Andrade Exits WWE, MJF Responds With Smack Talk, More Cuts Reportedly on the Horizon

WWE has entered what many are speculating might be a release rampage — and the latest high-profile name to walk out the door is none other than Andrade El Idolo.

Late Friday, WWE quietly shifted Andrade’s Superstar profile to the “Alumni” section of WWE.com. While the site has a reputation for inconsistent updates, this type of move is rarely accidental. Andrade’s departure comes less than two years after he returned to WWE at the 2024 Royal Rumble following a two-year run in AEW.

Keep in mind, this isn’t the first time Andrade has parted ways with WWE. Back in 2021, he requested — and was granted — his release before making the jump to AEW. This latest exit may follow a similar pattern, and we’ll continue monitoring and reporting on any developments as they unfold. 

Andrade’s Exit & Creative Fallout

Fightful Select reports that Andrade’s release was not the result of a contract expiration. In fact, he reportedly had over 18 months left on his deal. According to sources, his exit had been “in the works for several weeks,” forcing WWE to reshuffle creative plans leading into SummerSlam.

One scrapped idea? Andrade was originally penciled in to team with Rey Fenix against The Wyatt Sicks at Clash in Paris. Instead, The Street Profits were inserted into the match.

Andrade’s final WWE appearance came at SummerSlam 2025. Since then, he had been absent from both television and backstage tapings, and was notably not listed on the company’s internal injury report.

What triggered his release remains unclear, but sources within WWE suggest that many talent and staff had no idea Andrade was leaving until after the decision was finalized.

MJF Reacts – “Margaritas in Mexico?”

The wrestling world didn’t take long to react. AEW World Champion Maxwell Jacob Friedman (MJF) fired off a message to Andrade on social media, cheekily inviting him out for margaritas in Mexico ahead of his showdown with Mark Briscoe at AEW All Out: Toronto.

MJF wrote that while he has “business to handle with Mistico,” Andrade should join him for a drink before the chaos in Toronto begins.

It’s a reminder that despite WWE’s hardline exits, the door to AEW is rarely fully closed. Tony Khan himself praised Andrade when his AEW run ended in 2023, noting that the two sides “parted on good terms.” This could be leading up to an AEW surprise return for All Out potentially.

More Releases to Come?

Perhaps the most alarming chatter is that Andrade may not be the last. Multiple insiders suggest WWE is preparing to make sweeping roster cuts in the coming weeks. While Fightful’s initial reporting described Andrade’s departure as “isolated,” the timing — just weeks after SummerSlam — has raised eyebrows.

Historically, WWE trims its roster in waves following major events. Talent and staff are now bracing themselves for another round of exits, echoing the mass releases that shook the industry in years past.

If true, this could mark one of WWE’s largest shakeups of the TKO era.

Wrestling.news | Backstage Take:
Andrade’s exit is more than just another Superstar moving to the Alumni page — it is possibly a signal. WWE’s sudden decision, without contract expiration and without injury status, suggests bigger moves behind the curtain—or Andrade requested another release. Whether this is the beginning of another mass cut or just a one-off situation, it has already sent a message to talent: no deal is truly safe. And with AEW’s doors always cracked open, don’t be surprised if Andrade resurfaces in the spotlight sooner rather than later.

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