Andrade El Idolo’s post-WWE saga keeps getting messier—and now Tony Khan is subtly pointing to a major miscommunication that may have left AEW exposed.
During a recent interview with Ariel Helwani, Khan revealed that he brought Andrade back to AEW for an appearance after being told the former WWE star was a free agent. Now it looks like that may not have been true.
Khan was asked directly about Andrade’s status after he walked out of The Crash’s anniversary show in Tijuana. The former AEW and WWE star had reportedly told promoters he was free to work, but never wrestled—and was later pulled from AEW television entirely before. Behind the scenes, WWE allegedly fired off a legal warning to AEW, citing a non-compete clause that might actually extend worldwide.
While Tony Khan remained respectful, he made it clear that Andrade assured him he was clear to return—something that might not have held up legally.
“Now, when he said he was free and made his one-night appearance, I was thrilled to see him again. And anytime he’s free and whenever that is, he is absolutely always welcome.”
Khan mentioned that he had a great experience working with Andrade and the departure was on good terms, but also admitted there’s something off about how this all played out:
“I think the world of Andrade. I had a great experience with him, and he left on the best of terms.”
When Helwani pressed him on whether Andrade misrepresented his contract status, Khan didn’t deny it—but instead left the door open for future scrutiny:
“I can’t speak to that, but I really… and it’s the first time I’ve said that to you… but I do appreciate that. It is an interesting situation that I am going to keep an eye on.”
The implications are clear: Khan may have been misled, AEW may have acted on inaccurate info, and WWE wasted no time letting them know. Andrade’s sudden removal from AEW broadcasts and complete absence from any wrestling promotion further supports that something went sideways.
If Andrade knowingly worked under contract while claiming to be free, it puts both his credibility and future bookings in jeopardy. And for AEW, it’s a cautionary tale—especially when dealing the legal minefield that follows ex-WWE stars.
Do you think Andrade was upfront with AEW, or did he jump the gun on calling himself a free agent? Should Tony Khan have done more due diligence? Sound off in the comments below.
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November 18, 2025 5:06 pm
