Sports · Combat Sports · 45 mins ago
Andrade says WWE plans for AAA led him to seek his release
Andrade says he chose to leave WWE in 2025 after feeling uncomfortable and unhappy with the direction offered for his wrestling career.
He had returned to WWE in 2024, partly because he wanted to work alongside his then-wife, Charlotte Flair.
After their divorce, he said he no longer felt at home in WWE.
He also said the storylines did not give him a clear direction, and WWE proposed sending him to AAA, a wrestling promotion in Mexico.
Andrade wanted to face top WWE wrestlers and reach audiences worldwide, rather than return to a market where he had already made his name.
He said WWE granted his request for a release after they discussed his concerns.
Andrade returned to AEW in October 2025, but a contract dispute delayed his appearances; he returned to AEW television in January 2026 after the issue was settled.
Andrade said his divorce from Charlotte Flair and WWE’s plans for him influenced his 2025 departure from the company.
He said he felt uncomfortable working for WWE after returning to work with his ex-wife.
Andrade said WWE’s proposed storylines did not match what he wanted and that he declined a proposed move to AAA.
He said he wanted to face top names in WWE and reach audiences around the world.
Andrade departed WWE in mid-September 2025 and later returned to AEW.
- Who
- Andrade, an AEW wrestler, discussed his WWE departure.
- What
- He said his divorce and WWE’s plans for him influenced his decision to leave.
- When
- He departed WWE in mid-September 2025 and discussed the decision in an interview published in November 2026.
- Where
- The interview was on Talk Is Jericho.
- Why
- He said he felt uncomfortable after his divorce, disliked the story direction and did not want to be sent to AAA.
Andrade
WWE
Proposed move to AAA
Andrade
Andrade declined, saying he had already made his name in Mexico and wanted to work with top WWE names.
WWE
WWE presented the move as a good opportunity.
Career reach
Andrade
Andrade wanted worldwide exposure through WWE.
WWE
Not stated.
Andrade returned to WWE, partly motivated by wanting to support Charlotte Flair during her recovery from a knee injury.
Andrade departed WWE after being off television for a month.
Andrade returned to AEW as a member of the Don Callis Family.
Andrade returned to AEW television after a contract dispute was settled.
- WWE departure
- Mid-September 2025
- Former spouse
- Charlotte Flair
- Proposed destination
- AAA
- AEW return
- Less than a month after leaving WWE
- Return to AEW television
- January 2026
2 sources
What people are saying
I went back to WWE to work with my ex-wife, and now that I’m divorced, I felt a little weird.
The story they gave, it wasn’t a good or specific story or direction.
I wanted people to know me around the world, like in Australia, Arabia, Europe, and other countries where WWE is.
I made my name in Mexico; why go back to Mexico?