World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) officially cut ties with Mexican professional wrestler Andrade Sunday (March 21) after he requested the high-profile entertainment company release him from his contract.
Andrade, who was born Manuel Alfonso Andrade Oropeza in Gómez Palacio, Durango, Mexico, posted on social media that he was “#happy” before the WWE’s official announcement.
“WWE has come to terms on the release of Andrade,” the company said in a statement. “We wish him all the best in all of his future endeavors.”
Andrade joined the WWE on a developmental contract in 2015 as Manny Andrade and rose in the organization’s ranks over the next couple of years. During that time, his name changed to “Andrade ‘Cien’ Almas.” He was crowned NXT champion in 2017 and drafted into the WWE’s SmackDown brand in 2018.
His talent in the ring, however, didn’t translate over to mainstream popularity. After bouncing back and forth from SmackDown to the Raw brand and back again (and changing his name to the shortened Andrade), he was suspended by the WWE for 30 days in early 2020 for violating the organization’s Wellness Policy. Over the next year, his storylines declined, and he disappeared from TV last October.
Some fans didn’t think the WWE gave him enough of a chance to show what he could bring to the ring.
Others looked forward to watching Andrade land with another wrestling company and continue his career for years to come.
Andrade is a third generation lucha libre wrestler. His grandfather, José Andrade, wrestled in Mexico under the alias
“El Moro.” Andrade started his career in local lucha libre matches as “Brillante Jr.,” “Guerrero Azteca” and “Rey Azteca.”