Fans didn't really warm to Andrade Cien Almas when it first arrived in WWE, especially when he ditched the mask he wore in CMLL and came out to the ring in a hat and suspenders! However, after pairing him with Zelina Vega, the company had made great use of him as a heel NXT Champion and his career is currently going from strength to strength in the brand as a result of that.
In a new interview, Almas talked about some of his own frustrations during those first few months and revealed that former WWE Superstar Alberto Del Rio talked him into sticking with it.
"When I got to WWE I felt like I was regressing because of lack of opportunities and the criticism," the NXT Superstar explained, adding: "Then I spoke with Alberto Del Rio and he told me that I should hold on and I will get my opportunity so I kept on fighting for what I wanted."
WWE has spent years looking for a top latino star and it's now easy to see that Almas could very well fit the bill. After all, while Rey Mysterio filled that role for a while, numerous injuries and his age brought that to a halt and Del Rio never quite managed to get there either, especially as he's now walked out of the company twice (though rumours about an eventual return continue doing the rounds).
Almas will defend the NXT Championship at NXT Takeover: New Orleans against Aleister Black. There's been talk for months that he'll be moving up to the main roster in the very near future.