Andrade El Idolo Clarifies AEW Status,Reveals Verbal agreement with Tony Khan
wrestling fans seeking clarity on Andrade El Idolo’s departure from AEW have received direct insight from the wrestler himself,who confirms he never signed a formal contract with the promotion.
The 35-year-old professional wrestler, released from his WWE contract in September, briefly appeared on AEW programming before a one-year noncompete clause was enacted by TKO following an autonomous wrestling date in Mexico. This clause,legally permissible due to his termination from WWE,ultimately paved the way for his return to the company at the 2024 men’s Royal Rumble.
Did you know? – Andrade’s WWE release in September triggered a non-compete clause. This prevented him from wrestling for other promotions, including AEW, for a set period.This is standard practice in the wrestling industry.
Responding directly to wrestling journalist Dave Meltzer on X (formerly Twitter), Andrade vehemently denied reports of a signed contract. “I didn’t sign any contract! Sir, you say it with such certainty, that I signed a contract, [sic] when that’s just another one of your lies. Do some more research, Sir,” he posted. He further clarified that discussions with AEW President Tony Khan were promising. “I was in negotiations to sign because Mr. Tony Khan and the AEW team were having good discussions, and we came to an excellent agreement.”
Despite the lack of a formal agreement, Khan has publicly expressed continued respect for the wrestler.Speaking on the AEW WrestleDream media call,Khan stated,”Well,I would echo sentiments I had said at AEW Worlds End 2023,when Andrade initially left a few years ago. And I would say that I have a ton of respect for Andre El Idolo. I think he’s an amazing wrestler,and I think that when he left in 2023,it was on a very high note.” He continued, “just to reiterate everything I said at his departure a few years ago. And I still feel that way, and I think Andrade is a great wrestler. I’m excited to see what’s next for him. And I would leave it at that.”
Reader question: – Do you think Andrade’s return to WWE was the right move for his career? What opportunities might he have missed by not signing with AEW? Share your thoughts.
Andrade’s final match for AEW was a tag team TLC match at SummerSlam in December 2023. His subsequent return to WWE signals a new chapter in his career, leaving fans to speculate on what the future holds for the talented wrestler.
Pro tip: – Keep an eye on wrestling news outlets for updates on Andrade’s WWE run. His performance and booking will be key indicators of his success in this new chapter. Stay informed!
Stay tuned to VICE for further updates on both WWE and AEW.
