WWE: 5 Possible First Time Champions in 2019
By Liam Hoofe
Photo by WWE’s Twitter
2: Andrade ‘Cien’ Almas – US Title
Andrade ‘Cien’ Almas has had a bit of a baffling time since making his main roster debut post WrestleMania.
The former NXT Champion has reportedly impressed the big brass in the WWE with his performances against the likes of Daniel Bryan and AJ Styles, and there were even talks of him winning the Royal Rumble at one point.
It seems strange then, that the WWE has seemingly forgotten about him in recent months, with the likes of Jeff Hardy, Randy Orton and Rey Mysterio occupying the upper mid-card of SmackDown in his place.
Still, the cream always rises to the top, and Almas’ undeniable in-ring talent and charisma, along with the fact that he is still only incredibly young, will see him rise back to prominence on SmackDown at some point in 2019.
Given that he has suffered this temporary setback, it seems probable that he won’t be able to reach the heights of the WWE Title belt in 2019, but a run with SmackDown’s mid-card belt, the US Title, really shouldn’t be considered out of the equation.
Another factor that could play into Almas’ rise is Shinsuke Nakamura’s current contract situation. The former NJPW star’s contract runs out at the start of the year, and if he doesn’t resign, then the WWE will be looking for a new heel to occupy that mid-card spot.