WWE Backlash 2017 results: Shinsuke Nakamura vs Dolph Ziggler video highlights

Shinsuke Nakamura made his in-ring debut on the SmackDown Live roster at WWE Backlash 2017 on Sunday. Highlights from his match with Dolph Ziggler

On the heels of WrestleMania 33, Shinsuke Nakamura finally got the call to the WWE main roster. Joining SmackDown Live, he came into the fold already a star. His star has only grown since then, much to the chagrin of Dolph Ziggler. Not happy with anyone else stealing the show, it would seem, Ziggler wanted to get his hands on The King of Strong Style. In Nakamura’s in-ring debut on the main roster, that finally went down at WWE Backlash 2017.

Ziggler and Nakamura spent the early parts of the match feeling one another out in a big way. They were grappling looking for any kind of room, and Nakamura missed what would’ve been a vicious kick to the head. Then, the back-and-forth grappling and chain wrestling continued.

However, the newcomer and two-time NXT Champion started to get comfortable. What’s more, he began to taunt the Show-Off a bit, answering similar behavior early in the match from Ziggler. In doing all of this, Shinsuke Nakamura was able to get a brief upper hand. However, when Nakamura looked to get back into the ring, he was caught with a tough neckbreaker.

Dolph looked to take control from there, and even seemed to stun Nakamura with how effective his offense can be. That was somewhat short-lived in terms of a defined advantage, though, as the King of Strong Style countered with his massive striking and countering ability.

Even when Ziggler seemed to have control back, he took a bit too much time. Subsequently, he ate two big kicks, before then getting laid up on the turnbuckle and getting fed a big knee from his debuting opponent. When Ziggler tried to counter with a roll-up, though, Nakamura countered that with a triangle choke.

But the submission attempt apparently did little to stifle the will of Ziggler. He began working the arm of his opponent, and then caught him with a big Fame-Asser. However, that wasn’t good enough for the three-count. And even with Dolph was able to catch Nakamura with the Zig-Zag after the former NXT Champion tried to counter, it still wasn’t enough.

Still, after those two big moves, Ziggler remained in control and had an answer for every counter attempt. He hit a big Superkick that seemed to incapacitate Nakamura again, but to no avail still. A frustrated Ziggler then got sloppy, allowed Nakamura room. The King of Strong Style then started delivering massive knees that left Dolph reeling.

He tried to find some leeway, but Nakamura wasn’t having any of it as he hit a monster exploder suplex. That left Ziggler staggering to get up. In the meantime, the debuting star set up in the corner and then delivered a huge Kinshasa for the victory.

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Though it may have taken longer than it probably should have, Nakamura picked up a necessary victory. Now it’s on to bigger and better things for him. What exactly those things are remains to be seen.