legends.

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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 surefire Undisputed WWE Universal 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!