Who is Shinsuke Nakamura?

Who is NXT’s latest newcomer in Shinsuke Nakamura?

For a few months, rumors were rampant about New Japan Pro Wrestling star Shinsuke Nakamura making his way to WWE. It seemed bizarre at first, but once he started wrapping up his dates in Japan, the prospect of an arrival in the United States became a reality.

So in February, Nakamura officially signed his WWE contract. He will be reporting to NXT immediately and is going to be featured in a big match against Sami Zayn at NXT Takeover: Dallas. Fans have been buzzing over this bout and can’t wait to see the King of Strong Style in a WWE ring.

However, there are some who may have no idea who this man is. So what should be known about Shinsuke Nakamura?

From 2002-2016, Nakamura was part of NJPW and one of their top stars. He headlined many Wrestle Kingdom events during that time, which is the promotion’s equivalent to WWE’s WrestleMania event. The 36-year-old recently defeated WWE newcomer AJ Styles in the co-main event at Wrestle Kingdom 10 to retain the IWGP Intercontinental Championship in one of the best bouts you’ll see in 2016. It was a great representation of how great of a work Nakamura is in the ring, as his in-ring skills are arguably the best in the world.

As for titles, Nakamura held plenty of them during his NJPW career. He was most notably 3-time IWGP Heavyweight Champion, 5-time IWGP Intercontinental Champion, and 1-time IWGP Tag Team Champion.

Shinsuke goes beyond his wrestling skills, though. He is very charismatic, having a persona that is Michael Jackson-esque. It’s flamboyant, entertaining and displayed when he’s competing in matches. This is surely going to be on display in his match against Zayn at NXT Takeover: Dallas.

Watching Nakamura on Friday night will be a treat for fans who have never seen him in action before. He’ll probably put on a fantastic match with Zayn that could steal the show. Who knows, maybe it becomes the best contest of WrestleMania weekend.

For more on NXT Takeover: Dallas, be sure to visit our WWE hub page.