Andrade El Idolo shocked AEW fans with his return earlier this month, aligning himself with the Don Callis Family and laying out Kenny Omega in a moment that felt like a major turning point. But almost as quickly as he showed up, he vanishedand now we may finally have an answer.
On the October 16, 2025 edition of Wrestling Observer Radio, Dave Meltzer reported that the belief within wrestling circles is that Andrades sudden absence could be tied to a WWE non-compete clause. According to Meltzer, while most believed that Andrade had no restrictions preventing him from appearing for AEW due to the nature of his WWE exit, WWE reportedly believes otherwise.
This revelation casts new light on Andrades vanishing act. Just last week, Fightful Select reported that those who had spoken to Andrade said he was in good spirits but offered no explanation for why he was pulled from TV or upcoming matches. AEW sources also didnt point the finger at Andrade or the company itself.
Wrestling Observers update now suggests WWE may have taken legal action to enforce a clause they believe still applies, despite previous assumptions. Andrades return was reportedly not supposed to violate any terms, but WWE allegedly believes he is still within the 90-day window common to main roster releases.
As it stands, Andrades AEW future may be temporarily pausednot due to creative, injury, or backstage issues, but possibly because of WWE red tape. And while AEW hasnt publicly commented, the silence surrounding his status suddenly makes a lot more sense.
Should AEW have waited longer to bring Andrade back, or is WWE just playing legal hardball? Drop your thoughts in the comments below.
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