Update on Andrade-AEW
Added 2025-12-22 22:19:22 +0000 UTCAndrade has made a splash in the last week, appearing for both House of Glory, and New Japan Pro Wrestling.
He might not be done yet.
Fightful confirmed with those familiar with the situation he is also eligible to sign with AEW, TNA, AAA, CMLL -- any company he wishes to. It was stated that his deal with WWE officially came to an end around December 12.
We're told that Rush introduced Andrade to an attorney and rep that has worked closely with WWE for years, and helped get the year-long non compete waived. Those that we spoke to over a month ago didn't expect it to stand, but claimed that the situation was handled very professionally in the end. WWE had not paid him since his departure, and an agreement was reached for Andrade to be eligible to sign elsewhere.
When Andrade was terminated, his visa effectively was as well, as the sponsorship that WWE provided was over. However, we're told that Andrade is back in the United States for the time being and the visa situation is being handled.
Tony Khan and AEW have remained positive about Andrade's future in the company, and believed he would he back sooner than later. We are told that when the legal situation with WWE happened, they wanted to make the transition for him as smooth as possible as to not cause any more issues.
Comments
He wasn't released. He was terminated with cause. So he was effectively fired. A release is kinda like a layoff with severance. You sit out your contracted non-compete and get paid by the company you were signed to. That's not what happened here. They fired him for *reasons* and this activated an apparently little-known clause that, when fired for cause, you cannot work for a competitor for whatever length they agreed upon. Andrade claims ignorance on this fact and had showed up on AEW television under the assumption all was good. WWE saw this and was all "Wait a minute, he can't do that!" and here we are.
Josh Howard
2025-12-23 15:41:36 +0000 UTCPlease tell me if I misunderstand this, but I thought non-competes were paid periods for released wrestlers. He wasn't making any money off of it? At all?
CSDX
2025-12-23 00:32:11 +0000 UTCImmediately wonder if his situation could be used as a legal precedent as that could be the gift that keeps on giving for some wrestlers.
Insomnia Inc
2025-12-22 23:59:15 +0000 UTC
