Andrade Might Have Already Re-Signed With WWE After AEW Departure

2023 was a big year for wrestlers moving between WWE and AEW. Edge became Adam Copeland - and even very briefly won an AEW title before the end of the year - while Jade Cargill and CM Punk are now WWE Superstars. There's a real possibility that WWE kicks off 2024 in the same way, potentially as soon as tonight's Raw, as Andrade El Idolo is officially a free agent.

Andrade's A Free Agent

Andrade wrestled Miro at World's End, losing thanks to interference from a returning CJ Perry. Tony Khan confirmed during the PPV's post-show press conference that Andrade was indeed doing the honors on the way out. That his contract would be expiring at the end of the year and a new deal had not been reached. Now that year has ended and a new one has begun, Andrade is free to sign with and show up wherever he likes.

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That might mean we see Andrade back in WWE very soon. In fact, according to Wrestle Purists, there's a chance the former NXT Champion will show up on Raw tonight. There have been rumors Andrade might become a WWE Superstar again for weeks, fueled by his recent appearances in CMLL. It was assumed Andrade was competing elsewhere while still with AEW because his potential new WWE contract won't allow him to do so.

Connections To WWE

Andrade has strong connections to WWE despite leaving almost three years ago. Married to Charlotte Flair, while I don't know the two personally, I'd hazard to guess the pair talk about their places of work when together. Flair would have been able to tell Andrade whether WWE would welcome him back before he decided against signing with AEW, and Flair may have even been able to let someone at WWE know Andrade would be interested in a return.

Whether Andrade returns tonight on Raw or not, the first episode of the show in 2024 promises to be a big one. A lot of blockbuster matches booked including a World Title bout and the likelihood that a former WWE Champion will be showing up too. That won't be Andrade since he isn't a former WWE Champion, but Triple H responded to the reports a former champion will be on the show, claiming he could neither confirm nor deny if the rumors were true.