Andrade’s latest career twist is moving faster than anyone expected.
Cageside Seats is reporting that just weeks after his surprise release from WWE, the former United States Champion already has gold around his waist again—this time in Mexico.
The end of Andrade’s second WWE run came suddenly last month. Reports indicated the move wasn’t mutual. Instead, the decision was made internally at WWE following an incident described by insiders as a disciplinary issue.
According to Wrestling Observer Radio, the 35-year-old star was suspended without pay following a wellness policy violation and was eventually escorted out of a SmackDown taping in mid-August. That exit forced the company to scrap planned storylines, including a partnership with Rey Fenix.
It wasn’t the first time Andrade ran into wellness policy trouble. He previously served a 30-day suspension in 2020 and also faced backstage fallout during his earlier stint with AEW after a confrontation with Sammy Guevara.
Despite those setbacks, his talent has never been in question. WWE even brought him back during the 2024 Royal Rumble before things unraveled again this summer.
If there were doubts about how quickly Andrade could bounce back, he answered them almost immediately. On October 1, he reappeared on AEW Dynamite, aligning himself with The Don Callis Family and immediately targeting Kenny Omega.
Two days later, Andrade made his way to Tijuana for an independent show with The Crash. In the main event, he defeated DMT Azul to capture The Crash Heavyweight Championship, ending Azul’s reign which stretched over two years.
The victory came less than 72 hours after his AEW return, signaling that promoters see him as a top draw no matter the turbulence in his career.
For Andrade—once a rising name in CMLL as La Sombra and a founding member of Los Ingobernables—the win marks another step in reclaiming momentum. Whether his AEW run fully takes off remains to be seen, but for now, El Ídolo is back in the spotlight, and once again, he’s carrying a championship to prove it.