6 Huge First-Time Matches WWE Have Totally Wasted In 2017
5. John Cena Vs. Shinsuke Nakamura
Fans started drawing up lists of potential dream matches as soon as Shinsuke Nakamura signed with WWE in January 2016. 'The King Of Strong Style' had never crossed paths with any of the company's top stars, meaning that no matter what the bookers did with him, fresh match-ups were guaranteed.
His haters aside, John Cena's name was near the top of those lists. 'The Face That Runs The Place' was a deeply inconsistent wrestler early in his career, but has long since developed into an outstanding big match performer, and someone who always seems to work to his opponent's level. Given that Nakamura is one of the best in the world on his day, their clash should've been a ****+ PPV main event, but no: WWE burned it on SmackDown.
Another number one contender's bout, it's best remembered for Nak dropping Cena on his head with a botched inverted Xploder Suplex, but it was a good TV main event regardless. Its flow was dealt irrecoverable damage by a lengthy mid-match commercial break, however, adding further weight to the argument that it should've taken place on a grander stage, not network TV.