#3 Shinsuke Nakamura
Shinsuke Nakamura was once an MMA fighter, but thankfully for wrestling fans, he turned his attention to Sports Entertainment.
You'd think that being a former combat sports professional, his gimmick would be based on ground and pound, but you'd be mistaken.
Instead, Shinsuke Nakamura developed a unique persona and mannerisms that are roughly a cross between Michael Jackson and an anime fighting game character.
The entire wrestling community was shocked when he joined NXT because it seemed like he was not a good fit for WWE given his limited English speaking capability. However, Nakamura would go on to be possibly the most popular NXT champion in history.
When he joined the main roster, he only lost ten times in his first year, but a botched heel turn has mired him in the mid-card of Smackdown.
Why he deserves to be Universal or WWE champion
Shinsuke Nakamura is often referred to as the Artist, and it's an apt description of his abilities.
Far more than simply wrestling a match, he treats it like Picasso or Van Gogh would a canvas, painting a compelling story with his body and his personality.
If he were to turn face, he could be the most popular champion in WWE since Hulk Hogan.