Andrade El Idolo returns to AEW, attacks former World Champion
Image: JJ Williams
Less than two years after leaving, Andrade El Idolo has returned to AEW and already has some new friends.
The Mexican star made his surprise appearance on Wednesday’s AEW Dynamite as Kenny Omega was finishing an in-ring promo following a trios match that opened the show.
The lights went out and when they came back on, a masked man was standing behind Omega. He revealed himself as Andrade, laid Omega out with a spinning underhook DDT, and Don Callis then got into the ring and shook his hand to signal he’s apparently joined the Don Callis Family.
Andrade was suddenly released by WWE in mid-September due to what’s been reported as disciplinary issues. The 35-year-old already has an indie booking set for November in addition to Mexico’s The Crash this weekend.
He declined to re-sign with AEW, departing at the end of 2023. He returned to WWE at the January 2024 Royal Rumble and later won the Speed title, holding it for more than 160 days. His initial WWE run lasted from 2016-2020 and included an NXT title run and WWE United States title run.
Since 2011, Josh has been a contributing editor to Wrestling Observer/F4WOnline.com and also hosts the Punch-Out podcast. He has also written for Fight Magazine, Bloody Elbow, Bleacher Report, and other websites. He's a 2000 graduate of the University of Maine, worked in pro sports, and once was an indie ring announcer.