10 Wrestlers Who Were Great By 25
6. Shinsuke Nakamura
The 22 year old Shinsuke Nakamura joined NJPW in March 2002 when it was in the midst of its notoriously difficult Inokiism Era. Impressing Inoki during his training at the New Japan Dojo, Nakamura was allowed to bypass the young lion and excursion phases normally expected of the latest dojo graduates.
Nicknamed the Super Rookie, Nakamura debuted as an unstoppable youngster. Lauded for his exceptional technical wrestling and athleticism, Nakamura racked up wins rather than the traditional losses inflicted upon newbies. He was considered one third of New Japan’s next generation of Three Musketeers with fellow breakout stars Hiroshi Tanahashi and Katsuyori Shibata.
On December 9, 2003, Shinsuke Nakamura defeated Hiroyoshi Tenzan for the IWGP Heavyweight Championship at just 23 years of age. With his win, Nakamura became the youngest champion in the promotion’s history. His most famous defence came at the Tokyo Dome where he clashed with NWF Heavyweight Champion, Yoshihiro Takayama in a title unification bout. Besting the giant veteran in a gruelling battle, Nakamura cemented himself as one of the lead stars of New Japan’s future.