Andrade El Idolo may be relaxing on the beach and brushing off contract drama, but WWE’s internal view of his exit is anything but calm. A new report from Dave Meltzer has blown the lid off Andrade’s departure, revealing a version of events that sharply contradicts the smooth, respectful exit Andrade has publicly described.

According to Meltzer’s Wrestling Observer Newsletter, WWE insiders say Andrade was fired for disciplinary reasons—specifically multiple failed drug tests—which the company allegedly used to avoid paying severance while still enforcing a strict twelve month worldwide non compete clause. It’s a claim WWE feels strongly about, and one that paints a far more complicated picture than Andrade’s interviews suggest.

Andrade previously insisted he left on good terms and was simply caught off guard by a clause his lawyer missed. He even said personal issues, including his divorce from Charlotte Flair and shared legal counsel, made the situation harder to navigate. From his side, negotiations to shorten the non compete are underway and close to resolution. But Meltzer notes WWE may not be in such a hurry, and the gap between the two narratives is growing wider by the day.

Behind the scenes, both sides appear to be digging in. WWE believes their stance is legally sound. Andrade believes his release should never have triggered such a clause in the first place. And the wrestling world now finds itself watching one of the most confusing, high stakes contract disputes of the year unfold in real time.

If WWE loosens the clause, Andrade could return to the ring sooner than expected. If not, he could be sidelined for months—despite already debuting once for AEW. Either way, this story is far from finished, and the next update may decide Andrade’s entire 2025 trajectory.

Short description no more than one hundred forty letters: WWE and Andrade clash over his exit, with reports claiming disciplinary firing and a strict non compete while Andrade insists negotiations are close.