Andrade is once again gone from WWE. The Mexican superstar was let go under mysterious circumstances this month, but new details from backstage are revealing an unfortunate situation at a recent event. There’s also new information on what the third-generation grappler may have planned for the future.
El Idolo originally worked for WWE from November 19, 2015, till March 21, 2021. The international multi-time champion debuted for AEW on June 4, 2021, but left at the end of 2023 when his deal expired, amid significant frustration. Andrade also wanted to return to WWE to be with his wife, Charlotte Flair, but they have been divorced for almost a year now. Fans have been frustrated with the star’s WWE comeback, but lately, things had improved somewhat as he was put in a SmackDown tag team with Rey Fenix. The duo had not teamed up since SummerSlam Sunday in the Six-Pack TLC match for the WWE Tag Team Championship, which saw The Wyatt Sicks retain.
Word came down this week that Andrade had been released from WWE. The situation was discussed on the latest episode of the Wrestling Observer Radio, as multiple sources have now confirmed that the former NXT Champion is done with the Stamford-based promotion, noting this was not a situation where he asked to be let go. It was also said that the 35-year-old was released due to a disciplinary issue. While Andrade was not happy with his current status, he was being used more as of late, and things may have been changing. However, it was reiterated that this departure was not at his behest.
In dismissing some online speculation, it was noted that one reason Andrade went back to World Wrestling Entertainment from AEW was because of his marriage to Charlotte Flair, which ended several months back. There’s also been talk that WWE wanted him to work the AAA brand, but the 8-time CMLL champion wasn’t interested, as he has a history with their rival, and has only worked two AAA matches: one shortly before joining AEW, and the other while he was with the Jacksonville-based company.
Regarding the disciplinary issue, word is that there was some sort of incident a few weeks back at a WWE TV taping, but Andrade was just fired for it this week. At the taping, the former NXT Champion was told to go home, and he hasn’t been back since.
I was told it was not drug related, it was not alcohol related, it was not marriage related, although the marriage is over, but nobody would say what it was, but it was enough to be sent home, and when he was sent home… [co-host: you don’t hear about wrestlers being sent home these days] the feeling, when he got sent home, was that it must be serious because you don’t hear about that [these days], and he hasn’t been used since, and I was told that when he was sent home, the people who knew, were not told that he was done, but they assumed he was done, and then today was the confirmation,” Dave Meltzer said.
Andrade Returning To CMLL After WWE?
Andrade worked almost 1,000 matches for CMLL, from November 2006 – November 2015, another five in 2023, and now a return may be in the works. On Wrestling Observer Radio, Dave Meltzer provided some insight into what the future may hold for the former WWE Speed Champion.
“I’m positive he was unhappy [in WWE], but this wasn’t him asking out because in his situation… I mean, look, he was making a lot of money there, and if… there’s only one other place to make money [AEW]. Yeah, he can go to CMLL, there’s no money at his level to be made at CMLL. Of course he can go there, of course there will be certain things very rewarding for him because he can walk in there, be a main eventer and be a superstar there, and perform before big crowds in main event matches all the time, and all that, but he’s used to American money, and people don’t really go… do I see him going back to CMLL for some shots? Absolutely, but that’s not going to be his prime thing,” Dave Meltzer said.
Andrade’s last CMLL outing came on December 29, 2023. He lost the 14-minute main event of the CMLL Viernes Espectacular PPV that night to Volador Jr.