NAKAMURA. APPRECIATION.

[ASYLUMHAUSEN]

I kept putting off buying the King tshirt on PWT after he signed...mostly because their shipping prices put the shirt at close to $35 after shipping and that was just too damn much for my blood.

So, finally regretting this, I went to ebay about 10 minutes before Takeover started and got (what is surely a bootleg but I don't even care) a King shirt (I'm not feeling the WWE Shop shirt really, maybe it'll grow on me eventually)... Those shirts sold out overnight because EVERYBODY feeling that #StrongSwagStyle now.

That match, man. That damn match.

I am so fully on board the Nakamura train....call me a fan, call me a mark, call me whatever you damn well please but I don't care...dude is so legit and I am so very onboard. Give me him versus Itami...give me him versus Dean...give me him versus Seth (oh god the glory of that)..give me him versus BROCK (ALL the STRONG STYLE)....

Please GOD don't screw this up, Vince

[ASYLUMHAUSEN]

Apr 2, 2016 9:43:03 GMT -5 魔界5号 said:

Apr 2, 2016 8:19:25 GMT -5 Surfer Sandman said:

Hunter would probably put himself in a match against Nakamura.

I wonder if Brock-Nakamura would work? Do their styles clash too much?

We actually got that match during Brock's run in New Japan.

I watched that on You Tube....

Him NOW versus current "The Form of The Destructor Has Been Chosen" Brock though? My god....I'd mark for days and days...

[BR329]

That may have been the greatest match of ever seen in my entire life. Absolutely incredible performance.

[HMARK Center]

Yeah, those of us who've been following NJPW for a bit now could tell you guys they're getting something special here; Bryan Danielson doesn't toss "he's the best in the world" style compliments around lightly, and Nakamura is indeed one of the absolute best. His match with Styles this past Wrestle Kingdom wasn't even the best both men have done, but it was a dream match NJPW had held off on for about two years, and just the mention of it was enough to sell tickets. He is 100% the real deal.

Just hope they continue using him well, there's no real limit on what he's capable of achieving.

[CATCH_US IS the Conversation]

Apr 2, 2016 8:20:05 GMT -5 Surfer Sandman said:

Apr 2, 2016 8:13:18 GMT -5 The Ichi said:

Has Alex Riley cried about this yet?

I hope he does. And then, he gets put in a match against Nakamura. He'll be crying for sure afterward!

As a Riley fan, I also hope someone beats the shit out of him that people can get some catharsis, get it out of their system and move the f*** on

[Xxcjb01xX [PIECE OF: SH-]]

Apr 2, 2016 12:50:24 GMT -5 CATCH_US IS the Conversation said:

Apr 2, 2016 8:20:05 GMT -5 Surfer Sandman said:

I hope he does. And then, he gets put in a match against Nakamura. He'll be crying for sure afterward!

As a Riley fan, I also hope someone beats the shit out of him that people can get some catharsis, get it out of their system and move the f*** on

One does not simply move on from shitting on Alex Riley

[Tea & Crumpets]

Apr 2, 2016 4:11:38 GMT -5 Xxcjb01xX [PIECE OF: SH-] said:

Apr 2, 2016 4:05:50 GMT -5 Boozeman said:

Fantastic match but it wasn't 5 stars for me. Felt a little too spotfesty at times and it's really sad what passes for selling in wrestling these days. After getting the shit kicked and kneed out of him by Nakamura for like a minute straight (after all the forearms), Sami pops up within seconds for the big clothesline spot, then rips off like two or three straight moves while showing ZERO ill effects from the beatdown he just got.

Stuff like that kills it for me, BUT all that said, still, fantastic mach (just not perfect). Great way to introduce Nakamura to the NXT/WWE universe and his theme music is unbelievable.

To me that is just blind adrenaline and feeding off of what the opponent hits you with. Angers you, fuels you to strike back.

To me it isn't no selling, you're getting hurt, you're feeling it, but you're basically willing your body not to collapse.

The spot where Nakamura hit Zayn with a kick and he stumbled and just slowly folded in on himself as his body just gave out, is some of the best selling I've seen in modern day wrestling, ever.

I kind of agree with both posts. There was some fantastic selling, but there were also bits that I felt should have been sold more. Particularly Zayn eating the running knee on the apron and then the kneedrop. He was back on his feet seconds later, after the commentary had hyped up all match how devastating Nakamura's knees are.


That said, amazing match. First time I've seen Nakamura in action since....probably 2007 or so when he was still a generic short trunks & MMA style dude. Holy crap. He's got such a strange wrestling style, almost entirely strikes virtually no "moves" as such, and yet is incredible at it. And has charisma out the wazoo. He's just so....weird, and kinda creepy looking, and flamboyant and camp but at the same time has the ring style, and face, of a grizzled badass. He's as theatrically flamboyant as can be because he knows he can knee your head off if you object, I love it. Once he learns English the sky is the limit for him.

[EoE: Workin On My Night Cheese]

Apr 2, 2016 12:52:19 GMT -5 Xxcjb01xX [PIECE OF: SH-] said:

Apr 2, 2016 12:50:24 GMT -5 CATCH_US IS the Conversation said:

As a Riley fan, I also hope someone beats the shit out of him that people can get some catharsis, get it out of their system and move the f*** on

One does not simply move on from shitting on Alex Riley

We are now though... It's a Nakamura thread, let's not derail it.

[Tea & Crumpets]

It's just occurred to me- when Cesaro is healthy we could get Cesaro vs Nakamura. Dem Uppercuts vs Dem Knees. Take my money WWE, please.

[Fundertaker]

Apr 2, 2016 12:53:54 GMT -5 Tea & Crumpets said:

First time I've seen Nakamura in action since....probably 2007 or so when he was still a generic short trunks & MMA style dude.

2007 was actually "bloated, just returned from excursion, Landslide as a finisher with black pants" Nakamura. Generic short trunks & MMA style Nakamura is pre-2005 Nakamura (he's worn pants since forever, excluding a short period in 2008-2009 when he wore red trunks, until he turned heel and formed CHAOS, laying the grounds for what we now see).

[Ringmaster]

Apr 2, 2016 12:19:24 GMT -5 HMARK Center said:

Yeah, those of us who've been following NJPW for a bit now could tell you guys they're getting something special here; Bryan Danielson doesn't toss "he's the best in the world" style compliments around lightly, and Nakamura is indeed one of the absolute best. His match with Styles this past Wrestle Kingdom wasn't even the best both men have done, but it was a dream match NJPW had held off on for about two years, and just the mention of it was enough to sell tickets. He is 100% the real deal.

Just hope they continue using him well, there's no real limit on what he's capable of achieving.

The stratosphere heights of holding the U.S title for a bit while sometimes tagging with Roman and eventually jobbing to Cena in match where he finally earns his respect.

[Tea & Crumpets]

Apr 2, 2016 13:14:42 GMT -5 Fundertaker said:

Apr 2, 2016 12:53:54 GMT -5 Tea & Crumpets said:

First time I've seen Nakamura in action since....probably 2007 or so when he was still a generic short trunks & MMA style dude.

2007 was actually "bloated, just returned from excursion, Landslide as a finisher with black pants" Nakamura. Generic short trunks & MMA style Nakamura is pre-2005 Nakamura (he's worn pants since forever, excluding a short period in 2008-2009 when he wore red trunks, until he turned heel and formed CHAOS, laying the grounds for what we now see).

Oh damn 2005? I suddenly feel very, very old. In any case remembering him as basically Minoru Suzuki Jr compared to now, I'm amazed he's even the same guy.

[Xxcjb01xX [PIECE OF: SH-]]

Apr 2, 2016 12:54:23 GMT -5 EoE: Workin On My Night Cheese said:

Apr 2, 2016 12:52:19 GMT -5 Xxcjb01xX [PIECE OF: SH-] said:

One does not simply move on from shitting on Alex Riley

We are now though... It's a Nakamura thread, let's not derail it.

You know what, Ill admit something about Riley that I'd actually like seeing

If Riley in fact did have a match with Nakamura, I'd love to see him use the Knee himself. It would get NUCLEAR Crowd Heat by knocking Nakamura's finisher and a sort of ultimate boast that he can do anything the indy darlings can do.

And then Nakamura gets up and drills him with the true Knee to a huge crowd reaction.

See? I'm flexible, I can see possibilities with Riley in some positive manners   

[Wrestling Curmudgeon]

This guy... Sorry, I don't get the hype. He's eccentric to the point of kind of annoying. In ring he's pretty good, but I've seen wrestlers who use strikes and you can only make them look so good. If he showed up on the main roster, you'd have the Krusty "WHAT THE HELL WAS THAT" look on 7/10 of your audience.

Sure it was one match and his first impression was one of it wouldn't kill me if I never saw him wrestle again. Zayn was absolutely fantastic and that guy has continued to win me over to the point where he's one of my favorite wrestlers.

Sorry if this offends you for having a different opinion, I'm not somebody that watches any Indy or Japanese wrestling to give you some background on the basis of my opinion.

[Perfect Timing]

Rewatched the match and loved it even more than the first time. The finisher didn't quite connect but everything else was poetry in motion. His charisma is ridiculous. The guy is very gifted and is perfect for the company. He and Zayn put on a match that you could show to a non wrestling fan and get their attention.

[cuppacoffee - slight return]

Just watched it again, this time with the eight-year old.

He went from "what is this guy?" indifference at the start to "THAT should have been on Wrestlemania... Imagine if he wrestles Joe..." heart racing by the end.

His face when Nakamura countered the ringpost DDT spot was an absolute picture (so was mine, probably).

[1 Free Moon-Down with Burger]

Apr 2, 2016 13:22:10 GMT -5 Ringmaster said:

Apr 2, 2016 12:19:24 GMT -5 HMARK Center said:

Yeah, those of us who've been following NJPW for a bit now could tell you guys they're getting something special here; Bryan Danielson doesn't toss "he's the best in the world" style compliments around lightly, and Nakamura is indeed one of the absolute b
est. His match with Styles this past Wrestle Kingdom wasn't even the best both men have done, but it was a dream match NJPW had held off on for about two years, and just the mention of it was enough to sell tickets. He is 100% the real deal.

Just hope they continue using him well, there's no real limit on what he's capable of achieving.

The stratosphere heights of holding the U.S title for a bit while sometimes tagging with Roman and eventually jobbing to Cena in match where he finally earns his respect.

Uh huh.

Oh shit Cena Vs. Nakamura would be so good!

Its not Tanahashi but I'll take it.

[TheDieselTrain]

First off I haven't seen any of his previous work only heard of him


I dunno I was kinda half distracted watching i'll give it another view later but I got Michael Jackson-esque karate master as my first impression.


Like I said i'll give it another view prob tomorrow b4 Mania


Not hating, Not instantly sold

[Xxcjb01xX [PIECE OF: SH-]]

Apr 2, 2016 13:43:15 GMT -5 Wrestling Curmudgeon said:

This guy... Sorry, I don't get the hype. He's eccentric to the point of kind of annoying. In ring he's pretty good, but I've seen wrestlers who use strikes and you can only make them look so good. If he showed up on the main roster, you'd have the Krusty "WHAT THE HELL WAS THAT" look on 7/10 of your audience.

Sure it was one match and his first impression was one of it wouldn't kill me if I never saw him wrestle again. Zayn was absolutely fantastic and that guy has continued to win me over to the point where he's one of my favorite wrestlers.

Sorry if this offends you for having a different opinion, I'm not somebody that watches any Indy or Japanese wrestling to give you some background on the basis of my opinion.

While I respect your opinion even if I don't really agree at all, I don't see how you can hear that reaction he got, and expect 7/10 of the audience to not buy into him. The dude was an instant star with the crowd and almost every single person who watched.

Yeah, it takes work to make strikes look good, and when you may be the best active striker in professional wrestling, it's pretty easy to do so... and that is Nakamura.

If he isn't your cup of tea fine, but don't act like you speak for 7/10ths of the crowd... because I believe I heard a "FIGHT FOREVER" chant for both Zayn and Nakamura, a chant no one, not even on NXT, has ever gotten.

[KobashiChop]

As soon as Nakamura made his entrance, I put everything to one side and just watched. I was engrossed, and it showed why you had arguably two of the top five guys in the company on that match.