Andrade returned to AEW, but he hasn’t been seen since. A recent report suggested that it was due to WWE enforcing a non-compete clause, and now a new update has shed more light on that situation.
The October 1 episode of AEW Dynamite saw Andrade surprise fans when he attacked Kenny Omega to join AEW’s Don Callis Family. This appearance came weeks after departing from WWE. However, he has not returned to AEW TV since then, leaving fans speculating about his whereabouts.
Late Wednesday night, Bryan Alvarez and Dave Meltzer of Wrestling Observer Radio reported that Andrade’s absence was related to an issue with a 90-day non-compete clause attached to his departure from WWE. Further complicating the issue, AEW officials and many people in WWE weren’t even aware of Andrade having a non-compete clause.
Andrade is still obligated to follow WWE’s non-compete terms
According to a new report from PWInsider.com, the initial belief in WWE was that Andrade was cut due to Wellness Policy violations, so he was free and clear to begin working elsewhere. However, once Andrade showed up in AEW and at events in Mexico, WWE reportedly contacted him to clarify the terms attached to his release.
PWInsider’s report backs up the initial report by Meltzer. It also states that WWE said even though Andrade isn’t getting the traditional 90 days after his release, he is still “subject to the 90-day period where he cannot perform elsewhere.” According to PWInsider, a WWE source says that the company wanted to prevent a situation where a performer could take advantage of a loophole that should not exist.
Based on the current situation, it is believed that Andrade will not make his scheduled appearances in Puerto Rico and New York in November. His AEW storyline is also on hold, and he’ll have to wait out the terms of the non-compete clause to return to TV.
Read More: AEW Dynamite Results: Review, Grades, Card For October 15
