5 WWE rivalries that also took place in other promotions 

#2 WWE rivals Shinsuke Nakamura and AJ Styles had a terrific battle in New Japan Pro-Wrestling

Wrestle Kingdom match of the day:Wrestle Kingdom 10, January 4th 2016IWGP Intercontinental ChampionshipShinsuke Nakamura (C) vs AJ Styles➡️https://t.co/VOf048TzFn#njpw #njwk15 @ShinsukeN @AJStylesOrg pic.twitter.com/xuOan4t36N

— Ciaràn (@CiaranRH) January 1, 2021

When Shinsuke Nakamura won the Royal Rumble in 2018, fans were visibly excited to see him challenge WWE Champion AJ Styles at WrestleMania 34. But much to everyone's disappointment, the match didn't live up to these expectations. The only saving grace was the post-match heel turn by Nakamura, a development that ensured the rivalry's continuation.

Their subsequent matches benefited from a clear-cut face-heel dynamic that gave the rivalry an edge. Their feud-ending clash at Money In The Bank 2018 was a Last Man Standing Match, and it was arguably the best match the two wrestled in WWE by a long shot.

That being said, if one wants to see the best of their chemistry, look no further than their all-time great match at Wrestle Kingdom 10. Nakamura put his IWGP Intercontinental Championship on the line in a 24-minute classic. Though typical NJPW singles matches can run up to 40 minutes, the two packed in a lot of action into the time they had.

A lot of credit for the match's success must also be credited to NJPW's no-holds-barred wrestling style, as it gives wrestlers are given free reign so they can have their best possible encounter. This luxury allowed Styles and Nakamura to deliver a match that outclassed their work in WWE.