50 Ups & 50 Downs For WWE's Decade: The 2010s
15. Sami Zayn Vs Shinsuke Nakamura, NXT TakeOver: Dallas
Like success stories that had recently preceded it, Shinsuke Nakamura's maiden match under WWE's umbrella relied on the talent first and foremost with minimal (yet hugely impactful) sprinklings of NXT gold dust.
Promoted only with an iPhone video of his impending arrival, the minimalist nature of the build was in sublime contrast to the 'King Of Strong Style's entrance on the night. The violins and scintillating synths were a sensory assault matched only by Shinsuke's wink to the hard camera before kicking Sami Zayn's face off. 'The Underdog From The Underground' couldn't hide his own grin as the match commenced, knowing as he was of what the pair were about to assemble.
With so much real-life endeavour laying dormant beneath the battle, the small matter of a wrestling match risked fading into the background but Zayn and Nakamura refused to allow their artistry to be overshadowed. An exhausting display of guts, determination and fire from the two babyfaces, Shinsuke's violent kicks were given evocative heft by Sami's limitless sympathy as his last goodbye loomed. Literally taking things on the chin, Zayn couldn't have looked less of a loser taking a loss, while a star was (re)born from his selflessness.