10 Wrestlers Who Peaked In Their First Match

4. Shinsuke Nakamura

Dustin Cody Rhodes AEW Double Or Nothing 2019
WWE.com

This might be a fairly controversial one, but Shinsuke Nakamura vs. Sami Zayn at NXT TakeOver: Dallas back in April 2016 remains the only time WWE fans have witnessed the Shin who tore up New Japan rings on the regular. Other bouts, like those vs. AJ Styles and GUNTHER, have only offered fleeting moments of magic.

Meanwhile, the Sami debut showing was a tour de force.

Looking back on those old TakeOver specials is a real treat nowadays, and they honestly show how far NXT has fallen. Shinsuke played a part in that rise, and it was obvious to everyone watching that WWE had something special on their hands if they just let Naka's wrestling do the talking.

Unfortunately, attempts to "give him more personality" on the main roster flopped, and Shinsuke eventually settled into a WWE comfort zone he's struggled to get back out of. He's never come close to matching that clash with Zayn.

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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.