Aleister Black reportedly in negotiations for AEW return
According to a new report, Aleister Black could return to AEW.
Black was part of WWE’s post-WrestleMania 42 roster cuts revealed on April 24, 2026, after having returned to the company in April 2025. He spent from 2021 to 2025 with AEW.
SEScoops.com’s Michael Reichlin wrote on Wednesday that “a source with direct knowledge of the discussions” is stating that Black and AEW are in talks regarding his potentially returning to the company.
The news follows recent comments by Jim Ross and Tony Schiavone regarding Black.
On an episode of his Grilling JR podcast, Ross noted that he does not believe Black has burned his bridge with the company, despite reports of clashes with management during his time with AEW.
“No, I do not (believe Black has burned his bridge with AEW). But I think that his chances are running out,” Ross said.
“Trust is a big thing. Reliability. Are you reliable? There is I’m sure a small faction of some in the wrestling business that believe he’s missing something. I don’t disagree with that. But he’s not missing his attire, his look, his work ethic. So whatever his downfalls are, they seem to be stimulated from things outside the bell-to-bell. But I like the guy. I’d hire him in a heartbeat.”
Schiavone recently noted on an episode of his What Happened When podcast that he’s friends with Black, although he has not had a chance to speak with him following his departure from WWE.
“I was surprised, really, that they [WWE] released Malakai [Black] because he and I are friends. I haven’t really had a chance to talk to him since that time” Schiavone said.
Dave Meltzer on AEW potentially bringing back Aleister Black
In last week’s edition of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, Dave Meltzer noted that there were some in AEW who were not happy with Black during his previous run with the company.
Meltzer wrote:
“Black is an interesting case because he was a star in AEW, and was booked far better than in WWE. But he wanted to leave and there were people who were not happy with him as he didn’t lose often and once Paul Levesque was in power after Vince McMahon was gone, he tried to get out of his deal at the time.
Eventually he left. It’s basically a guy who would get over with the fans, but others note that AEW’s morale situation is the best it’s been in years and a guy who it was very clear was waiting to leave the last time may not be what they want, given his heart is clearly somewhere else.”
Meltzer also noted that a similar situation existed for Andrade el Idolo, who AEW did bring back. The full edition of the newsletter is available here for subscribers.
Ian Carey is a writer from Toronto, Ontario, Canada, whose work has been featured in NOW Magazine, The Huffington Post, and more. A lifelong wrestling aficionado born in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, he has covered the industry for a decade and a half. He joined the f4wonline.com team in 2019.