10 Best NJPW Wrestlers In WWE

8. Andrade 'Cien' Almas

AJ Styles IWGP Heavyweight Champion
cmll

Though primarily known for his time with Mexico's CMLL, the current NXT Champion had a productive New Japan Pro Wrestling spell while still under his old home promotion's umbrella, even capturing one of the company's top titles.

As La Sombra, 'Cien' ended Shinsuke Nakamura's epic 313-day IWGP Intercontinental Champion reign on Mexican soil. This came at a time when the strap was genuinely considered on something close to level-footing with NJPW's top prize, the IWGP Heavyweight Title, and while Sombra's run lasted just 50 days, he still held one of New Japan's most prestigious honours.

The early stages of Almas' WWE run were rough. Miscast as a babyface, he had a torrid time adapting to American wrestling and coping with the language barrier. He couldn't get over, and while turning heel on Cedric Alexander helped, it wasn't until he'd recruited Zelina Vega as a manager that Almas' career took off.

Now, their heel act is tremendous. Andrade is finally fulfilling his potential, and after scoring WWE's first five star match in close to seven years in January, he deserves every accolade that comes his way.

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Andy has been with WhatCulture for six years and is currently WhatCulture's Senior Wrestling Reporter. A writer, presenter, and editor with 10+ years of experience in online media, he has been a sponge for all wrestling knowledge since playing an old Royal Rumble 1992 VHS to ruin in his childhood. Having previously worked for Bleacher Report, Andy specialises in short and long-form writing, video presenting, voiceover acting, and editing, all characterised by expert wrestling knowledge and commentary. Andy is as much a fan of 1985 Jim Crockett Promotions as he is present-day AEW and WWE - just don't make him choose between the two.