25 Most Important Wrestlers In NXT History
19. Shinsuke Nakamura
When Shinsuke Nakamura turned up in NXT, people realised that this little promotion in Florida was something special.
Nakamura was announced as one of four signings from New Japan Pro Wrestling in early 2016, but he was the only one to join NXT. A former IWGP Heavyweight Champion, Nakamura was one of the first huge international stars to join the promotion and he arrived in a big way at TakeOver: Dallas.
His debut match against Sami Zayn was met with almost universal praise. Nakamura brought Strong Style to WWE and his and Zayn's performance gave birth to the "Fight Forever" chant and for good reason.
NXT wasted no time in strapping the rocket to Shinsuke, putting the NXT Championship on him just four months after his arrival. His match with Samoa Joe at TakeOver: Brooklyn II was a brilliant crowning moment for Nakamura and he and Joe would continue their feud over the next few months, trading the title between themselves.
In just a year with the brand, Nakamura reached the top of NXT and established himself as a massive star. He opened the door for more big names to join the promotion and showed that a harder-hitting style of wrestling did have a place in WWE.