Shinsuke Nakamura (中邑 真輔 Nakamura Shinsuke, born February 24, 1980) is a Japanese professional wrestler and mixed martial artist, who currently works for the WWE, where he performs on the SmackDown brand. He is best known for his work in New Japan Pro Wrestling (NJPW), where he is a former three-time IWGP Heavyweight Champion, five-time IWGP Intercontinental Champion, one-time IWGP Tag Team Champion and the winner of the 2011 G1 Climax, 2006 G1 Tag League, and 2014 New Japan Cup tournaments. Nakamura is the youngest IWGP Heavyweight Champion in history, having won the title for the first time at the age of 23 years and 9 months. In 2015, Nakamura was inducted into the Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame. Nakamura joined the WWE in late 2015 and in November he would win the first of his six WWE Hardcore Championship titles. He won the WWE European Championship in December 2015 he lost the title at Unforgiven ending his reign at 223 days, a record for the title. Nakamura won the 2016 Money in the Bank contract for a shot at the WWE Championship which he won at Unforgiven.
In Wrestling[]
Finishing moves
Bomaye(NJPW/ROH/WWE; 2015) / Kinshasa (WWE; 2016–present) (Knee strike to an opponent's head, sometimes from the second rope) – 2009–present
Cross armbreaker, sometimes while flying
Landslide (Samoan driver, sometimes from the second rope) – 2006–2009; used rarely thereafter
Shining Triangle (Running triangle choke while using the opponent's knee for leverage)
Signature moves
Axe kick
Death Valley driver
Double knee backbreaker
Double underhook piledriver
El Niño (Springboard moonsault)
Enzuigiri
Front sleeper hold
Guillotine choke
German suplex
Inverted exploder suplex
Inverted powerslam
Knee drop, sometimes to back of the head of an opponent in the ring apron
Lariat
Running knee strike to a cornered opponent
Shining Triangle (Running triangle choke while using the opponent's knee for leverage)
Vibration Boot / Good Vibrations (Stomping on a seated opponent in the corner, with theatrics)
Nicknames
"Child of God"
"The Black Savior"
"Supernova"
"King of Strong Style"
"El Samurai de NJPW" (Spanish for "The Samurai of NJPW") (CMLL)
Entrance themes
"Subconscious Entry Version" by Julia Claris (NJPW; 2007–2015)
"The Rising Sun" by CFO$ (NXT; November 16, 2015–present)
Champions and Accomplishments[]
Inoki Genome Federation
IWGP Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
New Japan Pro Wrestling
IWGP Heavyweight Championship (3 times)
IWGP Intercontinental Championship (5 times)
IWGP Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Hiroshi Tanahashi
IWGP U-30 Openweight Championship (1 time)
NWF Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
10,000,000 Yin Tag Tournament (2004) – with Hiroyoshi Tenzan
G1 Climax (2011)
G1 Tag League (2006) – with Masahiro Chono
National District Tournament (2006) – with Koji Kanemoto
New Japan Cup (2014)
Teisen Hall Cup Six Man Tag Team Tournament (2003) – with Hiro Saito and Tatsutoshi Goto
Yuko Six Man Tag Team Tournament (2004) – with Blue Wolf and Katsuhiko Nakajima
Heavyweight Tag MVP Award (2005) with Hiroshi Tanahashi
New Wave Award (2003)
Tag Team Best Bout (2004) with Hiroyoshi Tenzan vs. Katsuyori Shibata and Masahiro Chono on October 24
Mankind | Big Bossman | Road Dogg | James Harrison | Bob Holly | Billy Gunn | Al Snow | Matthew Harrison | The British Bulldog | Test | Crash Holly | Pete Gas | Tazz | Viscera | Funaki | Rodney | Joey Abs | Thrasher | Perry Saturn | Matt Hardy | Godfather's Ho | Gerald Brisco | Pat Patterson | Steve Blackman | Shane McMahon | Raven | K-Kwik | Big Show | Kane | Rhyno | Chris Jericho | Mike Awesome | Jeff Hardy | Rob Van Dam | Kurt Angle | The Undertaker | Maven | Goldust | Spike Dudley | The Hurricane | Mighty Molly | Christian | Bubba Ray Dudley | William Regal | Tommy Dreamer | Steven Richards | Shawn Stasiak | Justin Credible | Booker T | Trish Stratus | Terri | Bradshaw | Christopher Nowinski | Johnny Stamboli