8 Reasons Shinsuke Nakamura Is The Perfect 21st Century Wrestler

These days, it’s impossible to ignore the influence of MMA on the wrestling business. The combat sport has filled a niche for fans of wrestling who grew disenchanted with the scripted nature of the product and wanted some ‘real fighting’ instead.

Nakamura is one wrestler who has embraced that importance. Under Antonio Inoki, Nakamura’s early career was centered on MMA, as he emphasized technique and speed of his strikes and submission holds over the theatricality aspect of wrestling. 

In fact, it was during this early part of his career that he also competed in actual MMA matches and finished with a 3-1-1 record.

Though he wouldn’t debut his signature appearance and gimmick until much later, he still drew in fans that saw him as a true fighter that championed the fighting spirit of NJPW. By the time he transitioned into his current persona, he possessed a reputation as a dangerous fighter whose stiff strikes and sudden transitions into realistic-looking submission holds allowed him to take the best of both worlds and bring in all kinds of fans.

Nakamura has, in essence, become a more theatrical version of Brock Lesnar. 

Lesnar became a tremendous draw in MMA fighter, but he was a straightforward fighter. Nakamura, meanwhile, embraced the importance of MMA, but added a sense of wackiness that both counters and compliments his legitimate fighting skills.