Swerve Strickland comments on possible Aleister Black AEW return
Swerve Strickland hopes Aleister Black’s next pro wrestling home is one that brings him happiness and fulfillment.
During an interview with Bootleg Kev, Strickland was asked about rumors that Black could end up returning to AEW when he’s contractually able to do so. Strickland did not directly advocate for or dismiss the idea of Black returning. Instead, he expressed hope that Black and his wife Zelina Vega will be able to find what they’re looking for in their next move.
“I just hope that Aleister — I’ll speak to, I hope Tommy [Black’s real name] finds what he’s looking for in this industry, this part in his career,” Strickland said. “[Black and Vega are] both very talented, incredible people. Incredible talents in itself. I just hope they find something that gives them the type of — I don’t know what it is that he’s really [looking for], whatever it is, I hope they find some place that gives them that, you know what I mean?
“Because he has so many great ideas. He’s one of the guys that got me into NXT. Like, him talking with Terry Taylor and he’s like, ‘This is the guy you gotta watch out for.’ I did tape studies with him in 2017. My last indie run, he was the guy I was going to. He really helped my mind a lot at that stage in my career. So I just hope, like, he finds the place that gives him whatever it is that can fulfill him in the industry again.”
Black and Vega were both released by WWE during the company’s April 2026 roster cuts. It was the second stint in WWE for each of them, with Black having wrestled for AEW as Malakai Black between his two WWE runs.
AEW has refuted reports that the company is already in negotiations with Black for a return. Whether he’ll be welcomed back remains to be seen given that Black chose to leave the company in 2025 in favor of WWE. There are rumors that Black was reluctant to lose matches during his time with AEW, though Black has denied those claims and said he loved being in the promotion.
Joseph Currier is the lead editor of F4WOnline.com, directing daily news coverage and writing articles on professional wrestling. He is a graduate of the University of Massachusetts, obtaining a journalism degree in 2016. Joseph joined F4W during his time at UMass and has now been writing about the industry for nearly a decade.
In addition to his work with F4W, Joseph has previously contributed to Sports Illustrated's wrestling coverage. He lives in Massachusetts and is a diehard fan of the Boston sports teams and Liverpool Football Club.