Relive the 5 best moments from WrestleMania 34
3. Shinsuke Nakamura turns heel after WWE title loss to AJ Styles
WWE fans waited for this WWE Championship match between AJ Styles and Shinsuke Nakamura for a full year after Nakamura got called up to the SmackDown roster, and it did not disappoint after all of the hype surrounding it.
While it wasn’t a 60-minute instant classic like the matches we’d see in New Japan Pro Wrestling, or even close to the match we saw when these two squared off in Japan, this match still had it all. It was a technical masterpiece, it showcased the immense talent these two have, and it started something that will drive some incredible television on the SmackDown LIVE side of the equation.
After a phenomenal (no pun intended) match, Styles pulled out a bit of a shocker when he came out on top and retained his WWE Championship against the 2018 Men’s Royal Rumble winner. It came off as a bit of a surprise after what seemed like an easy finish to predict, but no one could’ve expected how the whole night would end for Styles and Nakamura.
Nakamura looked like he was showing Styles a ton of respect by handing him the WWE title after the match, but ended SmackDown‘s night by delivering a huge low blow to the WWE Champion to instantly turn heel in an absolute stunning moment.
WHY, @ShinsukeN, WHY?! #WrestleMania pic.twitter.com/D0TVqqfEzt
— WWE (@WWE) April 9, 2018
This may not be the #Kinshasa @ShinsukeN expected to deliver tonight, but it will be remembered for years to come... #WrestleMania pic.twitter.com/9UfehXmows
— WWE (@WWE) April 9, 2018
It’ll be incredibly interesting to see how a heel Nakamura is handled on SmackDown, and what kind of magic him and Styles can work in this WWE title feud. Either way, it was a huge moment with two of the great talents in this business, and makes the short list for an all-time WrestleMania.