Latest Backstage Details On Andrade’s WWE Release & Possible AEW Return

Andrade was released from WWE last week, setting off speculation as to what happened that led to his early exit from the company, with Jon Alba reporting on Sports Illustrated’s The Takedown that Andrade’s release was a disciplinary decision, noting that multiple sources told the outlet that he had at least one wellness policy violation during his most recent time with the company.

Dave Melzer reports in the latest Wrestling Observer Newsletter that there was also some internal frustration with Andrade in WWE over him not improving his English, and that there was some buyer’s remorse with WWE thinking that bringing him in from AEW would give him a spark upon his WWE return, as it did with Cody Rhodes and CM Punk, but fans didn’t respond that way to Andrade after his initial return.

As for what is next for Andrade, Meltzer noted that the options to go to NJPW or CMLL and immediately be a big star are open to him, but that he is used to making more money than those two promotions can offer. That leaves AEW.

Meltzer notes that if Andrade gets interest from AEW, it makes it more likely that WWE will eventually want him back, and the process ends up becoming a negative for AEW as it often has with talent WWE has released that AEW has then turned around and signed (Swerve Strickland being a major exception). There is an obvious spot for Andrade to return to in AEW, as he could go into LFI with Rush (they were original members of Ingobernables). Meltzer notes that Tony Khan actually booked Andrade pretty strong in his final month in AEW before he left to return to WWE because Khan didn’t think Andrade was going to leave. So it’s hard to say if Khan views Andrade as having given him the impression that he was staying with AEW, only to then leave for WWE, and how that might impact Khan’s view of bringing Andrade back.