8 Ups & 2 Downs For WWE SmackDown Superstar Shake-Up

7. A Most Perfect Call-Up

Of all the NXT call-ups to take place over the past couple of weeks, this is the most exciting.

Andrade "Cien" Almas is a star. Transformed from pointless developmental bust to engaging headliner through his allegiance with Zelina Vega, he has become one of WWE's hottest heel commodities, and he's more than ready for the limelight. He has always been an outstanding wrestler, but he has found the missing piece in his devious manager. Now, the only thing stopping him from hitting the greatest heights is the quality of his booking - a genuine concern on SmackDown, but not enough to quell the enthusiasm surrounding his arrival.

The duo debuted through a selfie promo last night, which was essential, as an on-show debut would've only been overshadowed by Samoa Joe. Let's hope the company don't mess around with them. An immediate top-level push would be entirely appropriate, and there's no point in having Almas screw around on the undercard.

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Channel Manager

Andy has been with WhatCulture for eight years and is currently WhatCulture's Wrestling Channel Manager. 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.