Andrade ‘Cien’ Almas, Zelina Vega heading to WWE SmackDown
As part of a dizzying numbers of roster changes over the past two weeks, former NXT champion Andrade ‘Cien’ Almas and manager Zelina Vega will be coming to WWE SmackDown.
The two announced their arrival via a cell phone video that aired in the second hour of Tuesday’s Superstar Shake-Up finale on SmackDown.
The 28-year-old Almas rose to prominence in Mexico and NJPW as La Sombra before signing with WWE in November 2015. Starting in NXT, he lost his mask and had his name changed to Manny Andrade. That lasted for a month before his name changed to his current moniker.
He had a 140-day run as NXT Champion, defeating fellow main roster talent Drew McIntyre last November before losing the title to Aleister Black just over two weeks ago at TakeOver New Orleans. He made his official main roster debut in the 2018 Royal Rumble match.
The 27-year-old Vega (fka Thea Trinidad) signed with WWE in June 2017 after a few spot appearances over the last few years. She was sent to NXT and soon became a part of the Almas act, helping add some life and dimension to the character. She accompanied Almas to the ring for his WWE appearance in this year’s Royal Rumble.