Andrade has explained that his decision to leave WWE during his first main-roster run was driven not by issues with fellow wrestlers, but by a feeling that he had reached a ceiling creatively and professionally.
Speaking on Talk Is Jericho, Andrade looked back on his time in WWE following his April 2018 main-roster arrival. He said he enjoyed the experience and had the respect of the locker room, but believed the direction of his programs became too repetitive. In particular, Andrade felt he was continually positioned in Mexican vs. Mexican rivalries rather than being given opportunities to expand into a wider range of stories.
“I enjoyed every moment, and the guys respected me. I didn’t have any problem with any of the guys, but I feel like I was working a lot with Rey Mysterio and always working Mexican vs. Mexican,” Andrade said.
Before moving to WWE’s main roster, Andrade spent two years in NXT, where he developed into one of the brand’s standout stars and captured the NXT Championship. His move to the main roster came in April 2018, beginning a run that lasted until March 2021. During that stretch, he won the WWE United States Championship, a significant accomplishment, but Andrade said the broader creative picture did not match what he wanted for his career.
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A Repeated Pattern of Opponents
Andrade specifically pointed to his lengthy issues involving Rey Mysterio, Dominik Mysterio, Angel Garza and Humberto Carrillo, who was also referred to as Berto. He framed those feuds as part of a recurring pattern in which WWE would turn to him whenever another Mexican wrestler entered the picture.
“I had a story for three or four years where it was Mexican vs. Mexican. Rey Mysterio was for a year or a year and a half. A little story with Dominik. A story with Garza. With Berto. Whatever Mexican was there or came in: ‘Andrade, Andrade,’” he said.
The comments were not presented as a criticism of the wrestlers involved. Andrade made clear that he had no personal conflicts with the people around him. Instead, his frustration centered on the limitation he felt in the roles and rivalries offered to him. For a performer who had already reached the top of NXT and won a championship on the main roster, Andrade wanted the chance to pursue a more expansive path.
His assessment also underlines the difference between enjoying a workplace and believing that workplace is still serving a performer’s ambitions. Andrade said he appreciated his WWE experience, but felt he was no longer progressing toward the next stage of his career. That realization led to conversations at home and ultimately to his request for a release.
“I Want More”
Andrade said he spoke with his wife at the time about his growing belief that he needed a change. Later in the conversation, he referred to her as his ex-wife. His central point was that he felt he was not thriving and needed to seek greater success outside of WWE.
“I want more. I need something. I’m not thriving in WWE,” Andrade recalled saying.
At the time, the professional wrestling landscape offered meaningful alternatives outside WWE. Andrade said he had AEW and New Japan in mind when considering what could come next. The possibility of wrestling elsewhere was not simply about leaving a difficult situation; he described it as a necessary step to continue growing.
“I wanted to go outside because there was AEW, New Japan. My first run in WWE, I wanted and needed more. I felt stuck when moving to the next step,” Andrade said.
That feeling of being stuck proved decisive. Andrade said he told his ex-wife that he wanted more for himself and more success in his career. He then approached WWE about being released, and the company agreed to the request.
“I wanted more for myself. I wanted more success, so I felt I needed to leave WWE. I asked WWE for my release, and they agreed,” Andrade said.
From WWE Exit to AEW and Back Again
Andrade’s initial WWE departure became official in March 2021. He did not remain away from national television for long, debuting in AEW in June 2021. The move gave him the fresh setting he had been seeking when he first decided to request his WWE release.
His career since then has included multiple major changes. Andrade eventually returned to WWE after his first AEW run, only to later make his way back to AEW, where he is currently competing. That journey gives added context to his comments about wanting more options and refusing to remain in a situation where he felt he could not advance.
While Andrade’s first WWE main-roster period included a United States Championship reign and high-profile appearances, he has now offered a clearer explanation of why those achievements did not remove his desire to leave. In his view, championships and positive relationships did not fully offset the lack of creative variety he experienced. He wanted to be seen as more than a wrestler used primarily for a particular type of matchup or storyline.
His reflections also show how performers can evaluate success beyond a title win or a prominent television position. Andrade was not describing a run devoid of accomplishments. He had reached WWE’s main roster after becoming NXT Champion, held the United States Title, and shared the ring with established names. Yet he still believed there was a gap between what he was doing and what he was capable of doing.
Recent AEW Setback
Andrade’s comments arrive while he remains active in AEW and continues to pursue championship success there. On Saturday’s Collision, Andrade lost the AEW National Title to Tommaso Ciampa.
The loss marks a notable recent result for Andrade, but it does not alter the larger perspective he shared regarding his career choices. His first departure from WWE was rooted in a determination to find more room to grow, work with a broader collection of opponents, and pursue opportunities that he believed were unavailable to him at the time.
For Andrade, the defining issue was not respect from peers or a single disappointing program. He said he had a positive experience with the people in WWE. The concern was that the same framework kept repeating itself, especially through Mexican vs. Mexican stories, and that he did not see enough momentum toward a different level of creative opportunity.
That distinction is central to his explanation. Andrade did not portray his release request as an impulsive response to one event. He described a long-building sense that he had stopped moving forward. With AEW and New Japan among the alternatives he saw in the wrestling world, he concluded that leaving was the right decision for his ambitions.
Now back in AEW following a return trip to WWE, Andrade’s path has become a clear example of how quickly major wrestling careers can shift between promotions. His remarks on his first WWE main-roster run offer his own view of the motivation behind one of those pivotal moves: he was grateful for the experience, but he wanted more than the role he believed had been set for him.
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.