Andrade GONE From WWE (WWE News)
Less than two years after his return, Andrade is gone from WWE.
In some surprising news, Andrade is no longer with WWE.
This was first picked up on by @WrestleMobs of BodySlam.net, who noticed that Andrade's WWE.com profile has now been moved to the WWE Alumni section. For those wondering, he's now listed between Amir Jordan and Ari Sterling. Fightful Select has since looked into this situation, confirming that the former WWE United States Champion and NXT Champion has left the company.
Fightul notes how this is not a case of Andrade's contract having expired, as he had more than 18 months remaining on the deal he signed upon returning to WWE last year. This report also adds how Andrade's exit is "isolated" and not related to any additional cuts, meaning that we shouldn't be expecting this to be part of a round of releases. And on that front, Jon Alba of Sports Illustrated states that this exit is very much a WWE decision rather than any sort of mutual agreement.
Andrade was last in action for WWE at SummerSlam last month, where he teamed with Rey Fenix in a TLC match for the WWE Tag Team Titles. Per Fightful, the talent hasn't been backstage for SmackDowns lately, but wasn't listed on any internal injury list. In fact, this report also mentions how there had been talk of having Andrade and Fenix face the Wyatt Sicks at WWE Clash in Paris; a spot that ultimately went to the Street Profits instead.
In terms of what could be next for Andrade, the one-time La Sombra had what Fightful calls a "less than ideal" exit from AEW in December 2023. There, AEW offered the star a long-term contract extension that they were under the belief he'd agreed to. Instead, he informed the promotion that he wouldn't be signing that deal, which in turn impacted their creative plans as Andrade instead chose to return to WWE, where he'd be a surprise entrant in the 2024 men's Royal Rumble. However, AEW sources told Fightful that "no bridge is truly burned in AEW" and that a return is not impossible.
Away from AEW, one has to wonder what WWE's working relationships with TNA and AAA would mean to Andrade potentially working for either of those promotions, although there are obviously plenty of other options for the hugely talented 35-year-old.