WWE & AEW Rumours: WWE Blocking Andrade El Idolo From Further AEW Appearances, Chris Jericho Believed To Be Returning To WWE

Andrade El Idolo made his return to All Elite Wrestling during the six-year anniversary episode of AEW Dynamite as he laid out Kenny Omega, but the former La Sombra has disappeared from AEW TV since then. It has been reported today this is due to Andrade actually having a non-compete clause following his WWE exit, and WWE have sent a legal letter to AEW.

Meanwhile, the belief amongst people in WWE is Chris Jericho will be returning to the company, so the former Undisputed Champion could be back with the organisation in 2026.

Hiroshi Tanahashi, meanwhile, will end his career at Wrestle Kingdom 20 and people in NJPW want Shinsuke Nakamura to be The Ace's final opponent.

Booker T has also claimed there were backstage issues with a released WWE talent, and the reason AEW decided not to establish their own performance centre has been revealed.

WWE and AEW rumours for Thursday, October 16, 2025:

Reason For Andrade's Disappearance From AEW TV Revealed

One of the big questions in pro wrestling at the moment is where on Earth is Andrade El Idolo? The 35-year-old has not been seen since his AEW debut, and Andrade has pulled out of some independent wrestling matches.

According to Bryan Alvarez and Dave Meltzer of the Wrestling Observer, Andrade's disappearance is related to a non-compete clause with WWE.

"Here’s what I heard. I don’t know what’s going on with Andrade but I was told that he’s not hurt. He didn’t get himself fired. Apparently something is up involving his WWE non-compete…I was given the impression it could be something that could be resolved quickly or it could be something that might not be resolved for a while, but it’s something related to the non-compete. When he was fired, remember we were told they [WWE] didn’t care?" Alvarez said on Wrestling Observer Radio.

Meltzer added: "That is what I’ve been hearing was WWE sent a letter and they [AEW] obviously didn’t know. AEW obviously believed that there was no non-compete. There were people who talked to people in WWE who also believed there was no non-compete, but WWE apparently, you know, that’s the story that they said he can’t do them for 90 days."

Fightful Select has reported that "things have been exceedingly quiet" around Andrade and the small response they did get noted Andrade is signed to AEW. One person didn't consider his absence to be the fault of AEW or Andrade.

WWE Believe Chris Jericho Is Returning To The Company

Chris Jericho's contract with All Elite Wrestling is due to expire at the end of 2025, and people within WWE believe he will be returning to the TKO-owned company when he is able to do so.

That is according to Dave Meltzer on Wrestling Observer Radio, who said: "People in WWE believe that he's coming to WWE, for what that's worth. That's not a new story, that's been said before. So, we'll see. It's up to him."

Rumours have been swirling since August about Jericho potentially going back to WWE, with it being noted in the summer that WWE were interested in the former Undisputed Champion returning.

Speculation about Jericho being done with AEW emerged this week after no AEW talents were announced for the next Jericho Cruise in 2026.

People In NJPW Want Shinsuke Nakamura To Be Hiroshi Tanahashi's Final Opponent

The careers of Shinsuke Nakamura and Hiroshi Tanahashi will forever be connected due to their status as legendary rivals and as two of the pillars that helped to revive New Japan Pro-Wrestling in the 2000s.

Tanahashi and Nakamura have not faced each other in singles action since 2015's G1 Climax 25 final due to Nakamura signing with WWE in early 2016. Tanahashi will retire from pro wrestling at Wrestle Kingdom 20 on January 4 and Sean Ross Sapp noted in Fightful Select Answers Q&A that a number of people in New Japan want Nakamura to be Tanahashi's final match.

They don't know if that is possible, however, or how it would affect the working relationships with AEW and CMLL.

Nakamura has wrestled for Pro Wrestling NOAH while signed to WWE, but he has not returned to New Japan.

Why AEW Decided Not To Open Their Own Performance Center

All Elite Wrestling have not launched their own version of the WWE Performance Center since the promotion was founded in 2019, but AEW did previously consider launching their own training facility.

Fightful Select has reported there were talks about setting up a training facility in Asheville, North Carolina earlier this year which would have seen Adam Copeland, Beth Phoenix, Dax Harwood and Cash Wheeler help train and refine talent at the training school. This is why Steve Borden - the son of Sting - headed to Asheville to train.

The rumour within All Elite Wrestling was that the cost associated with the facility was the reason AEW didn't create their own version of the WWE Performance Center.

Backstage Issues With Released WWE Talent Revealed

BJ Ray was one of several talents released by WWE on Friday, October 10. Ray, who was primarily featured on WWE LFG, was known for having an abrasive personality on the show.

According to Booker T, though, that personality wasn't dialled up for WWE LFG and Ray acted the same way when the cameras were turned off.

"I always thought that kid had something. But in this business, you've gotta be able to apply yourself. It's not gonna be like football, basketball, or any other structured sport. It's not gonna be like that. A guy like BJ Ray, he had the looks, he had the swag, the charisma, but everything else, he definitely was lacking in," Booker T said on his Hall of Fame podcast.

"So there again, guys, your clock is ticking. Know how to figure it out. The same way BJ Ray was on television, he was that way off television. You can't be that way."

Since his WWE release, BJ Ray has already pitched for a job in All Elite Wrestling on social media. It is unknown if AEW are interested in bringing in the 26-year-0ld, however.

H/T WrestleTalk

Fallon Henley Injured On Botched Sol Snatcher Spot

While Jacy Jayne is okay following her injury at a WWE NXT house show in Columbus, Ohio on Thursday, October 9, her Fatal Influence stablemate Fallon Henley is injured, according to Dave Meltzer on Wrestling Observer Radio.

"This show was taped last week, this was not a live show. I was told that Jacy Jayne is okay but Fallon Henley is actually hurt. She got hurt on the tour. I'm not sure how severe but I heard she was hurt worse than Jacy Jayne. There was like a crazy spot or something in one of the shows," Meltzer said.

Bryan Alvarez noted Henley suffered the injury in the same match as Jayne on a botched assisted Sol Snatcher which saw Sol Ruca land on Henley's head.

Praise Within WWE For Kairi Sane

Kairi Sane has been prominently featured on WWE programming in recent months as part of the issues and then rivalry between Asuka and IYO SKY.

TC of WrestleVotes has reported that Sane has received "high praise" following her Raw match with Rhea Ripley and her recent backstage segments with Asuka.