Tag: andrade

Andrade is a free agent once more.

Fightful reported on Monday that Andrade’s deal with WWE came to an end around December 12, officially becoming a free agent and free to sign wherever he pleases. He showcased that over the weekend, not only appearing at House of Glory, but also revealed himself as the new benefactor of the United Empire at NJPW’s Road to Tokyo Dome event on Monday morning.

According to Fightful, Rush introduced Andrade to an attorney and representative that has worked closely with WWE “for years” and as a result was able to get his one year no-complete caused waived, allowing Andrade to sign elsewhere.

Andrade’s visa was also terminated when he was fired, but Fightful reports that he is back in the United States for now and the situation is being handled.

When Andrade was fired for cause in September, he quickly made his return to AEW, attacking Kenny Omega and joining the Don Callis Family. Once that angle took place, however, it was revealed that WWE had enacted the one year non-compete due to being fired for cause, preventing him from working elsewhere.

After being asked about Andrade during a media call on Monday, Tony Khan told fans to “stay tuned to AEW” for what is next.

Andrade addressed what the original plans were for him at the first Worlds Collide during a recent interview.

Dave Meltzer noted around the time of Andrade’s WWE release that there had been talk that WWE wanted him involved with AAA. Andrade has now clarified that he was originally slated for a four-way match against El Hijo del Vikingo, Rey Fenix, and Oba Femi, but plans changed when he was placed in the men’s Money in the Bank ladder match at WWE’s PLE later that same day.

Andrade said during an interview with Eduardo Bates (translated):

“The thing is that I was going to be on a AAA show. They told me that the match was going to be Vikingo, Fenix, Oba Femi and me. It was going to be a four way at the first event.”

He continued:

“Later everything changed because that same night was Money in the Bank. I went into Money in the Bank and that event no longer included me, so I never went back to AAA. After that, Dominik went in. They had talked about the idea that Dominik would be the face on the rudo side in AAA or something like that, and they had ideas about the Mega Championship and everything.”

In the days following Andrade’s release on September 13, reports suggested he had “ghosted” the company leading up to his departure. However, during the interview with Bates, Andrade said he never stopped answering WWE’s calls.

Andrade said in the interview (translated):

“I do not feel bad about my departure from WWE. I am very thankful for everything I did, whether it was a lot or a little, during that year and a half. I never missed any dates and I never stopped answering my phone, despite what some gossiping people who spread that news said.“

Andrade added that there was one occasion where he was on a day trip and temporarily unreachable, but that he returned the company’s call shortly afterward.

Andrade continued:

“I was traveling when they called me. What happened was that I had a day trip because I was not scheduled, and they contacted me. I returned the call an hour or two later, but it had nothing to do with me refusing to answer or disappearing. It was one, two, maybe three hours where I did not pick up, and all that happened was the company messaging me asking, ‘Where are you?’ and things like that.“

He said his delayed response was due to being out of the country, limited signal, and other factors.

Andrade’s full interview with Eduardo Bates is available below. The section where he discusses original plans for the first Worlds Collide begins at approximately 1:28:07. His comments on not having “ghosted” WWE begin at approximately 6:30.