10 Wrestlers Who Could Leave AEW In 2022

10. Andrade El Idolo

Andrade El Idolo PAC
AEW

The unlikeliest name on this list, admittedly, but Andrade El Idolo left WWE to become a star - something that is yet to happen in AEW.

September saw the former NXT Champion like a tweet criticising AEW for booking him on Rampage over Dynamite. Said Rampage episode ended up hosting comfortably his most well-received All Elite match up to that point (vs. PAC), prior to which Andrade's presentation had been widely criticised. From the flat, under-hyped debut alongside Vickie Guerrero to the disappointing Matt Sydal bout to the constant flip-flopping from manager to manager, the 32-year-old's introduction was far from ideal.

Andrade has since worked good-to-great matches with Cody Rhodes, PAC, and more, though his alliance with Malakai Black was tenuous and ill-fitting and at no point has he looked like breaking through to a bigger role. Now, he is calling out Darby Allin, which should help get Andrade over, but rubbing shoulders with the aforementioned names didn't. There's no guarantee this program will work either.

As he only signed with AEW last year, Andrade leaving the promotion would take something drastic, like the man himself requesting to be let go. Given his ambition, this isn't entirely out of the question. Just don't put money on it.

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Andy has been with WhatCulture for eight years and is currently WhatCulture's Wrestling Channel Manager. A writer, presenter, and editor with 10+ years of experience in online media, he has been a sponge for all wrestling knowledge since playing an old Royal Rumble 1992 VHS to ruin in his childhood. Having previously worked for Bleacher Report, Andy specialises in short and long-form writing, video presenting, voiceover acting, and editing, all characterised by expert wrestling knowledge and commentary. Andy is as much a fan of 1985 Jim Crockett Promotions as he is present-day AEW and WWE - just don't make him choose between the two.