Andrade El Idolo Strips Away His Non-Compete
After a year or so of meandering in WWE and a tease for AAA, Andrade El Idolo departed the company. WWE cited multiple wellness violations, but looking in his eyes, it’s apparent he had wanted out in 2025. Returning on the 6th Anniversary edition of Dynamite, Andrade was soon removed from television due to a cease-and-desist order from WWE. Using a year-long non-compete clause threatened to prevent Andrade from competing anywhere, without pay.
Thanks to some excellent lawyers, the former superstar escaped that clause. Since then, he’s enjoyed a brief world tour before returning to the United States. Once more in the Don Callis Family, Andrade has gone on to defeat Angelico and CMLL’s Magnus. Andrade finished January by defeating former Men’s World Champion Swerve Strickland on January 28. This places him against Kenny Omega on February 4 en route to a championship match with the current Men’s World Champion, MJF. Great start to 2026 for Andrade.
WWE’s clause only helped Andrade’s momentum, leaving wrestling fans viewing him as mistreated, myself included. In covering his matches in Japan and the U.S., it’s undeniable. He’s a star. Despite his reputation for bouncing from place to place, it’s understandable why promotions covet him. He oozes charisma and aura.
Both @SwerveConfident + @AndradeElIdolo left it all on the line for a chance to further their aspriations for the AEW World Championship in our Dynamite Main Event!
Watch the #AEWDynamite replay RIGHT NOW on @SportsOnMAX! pic.twitter.com/N2K8jEHM2J
— All Elite Wrestling (@AEW) January 29, 2026
Thekla’s Toxic New Year
I’m not sure if this is a hot take or not, but Thekla is outshining Triangle of Madness mates Julia Hart and Skye Blue. That’s not a slight against them. I mean, even as I write this, Hart is showing remarkable development from where she was pre-injury. Admittedly, Thekla’s more petite than larger competitors, diminutive in stature. In a field dominated by powerhouse women, she’s used her size and acrobatics to her advantage. On January 28’s Dynamite, Thekla, while unsuccessful, overwhelmed the Women’s World Champ, Kris Statlander, thanks to her agility. Stat had to pull a “Staturday Night Fever” and hope it’d put her away; that’s how unique Thekla is to her towering foes.
Thekla has come into her own in that regard. There’s been a decrease in working the word “toxic” in every promo, and she comes across as a relatable yet very smug woman. With her more casual verbiage, I’d reshape the Triangle of Madness around it. Direct Blue and Hart is somewhere more natural than spooky. They can keep the presentation, but I can see the monotone, often synchronized, promos as a potential pain point for otherwise great talents.
Perhaps it’s her artistic vision that I see Thekla as an aesthetic unto herself. That goes a long way. Swerve Strickland, Toni Storm, Hangman Adam Page, and Jamie Hayter are such examples. AEW has proven great at capitalizing on that. I sorely wish women had more time on AEW television so we can see talent like Thekla prove just that with this underserved side of the roster.
"Stat Daddy" @CallMeKrisStat used every second of the referee's count to show her power on the outside!
Watch #AEWDynamite LIVE on TBS & HBO Max pic.twitter.com/1MsCKtHLAL
— All Elite Wrestling (@AEW) January 29, 2026
