Shinsuke Nakamura, Tye Dillinger Predictions, Best Feuds on WWE SmackDown

WWE SmackDown's supply of energy and charisma shot up in an instant as both Shinsuke Nakamura and Tye Dillinger strode onto the blue brand's stage on Tuesday night.

Team Blue wasn't about to let Raw have all the post-WrestleMania fun. The two NXT stars joined the main roster on the first SmackDown after Sunday's marquee pay-per-view.

Dillinger took down Curt Hawkins as the opening act to his SmackDown tale. A violinist helped introduce the former NXT champ Nakamura to his home.

The Perfect 10 will find his niche as a midcard title contender. His underdog appeal and fun gimmick will aid him along the way.

Nakamura's ceiling is much higher than Dillinger's. Whether he collides with The Miz or The Face That Runs The Place, The King of Strong Style is bound to succeed at a high level. He will be a cornerstone for SmackDown while he remains a part of that brand.

Projecting Dillinger's Peak

Dillinger's 10 shtick is infectious. He's done well to maximize it at NXT. And there is a certain everyman quality to him. 

As Sean Rueter of Cageside Seats wrote: "Dillinger is 'over' for the same reasons Daniel Bryan is. He's one of us."

But he's not nearly as magnetic as Bryan or as skilled in the ring. Dillinger is a solid all-around performer. There's a reason, though, it took him so long to climb his way out of the developmental system—he's not top-level star material.

The Intercontinental Championship picture is a fitting spot for him.

There's at least one uplifting moment to tap into a la Zack Ryder's U.S. title win or Heath Slater's recent Cinderella run to the SmackDown tag titles.

Nakamura Will Be Game-Changer for Blue Brand

His entrance alone is proof of Nakamura's presence. 

He is compelling, charismatic and teeming with star power. He has a cool factor most wrestlers would love.

And Nakamura is among the top in-ring performers on any WWE brand.

That combination will result in him climbing up the SmackDown ladder in a hurry. He'll be one of the cornerstones of the show in a matter of weeks. Nakamura's future will be filled with marquee rivalries and world title opportunities. 

Count on him delivering at least one Match of the Year candidate by the close of 2017.

The King of Strong Style's only weakness is his limited English. He can deliver catchphrases here and there, but can't yet engage in a war of words. That will force WWE to get creative with his presentation or assign him a manager who can be his mouthpiece.

Rivalries for The Perfect 10

Should Baron Corbin win the IC title, he would make an ideal foil for Dillinger.

Corbin is a gritty, menacing predator. He will have no patience for The Perfect 10's shenanigans. And The Lone Wolf has made a living off hating on guys who toiled in the indies to make it to WWE.

He could have a field day with Dillinger's story of taking a decade-and-a-half to get the nod to come to SmackDown.

There's a natural David-and-Goliath dynamic to play with between the two, as well. Dillinger could look awful gutsy trading shots with Corbin.

Another option is Dillinger vs. Dolph Ziggler.

The Showoff's new lot in life seems to be serving as the first major challenge for incomers from NXT, as he was for Corbin and Apollo Crews. Ziggler could try to tear down Dillinger's confidence. Their massive egos colliding together would produce fireworks, too. 

Feuds for Nakamura

WWE can't really go wrong with who it pits Nakamura against. Even Nakamura vs. James Ellsworth could be entertaining.

To get the most out of The King of Strong Style, though, the company would be best off finding him a rival who can carry the load verbally. 

As one of the best talkers working today, The Miz would certainly fit that bill. Plus, when Nakamura debuted on Tuesday and interrupted The Miz, the possibility of those two feuding created quite the electricity.

The folks at the Wrassle Rap Twitter account were among those thrilled by the idea:

The Wyatt Family is another intriguing direction to take Nakamura.

Bray Wyatt and Erick Rowan could look to welcome the newcomer with violence. The King of Strong Style would have to fight an uphill battle to take down the faction. There would be chances to throw Nakamura into some fun, impromptu tag teams along the way.

That route, though, would likely end in Nakamura conquering The Eater of Worlds. And Wyatt is still reeling from his latest big-match loss. Nakamura kneeing him to the canvas may take all the air out of his tires.

The obvious option is AJ Styles. He and Nakamura battled in New Japan Pro Wrestling, delivering one of 2016's best matches.

Rekindling that feud would appease diehard fans and likely result in a classic or two. There would be history to build on, even if WWE had to rewrite it as it did with Sami Zayn vs. Kevin Owens.

Those two would be magic together, and that's WWE should be looking to create when drawing up a plan for Nakamura on the blue brand.