On Wrestling Observer Radio, Dave Meltzer sharply criticized All Elite Wrestling’s decision to bring back Andrade El Idolo, calling it another repeat of past mistakes with ex-WWE talent. The comments came after Andrade’s surprise return on the October 1 edition of Dynamite, where he attacked Kenny Omega and joined forces with Don Callis.
Meltzer argued that AEW’s roster is already stacked and that the company has a track record of signing wrestlers who didn’t get a big push in WWE, only for them to struggle in AEW as well. He pointed to names like Malakai Black, William Regal, and Miro as examples.
“One of the biggest problems with this company has been the usage of WWE guys that were not pushed in WWE,” Meltzer said.
He also brought up Andrade’s past, noting that he was released from WWE and had disciplinary issues during his first AEW stint. Meltzer questioned Andrade’s commitment, citing sources who believe he still sees WWE as his true priority.
“As people who know Andrade have told me: he’ll always think of Tony Khan as secondary to WWE—no matter what. And that’s—you’re asking for trouble,” Meltzer said. He added, “I’d rather push a young guy who’s happy to be there—not someone who didn’t make it somewhere else.”
The only exception, according to Meltzer, has been Swerve Strickland. “He came to prove something. He didn’t come to go back. The rest of those guys all wanted to go back. Swerve didn’t.” He closed with a warning: “If Tony’s not going to learn lessons, then he’ll repeat mistakes. I hope I’m wrong. But the track record isn’t good.”
Andrade’s comeback took place during Dynamite’s sixth-anniversary show. After a six-man tag match, a masked figure attacked Kenny Omega, unmasking to reveal Andrade before shaking Don Callis’s hand. The return came just weeks after his WWE release on September 13.
Fightful Select later confirmed Andrade had signed a full-time AEW deal. Because he wasn’t under a non-compete clause, he was free to debut right away. This made him the first wrestler to leave AEW, sign with WWE in January 2024 after his initial run ended in December 2023, and then return to AEW on a full-time contract.
Soon after reappearing, Andrade posted a single word on social media: “Business!!”
Business!! https://t.co/A54rTVpmiN
— “EL IDOLO” ANDRADE (@AndradeElIdolo) October 2, 2025