Sami Zayn vs. Shinsuke Nakamura: Winner, Reaction from WWE NXT TakeOver: Dallas

Shinsuke Nakamura made a huge first impression Friday night at NXT TakeOver: Dallas, as The King of Strong Style defeated Sami Zayn in his NXT debut.

The match featured back-and-forth storytelling at its finest, and both faces won over the crowd the minute they entered the arena. Nakamura's entrance, especially, got the crowd going, via WWE:

Neither superstar had the upper hand in the match, and Zayn was not intimidated by the debuting star, per WWE Universe:

As the match progressed, the high-flying antics were combined with physicality and aggression. Nakamura landed multiple elbows and kicks that fans could hear throughout the Bailey Hutchison Convention Center. 

Even WWE world heavyweight champion Triple H couldn't take his eyes off the match:

Zayn hit a Blue Thunder Bomb on Nakamura, but The King of Strong Style kicked out after a long two-count. Moments later, Nakamura landed a spinning heel kick to pick up the three-count and send the Dallas crowd into a frenzy, via WWE:

The two shook hands and hugged in front of the WWE crowd after what may have been Zayn's final match at NXT, via WWE:

Shortly after New Japan Pro Wrestling's Wrestle Kingdom 10 in January, rumors suggested WWE was making a play to sign several big-name NJPW talents such as Nakamura, AJ Styles, Karl Anderson and Doc Gallows, per PWInsider.com (via Marc Middleton of WrestlingInc.com).

Styles was the first to make the leap as a surprise entrant in the Royal Rumble match, and Nakamura followed after WWE made his signing official with a press conference in Japan.

During Nakamura's introduction, WWE Executive Vice President of Talent, Live Events and Creative Triple H discussed the importance and potential impact of acquiring the 36-year-old Superstar, per WWE.com.

"Talent is the lifeblood of our company, and the signing of Shinsuke Nakamura further demonstrates NXT's commitment to bringing in the best talent from all over the world," he said. "His explosive style will make an immediate impact to an already dynamic NXT men's division."

Shortly after Nakamura's signing, NXT general manager William Regal made a bombshell announcement by revealing that he would face Zayn in one of the marquee matches at NXT TakeOver: Dallas:

The booking of such a blockbuster encounter sent shockwaves throughout the WWE Universe and ramped up the excitement level for what was already a highly anticipated event.

Former WWE Superstar Funaki was among those who couldn't wait to see two of the world's best in-ring workers lock horns in the Lone Star State:

Zayn and Nakamura were put in an interesting situation since they had no televised interaction prior to their match at NXT TakeOver: Dallas, which meant all of the heat between them and their entire story had to be produced within the confines of the match.

Triple H and those in charge of NXT entered TakeOver with the knowledge that there are few better storytellers in the ring than Zayn and Nakamura, though, and their confidence in the veteran pairing paid big dividends.

Although Zayn and Nakamura had never faced each other prior to Friday's show, they have both traveled all over the world during their careers and are well-versed in a number of different wrestling styles, which meant there was a certain amount of synergy between them.

Expectations were high for the match, and it didn't disappoint, as it could ultimately prove to have been the best spectacle WrestleMania weekend had to offer.

The result was expected, since Nakamura is new to NXT, while Zayn seems poised to join the main roster on a full-time basis now that he has been called up and placed in Sunday's ladder match for the WWE Intercontinental Championship.

If the loss does signal the end of Zayn's NXT tenure, he went out on a high note with arguably one of the best matches in NXT history.

Nakamura figures to be part of the NXT brand during the immediate future, and a win over someone as established as Zayn could thrust him into the NXT Championship picture immediately.

The former IWGP heavyweight champion received a huge reaction in Dallas, and all signs point to his being one of the faces of NXT moving forward.

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