Shinsuke Nakamura can rectify WWE's major problem, says popular name
In November 2024, Shinsuke Nakamura was re-introduced on WWE SmackDown. It looks like Triple H is attempting to resuscitate Nakamura, who has arguably been booked haphazardly by the Stamford-based promotion since his arrival eight years ago. The Artist won the United States Championship for a third time defeating LA Knight last Saturday at Survivor Series: WarGames, one of the Stamford-based promotion's 'Big Four' premium live events.
Former WWE writer and actor Freddie Prinze Jr. discussed the company's lack of legitimate heel characters on the main roster at present. On the contrary, it is filled with babyface superstars. Freddie feels that if done right, Nakamura can rectify this problem, at least within the mid-card scene in The Island of Relevancy.
Speaking on his podcast Wrestling with Freddie, Prinze Jr. praised the match between Shinsuke Nakamura and LA Knight, and WWE's decision to crown Nakamura as the new United States Champion.
"[WWE is] so heavily dominated by babyfaces. I think Seth Rollins has even spoken about this interview, saying how they need more heels. They got a couple, but you'd like it to be a bit more balanced. Now you have one. Even though everybody loves Shinsuke, and he looks awesome, you have a heel champion, who can go in there and do the dirty things that make the crowd boo and get the responses that you want so other people can chase," Freddie said. [From 18:03 to 18:27]
Check out his comments in the podcast below:
This was in stark contrast to what wrestling veteran Jim Cornette said about this booking post-Survivor Series. Cornette feels LA Knight deserves better than how he was booked at the Thanksgiving event and the weeks leading up to it.
LA Knight targets Shinsuke Nakamura on WWE SmackDown, gets ambushed by The Bloodline
Before Shinsuke Nakamura could celebrate his newly won United States Title on the latest edition of WWE SmackDown, LA Knight cut him off and got down to brass tacks about a rematch.
Andrade also followed and appeared to demand a title shot himself. But then out of nowhere, Solo Sikoa, Jacob Fatu, and Tama Tonga attacked the babyfaces. The Bloodline stared down at the new champion but chose not to attack him and Shinsuke Nakamura slowly retreated.
It remains to be seen how this storyline plays out. Suffice it to say that The Megastar has found himself a new adversary, which could mean that The Wayward Samurai could move on for now.
If you use the quote above, please credit Wrestling with Freddie and give an H/T to Sportskeeda Wrestling for the transcription.