AEW National Champion Andrade El Idolo recently sat down with Renee Paquette on Close Up to reflect on his career journey, opening up about his decision to leave All Elite Wrestling in late 2023 and recent return.
During the candid discussion, Andrade explained that his initial departure from the promotion was driven entirely by personal circumstances rather than professional ones, as he chose to prioritize his marriage at the time.
Choosing Personal Life Over Professional Momentum
Reflecting on his transition back to WWE in late 2023—where his then-wife, Charlotte Flair, was performing—Andrade admitted that the choice was bittersweet.
“Personally, it was good. Professionally, it was a little sad because my contract had expired at that moment, and I needed to make a decision. I needed to go (to WWE) for my personal life because I was married at that moment, not my professional life. I picked my personal life. I went to Tony and thanked him for the opportunity. I hoped to see him in the future, but I needed to move on for my personal life and myself, for a better relationship,” Andrade shared.
Embracing a Second Chance in AEW
Following his subsequent departure from WWE and changes in his personal life, Andrade made his way back to AEW. Now holding the AEW National Championship and preparing to defend it against Tommaso Ciampa at AEW WrestleDream, he is fully focused on paying back Tony Khan’s faith in him.
“I always had a relationship with AEW. Now, on this second opportunity, Tony gave me this opportunity to come back to AEW. I said, ‘Yes.’ Now is the moment to show who I am. I need to pay it back to Tony with my work in the ring. This is why I want to defend the title. I want to help people in the locker room, and I want to stay close with the boys. I am here to help the company. They want the best for the company, and for me to represent this company well. This is how I need to pay Tony for this second chance,” he stated.
For complete coverage and live results from AEW WrestleDream, check out WrestlingAttitude.com.
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