• Andrade Breaks Silence After WWE Release
Andrade’s second run with WWE has come to an abrupt and controversial end. The former United States Champion, who rejoined the company at Royal Rumble 2024 and last competed in a TLC match at SummerSlam 2025, has now been moved to WWE’s alumni section, signaling his quiet departure.
Unlike other recent roster cuts, this decision was not framed as a cost-saving measure. Instead, WWE officials chose to release Andrade outright, a move that Jon Alba of Sports Illustrated has confirmed was tied to disciplinary matters.
The Takedown on SI reports that Andrade is believed to have faced at least one wellness policy violation during this WWE run. What triggered the violation has not been disclosed, and WWE’s rules allow for suspensions even if a wrestler fails to complete required testing.
Regardless of the specifics, Andrade was suspended without pay and, at one point, instructed to leave a SmackDown taping last month due to his wellness policy violation. Sources say he was escorted out of the building, an incident that disrupted creative plans for his partnership with Rey Fenix.
This wasn’t Andrade’s first strike under the policy. Back in 2020, WWE announced his initial violation, which led to a 30-day suspension. He eventually exited the company the following year and joined AEW.
Bodyslam previously reported that Andrade and WWE had been dealing with creative and booking differences since his return last year. It was also added that Andrade had been unreachable for several weeks leading up to the announcement of his departure.
Reacting to his WWE release, Andrade has nothing to say but thank you to WWE. He posted the following photo on Instagram with #wwe written in the post caption:
• Rob Van Dam Refuses To Apologize For His Comments About The Raja Jackson Incident
Rob Van Dam pushed back hard against criticism after his comments regarding the Raja Jackson – Syko Stu incident drew online outrage. RVD made it clear he has no plans to apologize, instead calling his critics “simple-minded” and labeling much of the response as typical cyberbullying.
On TMZ’s Inside The Ring podcast, RVD argued that people were overreacting, accusing critics of misunderstanding his opinion. He said while Jackson went too far, he doesn’t believe Jackson intended to commit murder.
He also challenged what he sees as the toxicity inside certain sections of wrestling fandom. According to RVD, these critics act like they own the narrative and attack anyone who offers a different interpretation. He joked that many of his critics aren’t even “real people,” in his view, because they hide behind screens rather than confronting him in person.
Even though the backlash was strong, RVD seems firm in his stance. He insists he’s not sorry, and feels justified in offering what he considers a nuanced take on what happened – even if that means taking heat from fans who say he’s defending unacceptable behavior.
Also Read: “He should go to jail” – Rob Van Dam Says Both Syko Stu & Raja Jackson Were Set Up
