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Andrade leaves WWE, more on his departure, AEW relationship, creative plans that changed
🕑 Added 2025-09-13 18:35:48 +0000 UTCAndrade has left WWE.
We were told that this would not have been a case of his contract simply expiring, as he had more than 18 months on his deal when he signed last year. Fightful Select is told that his departure is isolated and not connected to any additional cuts.
Fightful was told in August that Andrade was not on the company's internal injury list, despite his absence. We're told that the departure had been in the works, but as of now do not know the circumstances surrounding it. He has not been backstage at Smackdown of late, either.
Mark (@WrestleMobs) of Bodyslam.net put it on our radar that he was moved to the alumni section and that he could be done with the company. Sports Illustrated's Jon Alba has reported this was a WWE decision, and not mutual.
One WWE source indicated that the departure had been in the works for at least a week, and that this did affect immediate creative plans after Summerslam, which was his last appearance. Since then, Fightful Select has been told that at one point, Andrade and Fenix were slated to take on the Wyatt Sicks at Clash in Paris. This was the match when Fightful asked a person in creative about them not being in, we were told "if it was possible, he would be."
A number of talent we spoke to had no idea what was going or that Andrade had left or was leaving the company.
Andrade departed AEW on less than ideal terms in December of 2023. AEW had wanted to retain Andrade, and offered him a long-term contract extension that they believed he had agreed to. However, shortly before his last match with Miro, AEW sources indicated that he informed them he wouldn't be signing the extension, which affected their creative plans moving forward. AEW sources we spoke to had no idea Andrade had departed WWE. We were told that "no bridge is truly burned in AEW," and as long as nothing heinous is tied to a departure, a return wouldn't be impossible. Despite that situation, Tony Khan put over Andrade heavily at the AEW Worlds End post-show presser and said they departed on good terms.
Comments
Lynchman
I would think CMLL would be very interested in him now that WWE runs AAA. Dave Meltzer said this was not Andrade's choice, it was a decision made by WWE. If I am Tony, I would pass, he clearly preferred WWE.
Mike
Obviously, some type of issue went on since he was sent home from one of the TV tapping a couple weeks ago
