Tino Sabbatelli Reveals Andrade El Idolo Had Plans For Evolution-Like Faction In AEW

While Andrade El Idolo currently has his own faction in All Elite Wrestling - the Andrade Family Office with the likes of Private Party, The Butcher, The Blade and Angelico - the former WWE United States Champion previously had plans for an Evolution-like stable in AEW, according to Tino Sabbatelli.

Speaking on Insight with Chris Van Vliet, Sabbatelli revealed Andrade wanted him to be a part of the faction but AEW President Tony Khan nixed the former NXT talent returning to the promotion.

"About three months ago, Andrade approached me and said he wants me to be in a group with him. Me and Andrade always had a tremendous relationship, he's one of the best workers I've ever seen in the ring, by far. He text me personally and we actually shot a vignette together, he wanted me in his group. He wanted to bring back a group like the Ric Flair, Randy Orton, Triple H days, like Evolution," Sabbatelli began.

"We shot the video and spent the whole day in Miami together, we had nice three-piece suits, nice cars, a whole video. This is where I heard it the second time and now I know it's true, he text me back and said, 'Tony Khan loves the idea, love everything about it, but he kept saying no Tino. No Sabby.' 'What do you mean no Tino?' 'He wouldn't tell me. He just said let's find somebody else,'" he continued.

"I thought that was weird because I would love to sit and talk with Tony personally because I don't know if there was a disconnect between me and him, if somebody told him something they didn't tell me, but I think he might have got upset that I went there, did one match, and signed back with WWE. I just wanted to wrestle and wanted an opportunity."

Sabbatelli had a brief stint in AEW following his first WWE release, working one set of Dark tapings, but he wasn't brought back following rumours that he leaked news of an Eric Bischoff appearance on Dynamite. Sabbatelli would then re-sign with WWE in October 2020 before being released again in 2021.

Speaking about the leak rumours, Sabbatelli denied he did so, noting that he doesn't even go on the internet.

H/T to Fightful