25 Most Iconic WWE Ring Entrances Ever

Shinsuke Nakamura arrived on NXT via what in hindsight felt like an intentionally grainy video message. Never had a flashy new talent's very first appearance been so understated. "Sami Zayn...I will see you in Dallas", uttered the 'King of Strong Style' before his face disappeared from the scaled-down screen within Full Sail University.

For those that had never experienced the enigmatic excellence of Nakamura's dynamic performances, it was an auspicious entry point, but it contrasted perfectly with the absolutely sensational presentation of his entrance at the TakeOver special. Sami Zayn himself couldn't managed to obscure just how thrilled he was to witness the spectacle, stifling obvious excitement as he patiently waited in the ring. The cameras caught him attempting in vain to suppress a wry smiles before and during Nakamura's maiden voyage, experiencing something genuinely magical arm-in-arm with those in Dallas and NXT's hyper-plugged in TV viewership.

There's evidence that the reaction was the same behind the scenes too. A Network special from the time caught Triple H looking in awe, soaking in the "holy sh*t" chants the former NJPW star drew from the black-and-gold faithful. There had been similar responses to the ends of early TakeOver classics in 'The Game's time running the show, but never quite this electric a response to the start. Wrestling creatives, bookers and producers are often moulded by the moments they don't make. The Triple H that films himself directing entrances to post on X was born here.