A new report from the Wrestling Observer Newsletter has provided insight into the backstage circumstances surrounding the recent WWE release of Andrade. The departure, which was first indicated when his profile was moved to the alumni section of WWE’s website, was not a case of the star requesting his release. Instead, it was reportedly internal frustrations, a sense of “buyer’s remorse” from the company, and a lack of sustained momentum following his high-profile return from AEW.
According to Dave Meltzer, a key issue during Andrade’s second run with the company was a perceived lack of improvement with his English, which created a barrier for his character’s progression. While his in-ring talent was never questioned, he was reportedly never given the call to become a bigger star. The report notes that other Mexican stars like Penta El Zero Miedo and Rey Fenix had “usurped him” in the eyes of management, getting over much stronger with the audience. Although Andrade and Fenix were together as a tag team on SmackDown, this was seen as a spot with a “ceiling on it”.
The report also mentioned a feeling of “buyer’s remorse” within WWE. The company had expected that Andrade’s return from AEW would generate a fan reaction similar to that of Cody Rhodes and CM Punk. However, after an “initial first-day pop” at the 2024 Royal Rumble, the fan base did not react to him at anywhere near the same level. This was reportedly made worse by the company not having a “focused direction” for him creatively.
Previous reports note that his exit was a “disciplinary thing” and that he had been sent home from a television taping weeks prior to his departure. It was also noted by Sports Illustrated that he had at least one violation of the WWE Wellness Policy during this recent tenure. Following his first WWE release in March 2021, Andrade spent over two years with All Elite Wrestling. During his time in AEW, he was a featured performer, leading his own faction, the Andrade Family Office, and competing in matches against stars such as PAC, Malakai Black, and Sammy Guevara.
