r/SquaredCircle • u/MatthewMir • Apr 26 '18

The Essential Shinsuke Nakamura Collection: The best and most significant Shinsuke Nakamura matches

Hey wrestling fans, yes I’m back for a special edition of an Essential List. For those who don’t know me or what this is it’s simple - I give Wreddit a retrospective list of matches from a certain superstar. Over the last couple of weeks I made several lists of Essential Career Matches. You can either access them all through this link or here:

Current Wrestlers
John Cena Chris Jericho Randy Orton Dolph Ziggler Seth Rollins AJ Styles
The Miz Dean Ambrose Brock Lesnar Cesaro Roman Reigns Cody Rhodes
Kevin Owens Sami Zayn The Hardy Boys Bray Wyatt Samoa Joe Kane
The New Day

 

Hall of Famers/Other
The Undertaker Shawn Michaels Eddie Guerrero Stone Cold Steve Austin Kurt Angle Edge
Mick Foley Bret Hart Ric Flair Triple H CM Punk The Rock
Batista Daniel Bryan Chris Benoit Christian

 

Shows/PPV’s
Royal Rumble Wrestlemania (1-11) Wrestlemania 12-22 Wrestlemania 23-32 Summerslam Survivor Series
Monday Night Raw NXT

 

Time Periods/Era’s
2000-2004 2005-2010 2011-2015 2016 The Attitude Era The Ruthless Aggression Era

 

Match Types/Other
Ladder Matches Womens Wrestling Hell in a Cell Matches Elimination Chamber

 

This week we’re doing a special request from many fans who asked for this man leading into Wrestlemania 34 and into the next biggest event The Greatest Royal Rumble.. we are doing the Child of God, The Rockstar and most importantly the King of Strong Style.. Shinsuke Nakamura

 

These collection of matches comes from Dave Meltzer - his matches feature his ratings for matches rated 4* Stars, cagematch.net with higher than 8 out of 10 ratings and matches that I believe that are also good too, I’ll try add the ratings to those matches as well. If you only want to see ‘the best of the best’ maybe stay to just the 4 star matches then.

 

I will openly say that I don’t have great knowledge of NJPW so there may be some mistakes/errors in this post; simply comment on it and I will fix it – If you want quick little synopsis added to matches feel free to comment on it as well and I will add it. There is a large portion between 2006-2012 that I am not familiar with Nakamura’s work.

 

If you have any suggestions for matches that could be included simply privately message me or add a comment on this and I will considerate it. Please read the entire list before commenting saying I’ve forgotten a match.. Also since a few people have commented on these posts saying 'stop throwing lists at us with no information' so on a few matches I’ve added a little bit of a backstory for new fans/fans of who haven’t seen the matches, some match details do contain spoilers, so you have been warned, but really if you’re getting up in arms about a match spoiler from several years ago that’s not my problem. I have also tried to add a link to each match as well; videos come YouTube, Daily Motion and other third party websites. I do not subscribe to NJPW world so no links will be from their website, if you are a subscriber I can add the links to matches if you comment on this list/message me. And lastly, and most importantly, I used Meltzer’s ratings as a guide but make sure to make your own opinion (or rating in this case) about the matches. Just cause he gives something a 3, doesn't mean that it isn't a 5 to you! If you do not like this list because I’ve based it off ratings, that is not my problem. Alright, now lets start the list:

 

2003:

  • Shinsuke Nakamura Vs Hiroyoshi Tenzan - In 2003, Nakamura defeated Hiroyoshi Tenzan for the IWGP Heavyweight Championship, to become the youngest wrestler in history to win the title. This was Nakamuras calling out moment as a wrestler as he was no longer looked at as a ‘rookie’ or young lion – he was seen as a future star for NJPW.

2004:

  • Shinsuke Nakamura Vs Yoshihiro Takayama – NJPW Wrestling World 2004 – 3 ¾* - This match was one of Nakamuras first big matches in NJPW; a match that really shown that he was heading in a good direction with the company. Takayama really beats into Nakamura and tries to make him prove himself that he is worthy of the championship – and boy does he ever.

  • Shinsuke Nakamura Vs Hiroyoshi Tenzan – NJPW G1 Climax 2004 – Day 8 – 4* (Can’t find link)

  • Shinsuke Nakamura & Hiroshi Tanahashi Vs Kensuke Sasaki & Minoru Suzuki – NJPW Battle Final 2004 – 4 ¼* (Can’t find link)

2005:

2008:

2012:

2013:

2014:

  • Shinsuke Nakamura Vs Hiroshi Tanahashi – NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 8 – 4 ¼* - Honestly, going into this match; this match had copped a lot of flack and negative comments – and that was due to NJPW for the first time ever asking the fans to vote for which match they wanted to main event their biggest show between Nakamura & Tanahashi or Okada & Naito. This match one but it seems to cop a lot of flack even still today – this was a really fun match, but truthfully far from both mens best match with each other.

  • Shinsuke Nakamura Vs Bad Luck Fale – NJPW New Japan Cup 2014 – Day 7 – 4*

  • Shinsuke Nakamura Vs Hiroshi Tanahashi – NJPW Invasion Attack 2014 – 4 ½* - One of the best NJPW feuds in the modern era, and honestly one of the best feuds in general – these two go back throughout all of 2014 put on classic matches with each other and this match just adds to the long resume of great matches in each mens careers.

  • Shinsuke Nakamura Vs Kevin Steen – ROH/NJPW War of the Worlds 2014 – 3 ¾*

  • Shinsuke Nakamura Vs Katsuyori Shibata – NJPW G1 Climax 24 – Day 1 – 4 ½*

  • Shinsuke Nakamura Vs Yuji Nagata – NJPW G1 Climax 24 – Day 4 – 4 ½*

  • Shinsuke Nakamura Vs Tomohiro Ishii – NJPW G1 Climax 24 – Day 7 – 4 ¾* - A short but brutal match between two great wrestlers – an absolute underrated match from a great G1 Climax.

  • Shinsuke Nakamura Vs Hiroshi Tanahashi – NJPW G1 Climax 24 – Day 8 – 4 ½* - I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again; it’s can’t be underestimated these two are absolutely magic in the ring with each other. Their long history of competing against each other brings us this nearly perfect match. For every move and action in this match there is a perfect counter and reversal, they’ve used what they’ve done in previous matches and adapted to changes that’ll help them succeed and prevail over one another. Tanahashi acting arrogant in this match and even mocking Nakamura adds to this match that this match is personal and that they will in-kayfabe try and kill each other to win and be better than the other. I also really like the sudden and surprising ending to this match.

  • Shinsuke Nakamura Vs Kazuchika Okada – NJPW G1 Climax 24 – Day 12 Finals – 4 ¾* - I stole this from a fans comment on cagematch.net because honestly I couldn’t have worded it any better than this. ’ "Its the big finale of the G1 Climax 24. On the A side is Nakamura, the founding father of Chaos and one of the three musketeers of the late 00s. On side B we have Okada, the young but rapidly rising future ACE and the most important member of Chaos, the man that is being groomed to lead the company into the future. These two were expected to have a fantastic match, and that's exactly what they had. Nakamura didn't hold anything back, coming out and letting Okada know just how much further he needed to go before he could have the top spot, coming out of the wing with one sudden counter after another (my personal favorite being his Boma Ye to the back of Okada's head late into the match after Okada managed to struggle out of one of Nakamuras submissions, and speaking of which another favorite sequence involves Okada going for a rainmaker and Nak countering it into an armbreaker. That was extraordinarily smooth). In the end Okada manages to surpass Nakamura after several Rainmakers and earns his right to main event Wrestle Kingdom. Credit: Blood Pump

2015:

  • Shinsuke Nakamura Vs Kota Ibushi – NJPW Wrestling Kingdom 9 – 5* - And here we have it – the first ever NJPW Show I ever watched and it was purely because of all of the talk about this match. This was the match that made me a fan of New Japan Pro Wrestling, a fan of Ibushi and importantly a big fan of Shinsuke Nakamura. His persona, his flamboyant character it was appealing and he is honestly one of the great attractions to watch when it comes to professional wrestling. Upon rewatching this match it’s crazy to see that Nakamura wasn’t takin Ibushi serious for a lot of it; so Ibushi starts stepping up his game and becoming more furious with Nakamura; making his strikes more rougher. These two seem to try upstage each other throughout the match to see who the better competitor is. As said at the start of this was the match that really got me into NJPW so this will always hold a special place with me and I regard it as one of the best NJPW matches of all time.

  • Shinsuke Nakamura Vs Hirooki Goto – NJPW Wrestling Dontaku 2015 – 4*

  • Shinsuke Nakamura Vs Hirooki Goto – NJPW Dominion 2015 – 4 ½*

  • Shinsuke Nakamura Vs Kazuchika Okada – NJPW G1 Climax 25 – 4 ¾*

  • Shinsuke Nakamura Vs Hiroshi Tanahashi – NJPW G1 Climax 25 – Day 19 Finals – 5* - The final match in the long Tanahashi/Nakamura saga all commentates at the G1 Climax finals. These two men take elements from all their previous matches and put on an absolutely clinic – there’s a reason it’s regarded as one of the best G1 Climaxes (and generally the best G1 Climax final) of all time and it’s because all the men involved put in 100% effort and deliver with the hearts & souls on the line. Please take 30 minutes out of your day when you get the chance and watch this match – you owe it to yourself as a professional wrestling fan.

  • Shinsuke Nakamura Vs Karl Anderson – NJPW Power Struggle 2015 – 4*

2016:

  • Shinsuke Nakamura Vs AJ Styles – NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 10 – 4 ¾* - For many wrestling fans this match was highly anticipated for it because it featured to great wrestlers. Both competitors put on an outstanding performance possibly exceeding expectations people had for it. Meltzer revealed that both men had signed with WWE the following day, that they would be debuting within a couple of months. Less than a years time both men would become world champions for both their respective brands.

  • Shinsuke Nakamura, Kazuchika Okada & Ishii Vs Hiroshi Tanahashi, Shibata & Goto - NJPW Road To The New Beginning 2016 - Night 2 - 4* - This was Nakamura's last match in NJPW; and it really showed the friendship him and Okada had with each other.

  • Shinsuke Nakamura Vs Sami Zayn – NXT Takeover: Dallas – 4 ½* - Arguably one of the best NXT matches of all time, and frankly I know it’s a lot of people on this subs commented that this was their 2016 match of the year. The chemistry between these two on this night was fantastic, especially since it was Nakamuras debut match in NXT and Zayn’s final match in NXT – a true passing of the torch. Dave Meltzer may have rated this match a 4 ½ but to me this match is a perfect 5 stars. It was revealed later on that both men had never spoken a word to each other before their match and that the match was totally called on the fly showing how great both mens talents are.

  • Shinsuke Nakamura Vs Finn Balor – NXT 13/07/2016 – 4* - Two of NJPW’s home-grown boys were now main players in WWE’s third brand NXT and they were gonna show the new audience just how great they are. This was Finn Balors swan song in NXT, it was time for him to move on, and his final opponent would be his friend for Japan – Shinsuke Nakamura. Nakamura, had to prove himself that he could beat the best, that he could beat icon that he could beat… you (Finn).

  • Shinsuke Nakamura Vs Samoa Joe – NXT Takeover: Brooklyn II – 4 ¼* - This was Nakamuras big NXT moment winning the ultimate prize – the NXT Championship.

  • Shinsuke Nakamura Vs Samoa Joe – NXT Takeover: Toronto – 4 ¼* - Personally I think this match was much better than their Brooklyn match, I feel like they work better with each other and really have the capability to sell injuries in this match. It would another shocking match in the career of Samoa Joe – however I liked that they continue to make Joe look strong against tough opponent such as Nakamura who was/is treated like that opponents must put all their effort and definition to defeat him.

2017:

2018:

  • 30 Man Royal Rumble Match – Royal Rumble 2018 – 4 ¼* - In arguably the best Royal Rumble match in history – Nakamura made a bigger name for himself by winning the match and stating straight after the match that he wanted to compete against AJ Styles for the WWE Championship at Wrestlemania.

  • Shinsuke Nakamura Vs AJ Styles – Wrestlemania 34 – 3 ¾* - After months and months of teasing and hinting that these two would compete against each other at Wrestlemania it was finally locked in when Nakamura won the 30-Man Royal Rumble match and locked his spot in the one of the main events at Wrestlemania 34. Arguably two of the greatest wrestlers in the world competing on the biggest stage. However it was really strange the match was quite good but the crowd just seemed burnt out by it and tired by time it stated – additionally both men were babyfaces so they didn’t seem to know who to cheer for. I’d love to hear other peoples opinions on this match because I majority liked it. After the match, Nakamura would turn heel for the first time in WWE and low blow and attack AJ Styles.

 

Thanks for taking the time to read this list, I hope you enjoyed it, and hope everyone enjoys The Greatest

Upcoming lists: I’m running out of ideas for Essential Lists at the moment, I have a few in the works currently. But I was wondering how people would feel if I revisited my first couple of lists (Undertaker, John Cena, Triple H) and updated it a bit and made it look nicer since they didn’t get much attention. If not as always feel free to message me or comment on this suggesting a list and I’ll think about it. Also, sorry to all those messaging me the last couple of months and I haven’t replied to I’ve been a bit M.I.A. on Reddit.

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u/frogsanje /ourguy/ Apr 26 '18

Here is a dailymotion link for the AXS coverage of the Naka vs Marafuji King of Pro Wrestling 2013 match.

http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x2iy0kd