There's nothing quite like a Shinsuke Nakamura entrance. Whether it be as a face or a heel, Nakamura is truly one of the most captivating talents in the world of professional wrestling. The way his body moves to his music is altogether different and his dramatic rope fall is a spine tingling sight. I have been lucky enough to see Nakmura wrestle once. It was at a house show in Sheffield earlier on in 2018 and you could sense the atmosphere change in the arena as Nakamura made his way to the ring. So what goes on in the mind of the self proclaimed 'King Of Strong Style?' That's what the book of the same name aims to answer.
Written in the rather unusual format of an interview (Japanese journalist Yu Suzuki asks the questions) Nakamura is an enthralling story teller and is very vivid in descriptions of his whole career up to the point of 2014. Stories are told, including one about being berated by Jushin 'Thunder' Liger as a Young Lion in his early days in New Japan which is a highlight. Not only is the book a story about the journey of Nakamura but also of New Japan itself. Nakamura shares his thoughts on how early to mid 2000 cards were sort of glued together at the last minute and how boardroom turmoil was treated as the norm at points. Its interesting seeing how the company that many laud as THE place for pro wrestling was aimless in the early part of this century as they tried to form a corner piece stable between Nakamura, Katsuyori Shibata and Hiroshi Tanahashi which the men were reluctant to buy into according to Nakamura. Nakamura's relationships with other wrestlers, particularly the aforementioned Shibata and Tanahashi, are fascinating to read about. Nakamura talks about a rivalry with Shibata that went back to their days as amateur wrestlers and how a tag title run with Tanahashi didn't mean that they had to be the best of friends but that there was a respect of one another in the pairing. Nakamura's relationship with New Japan founder Antonio Inoki is also explored in depth and seeing how a man operated effectively the second biggest wrestling company in the world through the eyes of someone who was close to him in Nakamura is of particular interest. Not only is Nakamura's pro wrestling career covered, but also his short but successful MMA career. This led to discussions on fighting in Brazil and training in the US with Team R.A.W. and how Nakamura's two matches with Alexey Ignashov eventually shaped his later career as a wrestler. You get the feeling the Nakamura really did want to promote pro wrestling as a form of competition that shouldn't be brushed away but should be embraced as an artform. In conclusion, King Of Strong Style 1980 - 2014 is a brilliant read and really gets under the skin of its subject. Nakamura does not hold back and his honesty is refreshing in regards to other autobiographies by sports personalities that sometimes beat around the ugly details whereas Nakamura attacks them head on, usually with a lick of humour. All in all, I would highly recommend this book to both pro wrestling and MMA fans who want to know more about the ins and outs of their respective sports and it is a must read for any self respective Shinsuke Nakamura fan. Rating: 4/5
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AuthorHi I'm John and I am a wrestling fan. Archives
December 2019
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