10 Wrestlers WWE Gave Up On In 2018
9. Shinsuke Nakamura
Just what exactly is the purpose of Shinsuke Nakamura on the main roster anymore? And how did what should have been his biggest ever year end with the question even being posed?
'The King Of Strong Style' looked set to ascend to a brand new throne early in the year after a pulsating Royal Rumble win and hard-fought warm-up victory over Rusev positioned him perfectly for the WrestleMania "dream match" with AJ Styles. That contest was scuppered by the intent to turn him heel - and as a side effect, moved many to question if such a superclash was even possible in WWE anymore - but the switch to the darkside became a parody of itself thanks to an over-reliance on ballshots and Nakamura's (occasionally brilliant) obnoxious laissez-faire attitude.
The personality regrettably remained part of his ring-work. Gone was the pre-WrestleMania fire, replaced with the heel version of the indifferent babyface that had disappointed on the main roster since his 2017 call-up.
As United States Champion, he's gone from being a xenophobic throwback to otherwise-completely-AWOL. NJPW fans pine for his return whilst WWE audiences already seem over his act. Might the time be right for a shocking switch back to more familiar territory?