It looks like WWE is going to lose another bright talent to poor booking and lack of creative direction. Recently, former NXT and United States Champion Andrade asked for his release. The Mexican star had a successful beginning to his career, but all has gone wrong with the supremely talented Superstar.
Twitter explodes after Andrade requests WWE release
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Andrade might join his former manager Zelina Vega as ex-WWE employees, after he removed WWE from his Twitter handle. This sparked a ton of speculation about his WWE future, but Wrestling INC confirmed the Superstar wants to leave the company.
Andrade spent three years in WWE’s developmental territory, NXT, where he won many matches. In 2017, Andrade beat Drew McIntyre for the NXT Championship at Takeover: War Games in a terrific match. He even defended the title in WWE’s first five-star rated match against Johnny Gargano at Takeover: Philadelphia.
If Andrade does indeed leave WWE.
He will be remembered for giving us the greatest NXT match in it's history with Johnny Gargano.
The first 5⭐ match NXT ever received. pic.twitter.com/ae6jumtuLZ
— Alastair McKenzie🏴 (@mckenzieas93V2) March 12, 2021
Ight so it's reported that Andrade asked for his release.
If he does go to AEW, don't complain cause he's a great talent waiting to be used properly, and WWE aint been doing that.
Best of luck to him.
— IBeast (@x_Beast17_x) March 12, 2021
After dropping the belt to Aleister Black at Takeover: New Orleans, Andrade was main roster bound. He feuded with the likes of Rusev and Rey Mysterio before winning the United States Championship from Rey at Madison Square Garden.
Let's take a moment to remember that since the start of 2021, WWE made the conscious decision to promote Goldberg and Shane McMahon on their shows while they have Andrade Almas and Aleister Black on their roster doing nothing.
— Mr. Warren Hayes (@MrWarrenHayes) March 12, 2021
All Andrade did once he found his lane was smoke everybody in NXT, have a top 5 all time NXT title match with Gargano, and help Rey Mysterio find the fountain of youth.
Other than that, are they REALLY gonna miss the guy???
— My Fault OG 😬 (@CeeHawk) March 12, 2021
As the United States Champion, Andrade would have a terrific run, before dropping the belt to Apollo Crews in 2020. Since then, the talented superstar has tread water on Raw with no creative direction.
Andrade leaving WWE is probably the most logical option for him. Sad that he was never booked with promise. #WWE #Andrade
— Luke Dias (@TheLukeDias) March 12, 2021
Andrade heard about NJPW's batshit plans for their titles and is coming to get his belt back pic.twitter.com/LQe9LGosql
— Ben Ben Bigelow (@bennyowens) March 12, 2021
By the end of the year, reports claimed Vince McMahon had no interest in Andrade, which cast a doubt over whether he’ll be a part of WWE’s post-pandemic plans. Now that he’s requested his release, that doubt has grown much larger.
Where will he go next?
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Before coming to NXT, Andrade enjoyed a healthy stint with NJPW, under the name La Sombra. He competed in the Best of the Super Junior’s tournament and even challenged Shinsuke Nakamura for the soon to be obsolete IWGP Intercontinental Championship. Although he lost the first match against Nakamura, he would beat the King of Strong Style to win the title.
A return to NJPW could be on the cards, but a run in AEW is much more likely. Andrade could even join his former manager Zelina Vega in AEW, since Tony Khan confirmed his interest in signing Vega.
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Wherever he goes, Andrade will be a tremendous asset, and WWE will sorely miss having a charismatic and immensely talented Superstar like him on the roster. Touted to be the next Alberto del Rio, but with better in-ring skills, WWE completely missed the plot with Andrade.
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