Update on Why Andrade el Idolo Has Been Absent from AEW, WWE Reportedly Sent Cease-and-Desist

F4WOnline has an update on the status of Andrade el Idolo, who has been absent from AEW TV since his return to the company several weeks ago. As previously reported, Andrade was fired from WWE back in September and showed up in AEW on October 1, attacking Kenny Omega and joining the Don Callis Family. He hasn’t appeared on TV since and his sudden disappearance has raised eyebrows.

Bryan Alvarez, one of the hosts of Wrestling Observer Radio, reported that Andrade is not injured and the reason that he hasn’t appeared on AEW TV is due to his non-compete clause with WWE. WWE main roster wrestlers have 90-day non-compete clauses when they are released from the company. It was initially believed that Andrade didn’t, as he was said to be fired outright due to a wellness violation (or perhaps multiple violations).

According to Fightful’s Sean Ross Sapp, even people in WWE thought Andrade had no non-compete clause, and that the situation is “very weird” so this doesn’t seem to be Andrade’s specific fault. Fightful notes that the initial report from F4WOnline noted that WWE sent AEW a cease-and-desist, and AEW wasn’t aware he had a non-compete. However, that bit about the letter has since been removed from the F4W report. They add that Andrade is in “good spirits.”

Andrade has been wrestling on the independent scene, as he wrestled for The Crash on October 3. He is also schedueld for a match for WWC in Puerto Rico this Saturday. He was scheduled to face LA Park at Mucha Lucha Atlanta in Norcross, GA on October 26, but that was cancelled.

The Andrade situation is very weird. Even people in WWE thought he didn't have a non compete

— Sean Ross Sapp of Fightful.com (@SeanRossSapp) October 16, 2025