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Post by BØRNS on Nov 1, 2018 0:55:34 GMT -5
I know a lot of people would jump immediately to the "not everyone can be a top main event star, etc." but hear me out. Two years ago, Shinsuke was the hottest thing in WWE and watching SDL today, he gets virtually no reaction. He was in a several month long feud with AJ Styles over the WWE title and failed to ever win it given more opportunities than most get in a program. He's currently the US champion, but does not seem to get much importance and has been left off several shows. He struggles with promos (is he trying to improve, because I can't tell a difference), so I can understand why they would be hesitant to push him. It just seems so odd to me that despite the "stacked roster" he still fails to get any interest from the crowd. Again, this is yet another instance when guys look like a million bucks in NXT and then become chumps on the main roster. What do you guys think?
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Post by rkmo: 9 Month Warning on Nov 1, 2018 2:01:12 GMT -5
It was pretty clear to me that Shinsuke would have a steep climb up the WWE ladder. The culture shock of coming from Japan. Getting used to doing promos primarily in a second language. Adapting his ring style to better fit the WWE way. Trying to properly translate your character to the audience with the hindrances of a crowded roster, a limited amount of airtime per week, an inadequate and inept writing staff, and a bullheaded boss that sees no benefit of pushing anyone other than a select few.
At this point I'd just like to see him go back to New Japan and get a hero's welcome. Hell, Tanahashi or Okada would be a much better fit in WWE if they so choose.
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Post by CM Poor on Nov 1, 2018 6:31:08 GMT -5
A failure? Nah. A bad fit? Definitely. I've come to accept that just as promotions like ROH, NJPW, PWG, CZW, etc. are geared toward a particular fan base, WWE is, in of itself, a niche product within a niche industry. I think they tend to take the most heat for it, being the most accessible of the major American brands, but just like anything, their product is geared toward a particular base, it's worked for them, and as such, there's no apparent reason for them to deviate from that basic mold. Sure, there's a malleability to adapt as the world changes, but the formula that turns into liquid assets is going to be the one that they continue to adhere to when it's worked this long.
Unfortunately, that means that a Shinsuke Nakamura might not be the most natural fit to become a top star. As a Shinsuke fan, that sucks, because I'd love to see the guy rule the world, but it is what it is. There's a whole other argument to be made for shifting away from the internal mentality that NXT is a minor league market that the penultimate goal should be eventual graduation from, but that feels like a whole other thread in of itself.
Ultimately, Shinsuke's next move will be entirely up to Shinsuke. I feel like international transplants have a unique perspective I can't fully comprehend from my own point of view, in that the allure of "home" in making a career decision varies immensely from the difference between say, anywhere in the continental US and Orlando. Might be be fully complacent living here and doing what he's doing for the paycheck? I dunno. Maybe. It's important to consider, I think, that he's got a bit of goodwill value in his name alone. When the time comes to re-sign, nobody's holding a gun to his head, regardless of how high he does or doesn't climb after the fact.
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Post by BSR on Nov 1, 2018 6:39:26 GMT -5
No
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Post by Rated [R] NinJa on Nov 1, 2018 7:53:32 GMT -5
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havoc7179
Main Eventer
What is this?
Joined on: Oct 16, 2012 9:11:18 GMT -5
Posts: 4,189
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Post by havoc7179 on Nov 1, 2018 8:50:05 GMT -5
You want failure? I direct you to Ultimo Dragon.
Shinsuke has done well here. They're slowly building him up. Not Rock or Hogan levels, but not Dragon levels. Dragon was/is a legend, and he didn't even sniff a title, but we do have that amazing Titus-esque trip on his cape at a Wrestlemania match at Mania XX (I really believe WWE soured on him the minute they realized he wasn't like Mysterio.Dragon's titantron was a clone of Rey's original one with the masks transitioning.)
Further, if Ambrose can be considered a top US Champion for his lengthy reign and minimal title defense, so too can Shinsuke.
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Post by Lorenzo Alcazar on Nov 1, 2018 8:57:44 GMT -5
I don't think so. He had awesome matches in NXT. He's had a good US Title run, and he had multiple WWE Championship matches against AJ Styles, with one of them occurring at WRESTLEMANIA!
I think he's done fine in WWE, considering how hard it is for wrestlers who spend that much of their careers outside of WWE to break through those glass ceilings.
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johnnyaustin21
Main Eventer
Joined on: Nov 21, 2011 14:16:20 GMT -5
Posts: 1,609
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Post by johnnyaustin21 on Nov 1, 2018 11:01:04 GMT -5
I would consider him a MASSIVE FAILURE.Besides his debut match against Sami Zayn which I still think is a 10 ten match of the decade in the WWE everything else he's done has been lackluster at best.Besides that debut match he's yet to have a great or classic match and his title run as NXT Champion was a let down and his big time matches against Roode & Joe didn't deliver when it came to bell time.On the main roster he's just kind of floated around and again hasn't delivered at all.I am sure that the writing staff has been pretty crap and not a help to him but you can also see just in terms of his attitude and in ring work that he doesn't really care match and is clearly coasting.
I still think that the main reason why Nakamura,Gallows & Anderson where signed where main due to roping in AJ Style who in reality was the only one that WWE really wanted.With all four men's contracts coming up in January I hope that WWE cuts ties with Nakamura,Gallows & Anderson and that all three go back to NJPW or somewhere else like ROH or IMPACT.I think outside the WWE machine maybe it will relight a fire in them.
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Post by hbkbigdaddycool on Nov 1, 2018 11:13:05 GMT -5
Shinsuke a failure?? No.
I originally didn't get the hype of Shinsuke. I didn't care for him at all during NXT or his early stint on Smackdown. It wasn't until he went heel on AJ Styles at Wrestlemania that I started to like him. He started to show a personality and was fun to watch.
Also, I am sure Shinsuke's bank account right now shows that he isn't a failure either.
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Post by McBlake on Nov 1, 2018 12:18:59 GMT -5
Yeah, I would. The only memorable moment he's had after a year and a half on the main roster is repeatedly kicking AJ Styles in the nuts.
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Post by marino13 on Nov 1, 2018 14:08:20 GMT -5
I would say no. His run has been better than most.
But I think Nakamura comes across as unmotivated at times. Seems like he's on autopilot. Even in NXT to a lesser extent. And you'd be crazy to think Vince doesn't notice that. Vince loves his top guys to go above and beyond, and I don't think he's going to get that from Nakamura.
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Sting
Main Eventer
The Wolfpac
Joined on: Mar 25, 2018 14:33:11 GMT -5
Posts: 2,288
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Post by Sting on Nov 1, 2018 18:09:28 GMT -5
Yeah, I would. The only memorable moment he's had after a year and a half on the main roster is repeatedly kicking AJ Styles in the nuts. Definitely agree. He's lost in the shuffle. WWE don't know what to do with him really. In NXT he was amazing. On the main roster his momentum died during the AJ feud. Anyone who says he is not a failure must not have seen him the last few months and enjoyed the low-blow stuff with AJ lol
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Post by TheLastDude on Nov 1, 2018 18:10:37 GMT -5
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hbkowns
Main Eventer
Joined on: Aug 15, 2011 23:33:52 GMT -5
Posts: 4,249
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Post by hbkowns on Nov 1, 2018 18:51:44 GMT -5
Yes and No.
Yes in the sense that he had major hype and expectations around him that weren’t realistic. Especially when Vince and co are in charge of the main roster more so than Triple H. There’s very few people who have immediate success on the main roster and remain successful. Especially Nakamura who had only a year in NXT and had to adjust to a watered down American style.
On the other hand, he’s been used consistently, was in the WWE title match at Mania, and is a he current US champ. There’s worse spots to be in for sure.
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Post by Darkhawk on Nov 1, 2018 18:58:22 GMT -5
Nah I think he's doing alright.
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Post by LK3 on Nov 2, 2018 0:56:47 GMT -5
Failure? No. There's A LOT more they could've and should do with him, but IMO with what he has done on the main roster combined with how some other NXT guys get shafted on the main roster I would say Shinsuke has definitely not be a failure on the main roster.
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Deleted
Joined on: Apr 26, 2024 2:57:27 GMT -5
Posts: 0
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Post by Deleted on Nov 2, 2018 0:59:25 GMT -5
Nah he's alright.
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Post by McBlake on Nov 2, 2018 3:43:32 GMT -5
He should have been built up as a legitamite threat to Lesnar when in reality he's currently in feuds with Tye Dillinger and R Truth. He's not fulfilled his potential and that should be considered a failure imo.
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Post by bad guy™ on Nov 2, 2018 15:57:50 GMT -5
Kinda. He was hardly a flop by any means, he's been over since day one. But the pressure was on him from the start to adapt to what Vince looks for in a top guy, and he never really accomplished that. And it's probably too late to recapture the magic he had going into the WrestleMania season.
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Post by TKO Propagandist on Nov 2, 2018 16:05:12 GMT -5
No
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