9 Ups & 5 Downs From Last Night's WWE SmackDown (Jan 15)
Downs...
5. Needless Simplification
Andrade lost two-thirds of his name last night. "'Cien'" and "Almas" are no more, and just like Rusev and Cesaro before him, the former La Sombra will now push forward under his forename.
Though the simplification will matter little in the long run, these moves always feel a tad patronising. It's as if WWE don't trust their audience to string a few Spanish-sounding words together. "Gotta trim it down for these simpletons, pal," the decision-maker said, "a seven-syllable name is way too much for them to handle."
It's a nitpick, and a very minor Down, but "Andrade 'Cien' Almas" was a cool name that sounded unlike any other in the roster. WWE have just chipped a chunk of his identity away, and it feels entirely unnecessary.
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