WWE Rumors on Andrade's Release, Jey Uso Heel Turn and WrestleMania 43 Price Tag

Bleacher Report catches you up on the latest news from the WWE Universe.

Details Behind Andrade's WWE Release Surface

Fightful's Sean Ross Sapp confirmed Saturday that Andrade is no longer under contract with WWE. The company has him listed in the "Alumni" section of its official site.

Jon Alba of The Takedown on SI reported his exit "was not a mutual decision." PWInsider's Mike Johnson added that "it was the company's call."

BodySlam (via Steve Carrier of Ringside News) reported there were differences of opinion between Andrade and WWE's creative team. On top of that, WWE officials were struggling to communicate whatsoever with the 35-year-old in recent weeks. His last televised match was at SummerSlam in August.

Per Fightful Select (via Carrier), WWE was originally planning to have Andrade team with Rey Fenix to wrestle The Wyatt Sicks at Clash in Paris. The creative team had to pivot in a new direction, with The Street Profits challenging for the tag titles instead.

Despite all of this drama unfolding behind the scenes, Fightful reported Andrade's colleagues didn't see his exit coming.

As to his next move, Sapp reported a door to AEW may not be closed:

CMLL might be a more logical landing spot, though, given the frustrations over how he was being used. Andrade would immediately be portrayed as a top star again if he were to return to Mexico.

Jey Uso Not Pivoting Toward Heel Run

Jey Uso came to the aid of brother Jimmy on the last episode of Raw after Jimmy intervened during The Vision's attack on LA Knight. To the surprise of the WWE Universe, however, Jey delivered a spear to Knight after Knight cleared the ring with a steel chair.

A lot of fans wondered whether this is telegraphing a heel turn by Jey. Maybe he'd even turn on Jimmy at Wrestlepalooza and join The Vision faction.

Per BodySlam (via Ringside News' Subhojeet Mukherjee), the creative team doesn't have any plans to make Jey a heel, and he's still viewed as a top babyface for WWE.

Maybe this is merely a babyface vs. babyface subplot where one of the two has to be the bad guy temporarily. What happened on Raw could also be a red herring to tee up a heel turn by Jimmy at Wrestlepalooza.

$250 Million Price for WrestleMania 43 Reported

Triple H announced last week that WWE will take WrestleMania out of North America for the first time in 2027, when Saudi Arabia will serve as the host.

Dave Meltzer reported on Wrestling Observer Radio (via Ella Jay of Wrestling Inc) the country is "putting up an incredible amount of money, a ridiculous amount of money" in order to stage WWE's biggest show.

Nick LoPiccolo, who works for Paradigm Talent Agency, may have provided a better idea of that price on social media:

A $250 million check for WrestleMania is a substantial increase from the $50 million WWE reportedly earned at one time for each of the Saudi shows.

That reflects the reach and popularity of WrestleMania. 2027 is also the 300th anniversary of the First Saudi State's founding in 1727, so the country's ruling family may have been willing to pay more to jump to the front of the line for WrestleMania 43 specifically.