Backstage Update on Aleister Black Potentially Returning to AEW Following WWE Release

As noted before, Aleister Black was released from WWE this past Friday as part of a larger batch of talent releases and departures.

WrestleVotes Radio on Fightful Select reported that their sources within AEW stated that they currently do not believe that Black will be back in AEW anytime soon.

Fightful’s Sean Ross Sapp reported that those spoken to stated that the bridge between AEW and Black is not considered to be burned.

AEW’s locker room interest in the potential of Black returning to the company appears to be low to non-existent based on recent comments made by Capt. Shawn Dean, MJF, and Max Caster on social media. In response to a fan on Threads, Dean, who also works as a talent/extras coordinator in AEW, responded saying “no” over the idea of Black being brought back into AEW. MJF had recently shared on Instagram a recent tweet from Caster saying that “we don’t want him” alluding to them not wanting Black back in AEW.

Black had previously worked in AEW from July of 2021 to February of 2025 under the ring name of Malakai Black.