Shinsuke Nakamura has had a phenomenal wrestling career. His years in WWE have been excellent, but his best years were in Japan, hands down. Shinsuke Nakamura has delivered several amazing matches in WWE, but frankly, those matches are a few rungs below his matches in Japan.

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When the King of Strong Style was at his prime, he was simply phenomenal. His kicks, his maneuvers, his intensity, and his exceptional character work made his matches something absolutely worth watching, they were delightful content. Below are Shinsuke Nakamura's best matches, according to Cagematch.net ratings.

10 Vs. Hiroshi Tanahashi - NJPW Invasion Attack 2014 (9.15)

Nakamura vs tanahashi invasion attack

In the main event of Invasion Attack 2014, Shinsuke Nakamura faced off against IWGP Intercontinental Champion Hiroshi Tanahashi. This was an awesome bout, with fantastic in-ring psychology, top-notch selling and some sick spots. Tanahashi knows how dangerous Nakamura’s kicks are, and that’s why he did a phenomenal leg work here. Nevertheless, somehow Shinsuke Nakamura endured the pain and managed to defeat Hiroshi Tanahashi to win the IWGP Intercontinental Title in epic fashion.

9 Vs. Tomohiro Ishii - NJPW G1 Climax 24 (9.22)

Shisuke Nakamura Vs. Tomohiro Ishii

This match was fast-paced, with super intense in-ring action from start to finish, keeping the spectators on the edge of their seats. It is simply admirable how Shinsuke Nakamura and Tomohiro Ishii were able to maintain such a pace for 15 minutes. The final stretch was epic, with Shinsuke hitting his Boma Ye kicks, but Ishii resisting as if those kicks were no big deal, so Shinsuke needed four Boma Ye kicks in order to defeat Ishii and advance to the next round of the tournament.

8 Vs. Kazuchika Okada - NJPW G1 Climax 24 (9.28)

Shinsuke Nakamura Vs. Kazuchika Okada Climax 24

On August 10, 2014, in the final match of the Climax tournament, Shinsuke Nakamura faced Kazuchika Okada. This was an excellent match, with flawless performances from both competitors. Nakamura was awesome, with his accurate kicks and some sick armbars, while Okada performed several exceptional maneuvers and showed an extremely destructive offense. Nakamura was a tough nut to crack here, as Okada needed to hit three consecutive Rainmakers to get the win.

7 Vs. Kazuchika Okada - NJPW G1 Climax 25 (9.37)

Nakamura Okada Climax 25

The following year, Shinsuke Nakamura got his revenge on Kazuchika Okada. This was an absolutely amazing match, with high-voltage back-and-forth action. There were exciting and dramatic sequences, especially the final sequence, which led to an unpredictable outcome. After an incredible 23 minutes, when it looked like Okada was going to win the match with the Rainmaker, Nakamura reversed it into an armbar in a terrific way. Okada desperately tried to escape, but Nakamura anticipated him and continued with a tremendous armbar until forcing him to tap out.

6 Vs. Sami Zayn - WWE NXT TakeOver: Dallas (9.44)

Shinsuke Nakamura Vs. Sami Zayn

Recently, Sami Zayn took the Intercontinental Title from Shinsuke Nakamura, and that match was great, but frankly, it can't compare to the masterpiece they delivered on April 1, 2016, at NXT TakeOver: Dallas.

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This match is simply what wrestling is all about, as everything was pretty much perfect. Despite their very different wrestling styles, Sami and Shinsuke had a lot of chemistry and performed every spot and every sequence smoothly and fluidly. The fans were completely invested in the match, making such a beautiful atmosphere.

5 Vs. Kota Ibushi - NJPW G1 Climax 23 (9.45)

Shinsuke Nakamura Vs. Kota Ibushi Climax 23

On this occasion, Shinsuke Nakamura and Kota Ibushi told a simple story, but they told it perfectly. Nakamura was the cocky, self-confident one, while Ibushi knew he wasn't as good as his opponent, and that he had to give his best to defeat Nakamura. There was a moment when Ibushi was dominating and gained confidence, but in the blink of an eye Nakamura turned things in his favor, giving the impression that Shinsuke wanted Ibushi to get confident and let his guard down, waiting for the right moment to unleash his kicking fury. Overall, this bout was amazing.

4 Vs. Hiroshi Tanahashi - NJPW G1 Climax Special 2011 (9.50)

Nakamura Tanahashi Climax Special 2011

On September 19, 2011, Shinsuke Nakamura challenged IWGP Heavyweight Champion Hiroshi Tanahashi. This match is a hidden gem, as it has a very high rating of 9.50, but it's not really popular and people don't talk about it much. It was a 26-minute affair, with back-and-forth action, sensational spots, great selling and excellent storytelling. It was a phenomenal performance by Shinsuke Nakamura, but in the end, Hiroshi Tanahashi took the win and retained the title.

3 Vs. AJ Styles – NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 10 In Tokyo Dome (9.54)

Styles Nakamura Wrestle Kingdom 10 In Tokyo Dome

Shinsuke Nakamura and AJ Styles had an epic feud for the WWE Championship, but their rivalry began a couple of years earlier in Japan. Nakamura successfully defended the IWGP Intercontinental Title against an ambitious Styles in an absolutely incredible match with a story told to perfection.

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Everything was awesome. Great spots, tremendous in-ring psychology and a spectacular atmosphere. The match ended when Nakamura hit two consecutive Boma Ye kicks, as AJ Styles simply couldn't recover from such damage.

2 Vs. Hiroshi Tanahashi - NJPW G1 Climax 25 (9.64)

Nakamura Tanahashi climax 25

The Climax tournament always features exceptional matches, but this has to be one of the best in the history of the tournament. On August 16, 2015, Shinsuke Nakamura and Hiroshi Tanahashi collided in the final match, and they wrestled with intensity from start to finish, seeking victory no matter what. It was a technical wrestling clinic, with brilliant storytelling. At times this match felt more like a thriller. It was sensational. In the end, Tanahashi won the match after hitting a tremendous High Fly Flow.

1 Vs. Kota Ibushi - NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 9 In Tokyo Dome (9.72)

Shinsuke Nakamura vs Kota Ibushi

The best match of Shinsuke Nakamura's career, according to cagematch.net, was against Kota Ibushi at Wrestle Kingdom 9 in Tokyo Dome. This match was pretty much perfect, from Nakamura's entrance, to his Boma Ye kick to finish Ibushi off and retain the IWGP Intercontinental Title. Nakamura did phenomenal heel work, and his kicks were as powerful and spectacular as ever. It's no wonder this match earned a five-star rating from Dave Meltzer, as it was a masterpiece.