8 Reasons Shinsuke Nakamura Is The Perfect 21st Century Wrestler

Nakamura’s gimmick is one of the most eye-catching aspects of his presentation. He possesses the legitimacy of a former MMA fighter and the animated eccentricities of an entertainer.

On one hand, people cheer him because he connects with the audience so easily and because he’s the living, breathing definition of the traditional attributes that NJPW founder Antonio Inoki desired in a top star: realistic offense, strong submission skills, genuine toughness, ‘fighting spirit’ (Toukon), and the strangest stomping attack ever.

On the other hand, he plays an excellent heel. 

He mocks his opponents and taunts them into hitting him. He no-sells their offense as if their strikes are nothing more than fly bites. He extends his hand for a handshake, and then kicks his opponent. He does things behind the referee’s back and uses the ref as a weapon (uncommon in Japanese wrestling).

Most notably, he slaps and steps on the face of prone opponents, as if to say, ‘I’m so much better than you’. Yet even though these are heel activities, he gets more cheers than boos. These eccentricities not only make him a more believable ‘bully’ heel, but it also makes him a more successful entertainer, as his antics, as over-the-top as they are’, don’t always succeed for him, oftentimes blowing up in his face.

These small acts are incredibly popular with the crowd, and can even provide some comic relief in the otherwise serious NJPW.