Andrade Returning to WWE? – As noted, Andrade’s highly anticipated return to AEW has reportedly been halted by legal complications tied to his WWE release. According to a new report from PWInsider, the former WWE star remains under a non-compete clause, preventing him from competing elsewhere — including AEW and various independent promotions — despite having already appeared on AEW television earlier this month.
Andrade is still being advertised for upcoming independent dates, including appearances in Maine and New York. However, PWInsider notes that there is no confirmation on whether he will actually appear. This follows a similar situation in Puerto Rico last weekend, where Andrade was advertised for a WWC event but ultimately “did not wrestle.”
The report also revealed growing speculation among those in the lucha community regarding WWE’s intentions. “There is a belief in some lucha circles that WWE is trying to use the leverage of the potential one-year non-compete as a way to bring Andrade back into the fold,” PWInsider stated. WWE officials have not commented on the situation, but that rumor “is the story making the rounds in Mexico.”
The situation traces back to Andrade’s WWE release. Both he and several others reportedly believed that his departure freed him to wrestle elsewhere immediately. Acting on that assumption, Andrade made a surprise AEW return on October 1, aligning with the Don Callis Family, and also wrestled a match in Mexico shortly thereafter. WWE has since notified him that he remains under a binding non-compete clause, believed to be part of a new TKO-era contract policy that applies to talent “fired for cause.”
Following WWE’s legal intervention, AEW has refrained from mentioning Andrade’s October 1 return on television, and several of his independent bookings have been canceled. Notably, he was pulled from a scheduled match against LA Park at Mucha Lucha Atlanta on October 25.
Despite the uncertainty, Andrade continues to be listed for upcoming events. He is advertised to face Donovan Dijak for Big Time Wrestling on November 1 and to appear for House of Glory in Long Island on November 15. Whether those appearances will go forward remains unclear, as neither WWE nor Andrade has issued an official statement regarding his current contractual status.
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Andrade Returning to WWE?
