10 Ways WWE Rebuilt NXT In 2017
4. Latin Lover
Andrade 'Cien' Almas hero-to-zero and back again story probably wasn't one the company had in mind to tell when he debuted in a mishandled victory over Tye Dillinger at June 2016's TakeOver: The End, but the former 'La Sombra's losing streak following a creative acknowledgment of his first failed run was a typically astute reimagining of the talented former CMLL Universal Champion.
Almas was still examining the lights as late as April this year, with his loss to the debuting Aleister Black infamously inspiring ignorance from the uncharacteristically uninterested TakeOver: Orlando crowd. Perhaps the bulk of the audience's distraction with a "We Are Awesome/Shut The F*ck Up" chant duel helped them forget his fate that night, but his August return to the TakeOver rotation was immune to eradication.
His spectacular Brooklyn 3 opener with Johnny Gargano was an electric back-and-forth battle anchored by 'Johnny Wrestling's still-broken heart (more on that later) and Almas' new sidekick Zelina Vega's willingness to pounce on the weakness.
Indeed, the addition of Vega to Almas' act was the kayfabe and real-life turning point for Andrade after oh so many setbacks. Imbibing him with much needed confidence and the excuse to steal the early wins that would reverse his curse, 'Cien's stock exponentially to the point where his TakeOver: WarGames NXT Title victory was more plausible shock than unpleasant surprise.