Friday, March 29, 2024
Shinsuke Nakamura

Shinsuke Nakamura

Born:
24/02/1980
,
Mineyama, Kyōto, Japan
Birthname:
Shinsuke Nakamura
Height & Weight:
6'2"
,
229 Ibs

Titles Won:

  • NXT Championship (2 times)
  • WWE United States Championship (2 times)
  • WWE Intercontinental Championship (2 times)
  • WWE SmackDown Tag Team Championship – with Cesaro
  • IWGP Heavyweight Championship (3 times)
  • IWGP 3rd Belt Championship
  • IWGP Intercontinental Championship (5 times)
  • Royal Rumble (2018 men’s)
  • NXT Championship (2 times)

Nakamura is known for his time in New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW), where he is a former three-time IWGP Heavyweight Champion, with his first reign coming at the age of 23 years and 9 months; making Nakamura the youngest IWGP Heavyweight Champion.

His other accomplishments within the company include winning the 2011 G1 Climax and the 2014 New Japan Cup, and being the final IWGP Third Belt Champion, the final NWF Heavyweight Champion, and the longest reigning IWGP Intercontinental Champion for his first reign (he formerly held the record for most reigns at five). He is also a founding member and the original leader of the stable Chaos.

Vividly and unrestrainedly expressive, Nakamura portrays a wildly random and erratic mixed martial arts enigma, emotionally charged by the sound of violins. A pre-WWE gimmick, Nakamura played the character in other wrestling companies that he was contracted to prior. Nakamura’s wrestling style is not merely gimmick as he has notably competed in mixed martial arts, amassing a 3–1 (1) record.

Prior to his main roster debut in WWE, Nakamura competed in the company’s NXT brand, where he became a two-time NXT Champion. In January 2018, Nakamura won the 2018 Men’s Royal Rumble match, and later won the WWE United States Championship twice. He won the Intercontinental Championship for the first time in 2019 at Extreme Rules, making him the second wrestler (behind Chris Jericho) to hold both WWE and IWGP Intercontinental Championships.

Nakamura is also a former WWE SmackDown Tag Team Champion with Cesaro. From July 2021 to October of the same year, Nakamura dubbed himself King Nakamura due to being in possession of the King of the Ring crown, although he never won the tournament.

Notable Feuds

vs. Hiroshi Tanahashi

vs. La Sombra

vs. Samoa Joe

vs. Baron Corbin

vs. AJ Styles

vs. Jinder Mahal

vs. Baron Corbin

Other Notable Achievements:

IWGP Tag Team Championship – with Hiroshi Tanahashi

IWGP U-30 Openweight Championship

NWF Heavyweight Championship

10,000,000 Yen Tag Tournament (2004) – with Hiroyoshi Tenzan

G1 Climax (2011)

G1 Tag League (2006) – with Masahiro Chono

National District Tournament (2006) – with Koji Kanemoto

New Japan Cup (2014)

Teisen Hall Cup Six Man Tag Team Tournament (2003) – with Hiro Saito and Tatsutoshi Goto

Yuko Six Man Tag Team Tournament (2004) – with Blue Wolf and Katsuhiko Nakajima

Heavyweight Tag MVP Award (2005) with Hiroshi Tanahashi

New Wave Award (2003)

Tag Team Best Bout (2004) with Hiroyoshi Tenzan vs. Katsuyori Shibata and Masahiro Chono on October 24

Technique Award (2004)

Best Bout Award (2013) vs. Kota Ibushi on August 4

Best Bout Award (2014) vs. Kazuchika Okada on August 10

Rookie of the Year Award (2003)

Technique Award (2012)

Wrestling Observer Newsletter 5 Star Match (2015) vs. Kota Ibushi on January 4

5 Star Match (2015) vs. Hiroshi Tanahashi on August 16

Most Charismatic (2014, 2015)

Pro Wrestling Match of the Year (2015) vs. Kota Ibushi on January 4

Wrestler of the Year (2014)

Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame (Class of 2015)