Former WWE star Andrade has spoken about his ongoing legal dispute with the company over his 12-month non-compete clause.
Speaking on DeporTV, Andrade spoke about his current legal situation with WWE. He also spoke about why he returned to WWE in 2024, stating that the reason was so that he could be with his now ex-wife, Charlotte Flair, as the two were married at the time.
“I returned to WWE a year and a half ago, I was in AEW, and at that time I was happy earning millions but I was married. My ex-wife’s name is Charlotte Flair and the idea was to return to WWE, to be with her.”
He also spoke about how he accidentally violated the WWE’s wellness policy, as supplements and medication that he was taking in Mexico legally were not allowed by WWE’s wellness policy.
“I had a warning call because many medicines and supplements that in Mexico can be consumed but not there. We have certain restrictions on recipes that we cannot consume as athletes because of doping and things like that.”
After he was released by the company on September 13 for reported “numerous wellness violations”, he said that he thought that he didn’t have a non-compete clause and that he could wrestle as soon as he left, but his former lawyer, who was also Flair’s lawyer, didn’t realise there was a 12-month non-compete clause in his contract.
“The contract I signed, the lawyer did not realize a clause of 12 months without competition, and from there they took that clause. Right now we are in that phase.”
He concluded by stating that his lawyers are speaking with WWE’s lawyers, and they are trying to negotiate a deal for him to have a standard 90-day non-compete clause.
“It wouldn’t be a year, we’re negotiating. I’m going to be 3 months inactive and I can’t compete worldwide… My lawyers are already talking to the WWE lawyers, they are already reaching an arrangement. I don’t know the exact date but let’s hope it’s in a month, a week, or before.”
When Did Andrade Re-Debut In AEW?
Andrade re-debuted in AEW after being released by WWE on the October 1 episode of Dynamite, where he attacked Kenny Omega and joined the Don Callis Family. He was not seen on TV after that appearance, and it was reported by Dave Meltzer in the Wrestling Observer Newsletter on October 16 that WWE had sent a cease-and-desist letter to AEW claiming that Andrade was violating his non-compete clause by appearing on their TV show.
