10 WWE Royal Rumble Wins That Became Huge Disappointments

One of the biggest stars of New Japan Pro Wrestling's return to global prominence in the early 2010s, Shinsuke Nakamura was regularly putting on five-star matches against NJPW's finest and was considered one of the best in the world.

Anticipation was high when he signed with WWE in 2016, kicking off his American career with a classic victory over Sami Zayn at NXT Takeover: Dallas. The King of Strong Style moved to the main roster in 2017 only to have a disappointing series of failed attempts at wresting the WWE Championship from Jinder Mahal.

Still relatively new to the mainstream WWE audience, there was time to rehabilitate Nakamura as a top-level star.

That seemed to be achieved when he won the 2018 Royal Rumble, booking a shot against either the WWE or Universal champion at WrestleMania 34. Nakamura chose WWE Champion AJ Styles, awakening memories of their classics a few years earlier in New Japan. What followed was a disappointing match by their standards, and a post-match heel turn that led to a feud focused on low blowing each other. Nakamura has never come close to a Rumble win or being a WrestleMania top attraction since, meaning the hope and excitement surrounding that 2018 win has led to little more than several midcard title runs.