10 Wrestlers WWE Are Currently Dropping The Ball With
2. Shinsuke Nakamura
His popularity endures, but Shinsuke Nakamura’s value as a special attraction is close to expiration. At this stage, Nakamura’s ring entrance is the most exciting part of his act, and WWE have done such a terrible job of protecting his superstar aura on the main roster that he now feels like just another guy.
The way Shinsuke has been booked in the ring is the main reason. He spent the bulk of his Backlash match with Dolph Ziggler on the backfoot, which, given ‘The Show-Off’s’ complete lack of credibility, did nothing to get him over. Nakamura has since wrestled a couple of passable tag matches since, but his 6 June clash with Kevin Owens was worked at a pedestrian pace, and brought little benefit.
Where once Nakamura was one of the most dynamic and exciting wrestlers in the world, WWE have cannibalised his wrestling style. The company’s in-ring restrictions have seen him reduced to just a handful of knee strikes and an Exploder Suplex, which greatly limits what he can do between the ropes. He still has the rock-star charisma, but if WWE want to make the most of this incredible asset, they must let him off the leash. They’re strangling Nakamura at the moment, and if he fails, WWE only have themselves to blame.