4 Reasons why Andrade 'Cien' Almas should win the Royal Rumble 

The most exciting match of the WWE calendar year, the Royal Rumble, is a matter of weeks away. Unfortunately, excitement for this year's event feels considerably less than in recent years, mostly because the result of the match feels quite predictable.

The company has often used the match to launch future stars, and they could use this year's match to help give this year's road to WrestleMania a series boost in momentum.

While there are plenty of potential winners for the match, Andrade 'Cien' Almas, the former NXT Champion really stands out as a potential darkhorse.

Let's take a look at 4 reasons why he should be the man to win this year's Royal Rumble match.

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#4 A pleasant surprise

An Almas victory would certainly shock the WWE Universe

The Royal Rumble is often viewed as one of the most exciting events of the calendar year, but for a number of reasons, this year's event feels a little bit lacklustre.

The company has taken a bit of a hit in the ratings over the last few months, and interest from the general WWE Universe is clearly dwindling.

It doesn't help that this year's Royal Rumble matches already feel like a foregone conclusion. Seth Rollins is everybody's favourite to win the men's match, while Becky Lynch and Charlotte Flair are being pegged as the winners for the women's match.

The WWE could really use the Royal Rumble to spice things up and pull the rug from under everybody's feet as they try to regain some momentum heading into WrestleMania.

Having Andrade 'Cien' Almas pick up the victory in the men's match would certainly get them off to a good start.

#3 A five-star performer

Almas put on some incredible matches in NXT

When Andrade 'Cien' Almas first stepped up to the main roster, it was reported that Vince McMahon was incredibly impressed with the former NXT Champion's in-ring work, which should not come as a surprise to anybody who had watched any of his previous body of work.

Almas is one of the most competent in-ring performers in the WWE and has already shown the WWE Universe that he is incredibly capable of putting on brilliant matches against the likes of AJ Styles, Daniel Bryan and Rey Mysterio.

Almas's match against Johnny Gargano at NXT Takeover: Philadelphia last year was considered by many to be the best WWE match of the last few years, and the WWE would no doubt love to see him replicate that kind of form on the grandest stage of them all.

#2 One of the best heels on SmackDown

Almas Vs Bryan has a lot of potential as a heel vs heel match

Daniel Bryan is currently riding a huge wave of momentum as WWE Champion on SmackDown, and his antagonistic persona means that he could just as easily feud with another heel as he could with a face.

Almas is one of the most complete heel performers in the WWE right now, and with Zelina Vega at his side, could easily enter into one of the most unique and entertaining WWE title feuds in recent memory.

Almas' heel work could also help boost the bumbling face division on SmackDown, with only the ageing AJ Styles, Jeff Hardy and Rey Mysterio being the only feasible title contenders right now.

#1 The New Era

Almas could be a huge star on SmackDown

Over the last month or so, the WWE has insisted on telling the WWE Universe that we are entering into a new era. The McMahons are giving more control to the audience and will be introducing new stars to the company on a regular basis.

Unfortunately, this doesn't particularly feel as though it is translating right now, and the fans are yet to see any sort of major change.

Despite the fact that the WWE is still excellent from an in-ring standpoint, the company has hit a creative lull and it needs to inject something new and exciting into its main-event programming.

Andrade 'Cien' Almas, for all the reasons we have explored so far, could really help add something new and different to the main-event scene, and could also help lift it from an in-ring perspective as well.

His run with the NXT title and his matches against the likes of Johnny Gargano and Aleister Black were perfect examples of how capable he is as a main-eventer and there is no doubt that, given the opportunity, he would be able to replicate that on the main roster.