Credit: WWE.com
After all, it isn't easy for a WWE superstar to get over as a babyface in this day and age, but Nakamura has been a big hit on the main roster as one of its most likable stars. In fact, Google search data suggested that Nakamura was WWE's most popular new star in 2017 while Google Shopping search data (h/t Fightful) indicated that Styles and Randy Orton were probably the only two SmackDown superstars who sold more merchandise than he did.
Nakamura was obviously in elite company in that regard, likely ranking among SmackDown's biggest names in merchandise sales and proving to be a big hit on YouTube as well. Throw in reports that Nakamura instantly became a big hit among male viewers, and WWE was clearly onto something with "The Artist," who had all the makings of a huge babyface star that could break the mold as the first officially recognized Japanese world champion in WWE history.
But Nakamura has had three pay-per-view matches for the WWE Championship now, two against Jinder Mahal and one against Styles, and he doesn't have a WWE title reign to show for it. The fact that WWE chose to keep the title on an average talent like Mahal rather than put it on Nakamura, especially at a time when Nakamura's character was still white hot, really speaks volumes about how WWE views Nakamura and his chances of potential future success.
Now, Nakamura is in the beginning stages of his first WWE heel run, which will likely go one of two ways: It will either be a massive success or a total failure.
The biggest difficulty Nakamura will face moving forward is the art of the promo. In today's WWE, stellar promos are what have made most of the company's top heels successful. Paul Heyman, one of the greatest talkers ever, carries Brock Lesnar in that regard. Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn, the two most pushed heels on SmackDown, have consistently delivered tremendous performances on the microphone week in and week out. Samoa Joe and The Miz wouldn't be nearly as effective as heels if they weren't world class promo guys.
Although Nakamura has demonstrated lately that he's made major strides in the promo department (where his biggest issue isn't an ability one but a language one), it remains to be seen how much more progress he will make in that area. If Nakamura can continue to improve and develop, he could be fine as a heel. If not? Barring the addition of a manager (wouldn't Heyman be great in that role?), Nakamura may struggle to truly establish himself as a loathed villain, although pairing him against Styles and Daniel Bryan is a great start.
">WWE SmackDown made a very bold move when Shinsuke Nakamura turned heel on AJ Styles at WrestleMania 34.
Credit: WWE.com
After all, it isn't easy for a WWE superstar to get over as a babyface in this day and age, but Nakamura has been a big hit on the main roster as one of its most likable stars. In fact, Google search data suggested that Nakamura was WWE's most popular new star in 2017 while Google Shopping search data (h/t Fightful) indicated that Styles and Randy Orton were probably the only two SmackDown superstars who sold more merchandise than he did.
Nakamura was obviously in elite company in that regard, likely ranking among SmackDown's biggest names in merchandise sales and proving to be a big hit on YouTube as well. Throw in reports that Nakamura instantly became a big hit among male viewers, and WWE was clearly onto something with "The Artist," who had all the makings of a huge babyface star that could break the mold as the first officially recognized Japanese world champion in WWE history.
But Nakamura has had three pay-per-view matches for the WWE Championship now, two against Jinder Mahal and one against Styles, and he doesn't have a WWE title reign to show for it. The fact that WWE chose to keep the title on an average talent like Mahal rather than put it on Nakamura, especially at a time when Nakamura's character was still white hot, really speaks volumes about how WWE views Nakamura and his chances of potential future success.
Now, Nakamura is in the beginning stages of his first WWE heel run, which will likely go one of two ways: It will either be a massive success or a total failure.
The biggest difficulty Nakamura will face moving forward is the art of the promo. In today's WWE, stellar promos are what have made most of the company's top heels successful. Paul Heyman, one of the greatest talkers ever, carries Brock Lesnar in that regard. Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn, the two most pushed heels on SmackDown, have consistently delivered tremendous performances on the microphone week in and week out. Samoa Joe and The Miz wouldn't be nearly as effective as heels if they weren't world class promo guys.
Although Nakamura has demonstrated lately that he's made major strides in the promo department (where his biggest issue isn't an ability one but a language one), it remains to be seen how much more progress he will make in that area. If Nakamura can continue to improve and develop, he could be fine as a heel. If not? Barring the addition of a manager (wouldn't Heyman be great in that role?), Nakamura may struggle to truly establish himself as a loathed villain, although pairing him against Styles and Daniel Bryan is a great start.
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