Ranking Shinsuke Nakamura’s 10 Best WWE Matches So Far
4. Vs Finn Balor (NXT TV, July 13th 2016)
Rightfully billed as one of the biggest matches in NXT history, the first-time meeting between Finn Balor and Shinsuke Nakamura was built off the back of an electric segment in which the 'King of Strong Style' duly noted than in order to become an icon, he must defeat one.
Labelling Finn as such, he gave the former NXT Champion a renewed purpose on the developmental brand before his long-forecasted main roster call-up during the 2016 Draft.
For over 21 breathless minutes, the two pieced together several separate matches into one glorious war of attrition. On commentary, Tom Phillips had noted that the winner would almost certainly be in line for an NXT Title shot. Inside the ring, the two seemed determined to be worthy of the prize in an effort to prove exactly just who the best all-rounder on the show was.
First engaging in a graceful exhibition of holds and counter holds, the pair then traded strikes. Ramping up the aggression, Shinsuke hit wicked kicks, leading Balor to return fire with a brutal dropkick to Nakamura's legs. He followed up by grinding his opponent down with submission holds, peaking when a failed surfboard attempt triggered a brutal double stomp on the weakened wheels.
Taking flight, a leaping dropkick and soccer punt left Nakamura prone, but he miraculously survived Balor's reverse 1916 brainbuster finisher. Finn showed similar determination, countering Nakamura's Kinshasa attempt with a spectacular standing variation of his Coup De Grace.
When that only garnered a two-count, a last ditch scramble concluded with a missed Coup De Grace and a breathless match-winning Kinshasa.