Additional Details On Andrade’s WWE Exit, Didn’t Turn Down AAA Request

UPDATE 3: A new report has a bit more detail on the stories around Andrade’s WWE exit, as well as a rumor killed about whether he turned down a request to work for AAA. PWInsider has confirmed that, as Jon Alba reported, there was a story making its way through the WWE roster as far back as August about Andrade’s Wellness Policy violation. The word then came back around on Saturday.

The report also notes that a story making the rounds backstage was that Andrade left the US to travel somewhere in South America and didn’t respond to overtures from WWE. And finally, there was the aforementioned rumor that he refused a request to work with AAA which three difference sources have shot down, noting that no request was ever made as he was never included in AAA pitches.

UPDATE 2: A report has provided more context on Andrade’s WWE exit and the disciplinary action he is said to have received. Jon Alba has confirmed for Sports Illustrated’s The Takedown Andrade’s release was a disciplinary decision, and notes that multiple sources have told the outlet that he had at least one wellness policy violation during his most time with the company.

The report notes that Andrade was suspended without pay as a result of the violation. It’s not clear how he was in violation of the policy and whether or not he tested positive for a banned substance. The outlet also confirms that Andrade was asked to leave a taping last month, noting that he was escorted out of the building. A “high-level” source claimed that Andrade’s being told to leave was in relation to his suspension and that it affected big creative plans for himself and Rey Fenix, who he was tagging with.

It is not clear if the specific wellness violation led directly to his release. As previously noted, the being sent home happened several weeks ago, with SI noting it was said to have happened in the middle of August. Bodyslam.net’s Cory Hays reported last night that according to sources, WWE had tried to get in touch with Andrade for “several weeks” but that he was unreachable.

UPDATE: A new report says that Andrade’s release from WWE was a disciplinary matter. It was noted on Wrestling Observer Radio that the now-former WWE star’s release was a “disciplinary thing” and not a matter of his asking out of his contract.

Dave Meltzer noted there was a disciplinary matter a couple of weeks ago and he was sent him, and hasn’t been used since. It was added that it was not drug or alcohol-related, not was it related to his former marriage to Charlotte Flair. It was assumed that he was done at that point by some people in the know, though the release didn’t happen until Saturday.

It’s not clear if Andrade will be making a return to AEW, with the report noting that he tried to leave AEW on good terms and that it’s not clear whether Khan would sign him to a new deal. It was added that Andrade was not the most cooperative during his time in AEW.

ORIGINAL: A new report has a bit of additional detail on Andrade’s exit from WWE. As noted yesterday, the former US Champion was released from the company in a decision that was reported as being “WWE’s call.” Sports Illustrated’s The Takedown goes a bit further in its details, as it notes that the decision was not a mutual one.

The report notes that Andrade had not been at TV tapings in nearly a month and several members of the roster were told Saturday afternoon that he had been let go. The released was not related to budget cuts similarly to other releases this year. The details surrounding why he was let go are still not clear.

Andrade’s last match was at WWE SummerSlam, where he competed for the WWE Tag Team Championships alongside Rey Fenix.