The situation surrounding Andrade El Idolo’s return to AEW and his status with WWE has taken another complicated and bizarre turn. A new report from F4WOnline.com indicates that the non-compete period Andrade is facing is considerably longer than the standard 90 days. According to Bryan Alvarez, who confirmed the information with multiple sources, new TKO contracts now include a clause for a one-year non-compete period if a wrestler is fired “with cause” or due to a breach of contract. This new standard clause is reportedly the reason for the current hold-up with Andrade’s AEW return, which was abruptly halted after his first appearance.
Bryan Alvarez explained the situation on Wrestling Observer Live.
“We have it confirmed through multiple sources that the new TKO contracts have a clause where if you are fired, there is a one-year non-compete. The older contracts had this, but it’s standard now. This is the hold-up involving Andrade. Very skeptical this would hold up in a legal battle, but it’s in the contracts.”
Former WWE producer Lance Storm confirmed this, stating that the clause was in his contract when he returned to the company in 2019.
“It was in contracts before TKO. When I went back in 2019, there was a, if you were fired with cause, one-year no-compete.”
Andrade was reportedly released from his WWE contract due to multiple Wellness Policy violations, which would likely fall under the “with cause” category. This would explain the recent cease-and-desist order sent by WWE to AEW, which has resulted in Andrade being pulled from AEW programming and canceling other independent bookings. It is unclear if AEW was aware of this clause when they signed him to a new deal, but it appears his in-ring return to the company is now on hold for the foreseeable future.
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