10 WWE Wrestlers Who Could Thrive In AEW

2. Shinsuke Nakamura

Shinsuke Nakamura
WWE.com

Nak-America's independence has been revoked and the country's leader has been exiled from WWE credibility yet again.

If that sounds rather dramatic, then contemplate how Shinsuke Nakamura must be feeling at the moment. His stock as one of the best wrestlers in the world has continually plummeted since joining WWE; Royal Rumble win and heel turn or not, Naka isn't quite the performer he was when tangling with the likes of Okada, Tanahashi or even Styles pre-WWE.

Shinsuke was a New Japan all-star before trying his luck in the US, but things haven't worked out well for him there. Frankly, WWE don't seem to have a clue how to book him effectively, and the language barrier is an obvious problem on their side. To the promotion's less-hardcore fans, the guy must be an overhyped snore.

AEW would solve one major problem with Nakamura's WWE run: it'd cut the forced character development bullsh*t and let him wrestle freely. He'd be back on top of his game within the span of one or two major matches, which is something he's failed to be in two years of WWE main roster work.

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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.