What’s the story?
Shinsuke Nakamura recently granted interviews to multiple media outlets, including Daily Sports, where he discussed a number of topics, such as his dream opponents in WWE.
The Background
’The King of Strong Style’ was promoted to WWE’s main roster after a year-long run in NXT, where he became a two-time NXT Champion before dropping the belt to current Champion, Bobby Roode. Nakamura made an instant impact on the main roster when he appeared on the post-WrestleMania edition of Smackdown LIVE to a thunderous reception.
It appears as though his initial feud on SmackDown will be against Dolph Ziggler after the two had an in-ring confrontation this past Tuesday. Nakamura commented on this program in his aforementioned interview with Daily Sports.
“As you can see, I might be bigger but he is more agile and has wrestling fundamentals and technique that you are able to put your trust in.”
However, it seems like Nakamura already has his eye on a number of other opponents on the Smackdown Live roster.
The heart of the matter
When asked who he would like to face in WWE in the future, Nakamura’s chose an old adversary from his time in New Japan Pro Wrestling.
“AJ Styles. We have both grown since joining WWE and I look forward to facing him again.”
However, ’The Phenomenal One’ isn’t the only opponent that Shinsuke desires to compete against. He would also like to mix it up in the ring with a couple of WWE’s mainstays of the last decade.
“Also, Randy Orton and John Cena, as someone of the same generation as them, I feel like we need to meet.”
What’s next?
As unlikely as it would have seemed just a couple of years ago, all four of these men are not only working for WWE but are all assigned to the same brand. Therefore, these dream matches are not just possible, but I’d think they are fairly likely to happen.
Orton and Styles are currently active on the main roster and although Cena is currently taking time off from the company, Nakamura will surely be a potential opponent for him whenever he decides to return.
Author’s take
Nakamura has been a breath of fresh air since he debuted on SmackDown LIVE and I am interested to see him perform on the main roster, regardless of his opponent. However, there are a number of people that I’d like to see him face, and the top two on my list are also people that Nakamura himself mentioned in this interview.
Seeing the former NXT Champion recreate his incredible match with AJ Styles from NJPW’s Wrestle Kingdom 10 in a WWE ring is something that many fans would love to see and I wouldn’t be surprised to see that happen at either SummerSlam this year or WrestleMania 34.
The other man I’d love to see him feud with is John Cena. This seemed like a fantasy match only a couple of years ago, but the landscape of WWE has changed drastically since then and a Cena vs. Nakamura match is now very much on the cards.
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