WWE got a little more INGOBERNABLE on Thursday with the announcement of the signing of Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre and New Japan Pro Wrestling star La Sombra.
According to an announcement made on WWE.com, La Sombra, real name Manuel Alfonso Andrade Oropeza, has reported to the WWE Performance Center in Orlando and will join NXT probably sooner rather than later.
From the announcement:
Formerly known as “La Sombra,” Oropeza is a third-generation luchador whose grandfather, father, uncles and cousins all competed in Mexico. Oropeza signed with Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre (CMLL) in 2007 at age 17, where he trained under El Satanico. While there, he held many titles, including the CMLL Trio and Tag Team titles and the NWA Welterweight and Middleweight titles.
The WWE Performance Center’s newest luchador also brings experience from Japan; Oropeza made multiple trips to Japan for New Japan Pro Wrestling (NJPW), winning the organization’s Intercontinental Championship in 2013.
WWE has made their desire to have a big Hispanic star public knowledge as of late, bringing back Alberto Del Rio and pushing Kalisto into the WWE World Heavyweight Championship Tournament. La Sombra is a fantastic signing whether he’s “La Sombra” or not, and signing proven lucha libre talent to wrestle top stars who infrequently get to compete in the style that made them notable to WWE in the first place is no-brainer.
If you’ve never seen La Sombra’s work, here are a couple of highlight videos to check out. Yes, his entrance gear is awesome.
