Andrade El Idolo has opened up about the decision that took him away from All Elite Wrestling in 2023, explaining that the move was rooted in his personal life rather than dissatisfaction with the company or his professional position.
Andrade departed AEW when his contract expired in 2023 and returned to WWE, where Charlotte Flair, his wife at the time, was working. His WWE run ended in September 2025, following his divorce from Flair a year earlier, and he returned to AEW shortly after leaving WWE.
Now back with AEW and holding the AEW National Championship, Andrade is preparing for a major challenge at AEW WrestleDream, where he is scheduled to defend the title against Tommaso Ciampa. Speaking with Renee Paquette on Close Up, Andrade reflected on the difficult balance between career considerations and his life outside the ring when his first AEW contract came to an end.
Andrade Says the Choice Was Personal, Not Professional
Andrade characterized his initial AEW exit as a positive decision on a personal level, while acknowledging that it carried sadness professionally. He said the expiration of his contract forced him to make a choice at a particularly significant point in his life.
For more background on this topic, read Darby Allin, Steven Borden Reflect On Sting Finding Joy In AEW.
“Personally, it was good. Professionally, it was a little sad because my contract had expired at that moment, and I needed to make a decision,” Andrade said.
He was direct in explaining why WWE became his destination at that time. For Andrade, the move was connected to his marriage and the importance he placed on supporting that part of his life. He made clear that the decision was not driven by a professional preference.
“I needed to go [to WWE] for my personal life because I was married at that moment, not my professional life. I picked my personal life.”
That distinction is central to Andrade’s view of the 2023 transition. Wrestlers’ moves between major promotions are often discussed almost entirely through the lens of creative opportunities, championship prospects, finances, or rivalries. Andrade’s explanation offers a different perspective: his family circumstances outweighed the wrestling calculation in front of him.
His remarks also frame the departure as a respectful conclusion to his first AEW tenure rather than a burned bridge. Andrade said he spoke with AEW President Tony Khan before leaving, thanked him for the opportunity, and expressed hope that their paths would cross again.
“I went to Tony and thanked him for the opportunity. I hoped to see him in the future, but I needed to move on for my personal life and myself, for a better relationship.”
A Return Built on an Existing Relationship
Although Andrade’s time away from AEW took him back to WWE, he said the relationship with AEW remained intact. That continuing connection ultimately mattered when he became available again after his WWE departure in September 2025.
Andrade returned to AEW shortly afterward, beginning what he sees as a second opportunity with the promotion. He credited Khan with opening the door for the comeback and said he did not hesitate when the chance to return was presented.
“I always had a relationship with AEW. Now, on this second opportunity, Tony gave me this opportunity to come back to AEW. I said, ‘Yes.’”
The return arrives under circumstances very different from the ones surrounding his first exit. In 2023, Andrade felt compelled to prioritize his personal life over the professional path available in AEW. Now, he is speaking about his place in the company with a clear emphasis on responsibility, contribution, and proving himself through his work.
Rather than presenting the comeback as a simple reset, Andrade views it as a chance to demonstrate what he can bring to AEW in the ring and around the locker room. His comments indicate that he is approaching this chapter with an awareness that renewed opportunities must be earned through performance.
“Now is the moment to show who I am. I need to pay it back to Tony with my work in the ring,” Andrade said.
That mindset is especially notable because Andrade is not returning merely as another name on the roster. He is entering WrestleDream as the AEW National Champion, placing his championship status and his stated desire to represent the company in a prominent spotlight.
The AEW National Championship Carries Added Meaning
Andrade connected his current championship role directly to the way he wants to repay AEW’s faith in him. He said he wants to defend the title, help those around him, remain close to his peers, and contribute to the promotion’s larger goals.
“This is why I want to defend the title. I want to help people in the locker room, and I want to stay close with the boys. I am here to help the company,” Andrade said.
His language places value on both the visible and less visible parts of being a champion. Defending a title is the most immediate measure of success, particularly with a WrestleDream match against Ciampa ahead. But Andrade also emphasized the locker-room dimension of his role, expressing a desire to be helpful to the people working alongside him.
He further said that AEW wants what is best for the company and wants him to represent it well. Andrade sees his title reign and his overall conduct as ways of fulfilling that expectation.
“They want the best for the company, and for me to represent this company well. This is how I need to pay Tony for this second chance.”
For Andrade, then, the National Championship is more than a trophy attached to an upcoming event. It is part of the platform through which he intends to establish the value of his return. Each defense creates an opportunity to reinforce the message he delivered: he is back in AEW because he wants to show his ability and serve the company’s interests.
Tommaso Ciampa Awaits at WrestleDream
The next test of that commitment comes at AEW WrestleDream, where Andrade is set to defend the AEW National Championship against Tommaso Ciampa. The bout gives Andrade a high-profile setting in which to continue the mission he laid out during the interview.
Andrade has specifically identified title defenses as an important part of his effort to make the most of his second AEW run. With Ciampa challenging for the championship, WrestleDream will present a direct measure of the champion’s ability to hold onto the position he believes can help define this chapter of his career.
There is also a larger personal narrative surrounding the contest. Andrade’s career has involved major decisions across AEW and WWE, with his 2023 departure tied to a marriage that has since ended and his 2025 WWE exit opening the way for an AEW reunion. He is not presenting those changes as an excuse or dwelling on them as an obstacle. Instead, he is using them to explain why his perspective has changed.
His first AEW exit came from a decision to place personal life first. His return is being described in terms of professional purpose. Andrade has said he wants to work, defend his championship, assist his colleagues, and represent AEW in a manner worthy of the chance he has been given.
That makes WrestleDream more than the next stop on the schedule for the AEW National Champion. It is an opportunity for Andrade El Idolo to continue turning his stated intentions into results. Against Ciampa, he will look to retain the title and build further momentum in an AEW return that he believes is defined by gratitude, accountability, and the desire to show exactly who he is.
Darryl Polo
Darryl Polo is a passionate wrestling fan covering WWE, AEW, TNA and beyond. He loves great rivalries, breakout stars and the moments that keep fans talking long after the bell. How we work.