5 Reasons Shinsuke Nakamura Shouldn't Become WWE Champ At SummerSlam 2017

4. Latest Feuds Have Been Lacklustre

Shinsuke Nakamura Dolph Ziggler
WWE.com

The real truth is that Nakamura's feuds against both Dolph Ziggler and Baron Corbin have been tepid at best and outright dull at worst since he joined the SmackDown crew shortly after WrestleMania. The idea behind putting Shinsuke with Dolph was sound, but it didn't really pan out.

Backlash can be cited as a failure in terms of presenting Nakamura as WWE's next big thing. A long, drawn out match opposite Ziggler (who himself wasn't cutting it as a heel before then) did little to inspire hopes that Tuesday nights had found their golden ticket, and the same can be said of WWE's 50/50 booking between Nakamura and Corbin.

Shinsuke Nakamura is lacking that one killer rivalry that makes everyone sit up, take notice and realise what he has to offer. Thus far, he's surpassed Dolph Ziggler, struggled against Baron Corbin, and often been cast as light-hearted comedy relief during backstage segments.

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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.