After a long and successful career in Japan, Shinsuke Nakamura has taken WWE by storm and emerged as one of the hottest stars in the company having wrestled only two televised matches. The King of Strong Style put on what is arguably the match of the year so far at NXT TakeOver: Dallas with Sami Zayn, and the crowd at WrestleMania chanted Nakamura's name during the main event. It remains to be seen how long Nakamura sticks around NXT, but he's already proven himself to be a must-watch talent.
Nakamura debuted for New Japan Pro Wrestling in 2002 and after a year and a half in the business became the youngest wrestler to win the IWGP Heavyweight title. For the first few years of his wrestling career, Nakamura also worked as an MMA fighter, compiling a record of 3-1 with one no contest over five fights.
Nakamura made his MMA debut at one of Japanese legend Antonio Inoki's annual Bom-Ba-Ye pay-per-views against Daniel Gracie, who was 1-0 at the time. Gracie pummeled Nakamura in the opening round and cut him below the eye, and eventually forced Nakamura to submit in the second round with an arm lock.
Nakamura bounced back with submission victories over Jan Nortje and Shane Eitner before a no-contest against Alexey Ignashov in December 2003. A few months later the two fighters had a rematch in what would be Nakamura's final MMA bout.
Nakamura was a severe size disadvantage - Ignashov is 6-foot-5 and 239 pounds, three inches taller and around 20 pounds heavier than Nakamura according to Sherdog - but was much quicker and succeeded in taking Ignashov to the ground in the first. Ignashov was able to defend himself from Nakamura's attempted chokes, but in the second round Nakamura lodged his forearm in Ignashov's throat, forcing a quick tap.
Nakamura will face Elias Sampson Wednesday night on NXT on the WWE Network.
