WWE got back a couple of big names in Naomi and Andrade.
We've heard that both Naomi and Andrade have re-signed with WWE, and these aren't one-shot deals.
Andrade finished up with AEW at World's End, and most everyone in the company knew he was headed back to WWE, as he made it clear he wouldn't be returning to AEW. Many in the both WWE and AEW actually expected him to debut earlier than he did, because they thought WWE may want to pull of the visual that they were able to snag away an AEW star who had appeared on PPV just two days prior. As of this afternoon, Andrade was scheduled for tonight's WWE Raw.
Charlotte Flair was said to have pushed for his return, and was at the WWE Royal Rumble supporting Andrade backstage in a knee brace. Although Charlotte is on the Smackdown brand, she's sidelined for the near future, so there wasn't a big urgency to have him on Smackdown.
Naomi, who has also re-signed, is expected to appear on the Smackdown brand, we're told. Naomi, who had performed in TNA under her real name Trinity, had been open with other talent that she was headed back to WWE, and likely appearing at the Royal Rumble. Those we spoke to in TNA said that things were pretty clear by the start of the year that Naomi would be wrapping up. We're told WWE had maintained interest in Naomi for over a year, until the unofficial hiring freeze happened. By the time that was lifted, she had obligations to TNA.
