WWE Superstar Shake-Up: Grading Every Superstar’s Outcome From 2018

Andrade “Cien” Almas & Zelinga Vega from NXT to SmackDown Live

After making his name on the independent scene, specifically CMLL and NJPW, the man formerly known as La Sombra joined NXT in 2015. After joining forces with business manager Zelinga Vega, Almas found success by capturing the NXT Championship, but keeping this success going to the main roster was not an easy task.

His early days on SmackDown Live were filled with mediocre rivalries against Sin Cara and Rusev, but Almas really found his groove in recent months while feuding with Rey Mysterio. He’s yet to turn that into championship gold, but a series of instant classics against Mysterio have raised Andrade (“Cien” Almas now omitted) to being a solid mid-card contender on SmackDown Live.

Grade: B+, While not the worst year, things really didn’t stand out for Andrade until he started to tango with Rey Mysterio. He’s been on the rise as of late, and could be looking at a much better year ahead.

Jinder Mahal & The Singh Brothers from SmackDown Live to Raw

During his time on SmackDown Live, it’s no exaggeration to say that Jinder Mahal had the absolute best year of his entire career. Regardless of your opinion of the matches he had, Mahal held the WWE Championship for nearly six months. He left SmackDown Live as the United States Champion, and things have pretty much been downhill from there.

The same night he was moved to Raw, Mahal lost the United States Championship to Jeff Hardy. In the year since then, Mahal has essentially become the former WWE Champion that others defeat. Mahal’s series of unimpressive feuds have seen him on the losing end almost exclusively, and he’s lost any of the stature he once held as WWE Champion.

Grade: F-, Is there a grade worse than F? I’m legitimately not sure if this is a low enough grade. Jinder Mahal remains a competent competitor, but there may not be a more stark one-year decline that didn’t involve a major injury.