WWE SummerSlam 2017: Assessing The Potential Quality Of All 12 Matches

2. Jinder Mahal Vs. Shinsuke Nakamura - WWE Heavyweight Title Match

Jinder Mahal Shinsuke Nakamuara
WWE.com

Unlike depressingly many matches on this year's card, Jinder Mahal Vs. Shinsuke Nakamura isn't going to be anything less than interesting.

It has the potential to unravel in minutes, insofar as suspension of disbelief goes - but that, as well as even general match quality, is almost incidental to the crowd dynamic. The pairing is oxymoronic. Shinsuke Nakamura, iffy booking aside, remains one of the most complete wrestlers on the planet. Jinder Mahal is a market research experiment hated by fans for reasons that do not translate to lengthy, heated matches.

The thought of Mahal competing with Nakamura, let alone dominating him, is incongruous regardless of the smoke and mirror effects WWE has devised to depict Mahal as something other than what he actually is. And yet, it's entirely plausible WWE will go this route because thus far, Nakamura has been melted and cast into the favoured underdog mould - even though it betrays what remains of his psychotic, badass striker schtick. Most everybody would much rather see Shinsuke cave the Singh Brothers' faces in as Jinder attempts to bluff his way through it all in a mad, shortcut-filled sprint. But to quote Marlo from The Wire: "You want it to be one way. But it's the other way."

The crowd will react loudly. The heat should elevate it into memorable territory, even if the layout defies logic and strains fan relations.

Contributor
Contributor

Michael Sidgwick is an editor, writer and podcaster for WhatCulture Wrestling. With over seven years of experience in wrestling analysis, Michael was published in the influential institution that was Power Slam magazine, and specialises in providing insights into All Elite Wrestling - so much so that he wrote a book about the subject. You can order Becoming All Elite: The Rise Of AEW on Amazon. Possessing a deep knowledge also of WWE, WCW, ECW and New Japan Pro Wrestling, Michael’s work has been publicly praised by former AEW World Champions Kenny Omega and MJF, and current Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes. When he isn’t putting your finger on why things are the way they are in the endlessly fascinating world of professional wrestling, Michael wraps his own around a hand grinder to explore the world of specialty coffee. Follow Michael on X (formerly known as Twitter) @MSidgwick for more!