10 Wrestlers Who Have Gone As Far As They Will Go In WWE
7. Shinsuke Nakamura
Shinsuke Nakamura peaked on the night he debuted.
That much became clear even during the King Of Strong Style's NXT run. Transitioning into a broader underdog role in which he sold his knee - very well, but with a suspicious, unimaginative frequency - this aspect of Nakamura's act became more pronounced as he debuted, dismally, on SmackDown. In a way, Nakamura - once the most electrifying pro wrestler on the planet during his 2015 peak - devolved from the preeminent cult wrestler to a man without any real appeal, niche or otherwise. Lacking the promo skills demanded by the casual WWE audience, Nakamura, whether through over-production or his physical deterioration, lacked the kinetic energy with which he demanded your ghoulish attention in NJPW.
Strangely, but perhaps not in the nonsensical WWE environment, the casket lid closed on his main event career almost to the second he began to flourish as a bonafide sports entertainer. His mischievous heel sh*thouse act is a pure delight - his appearances are the highlight of a not-bad-at-all SmackDown product of 2018 - and yet, "Shin" is a perennial World Title match loser whom WWE have cooled on at his hottest.
Per this week's SmackDown, Nakamura's move to the midcard was made formal when Jeff Hardy telegraphed a feud between the two men. Given the title wrapped around Hardy's waist, get ready for the actual realisation of a SquaredCircle meme.
Get ready for Shinsuke Nakamura: anti-American heel!