In a new interview, WWE’s Aleister Black addressed several narratives that surrounded his time in All Elite Wrestling, including rumors that he was unhappy, refused to lose matches, and was just waiting to return to WWE.
‘I Had A Great Time In AEW’
Speaking on The Ringer Wrestling Show, Black refuted the idea that he didn’t want to be in AEW. “People want to desperately have a narrative. ‘He never wanted to be in AEW.’ That’s completely false. That’s absolutely not true,” Black stated. “I had a great time in AEW. I had a lot of fun. Did I do everything that I wanted to do? No, but that’s okay. At the end of the day, that’s not my company and I don’t have any say.” He also shot down the rumor that he would refuse to be pinned, questioning the logic that he would have that much political power in the company.
A ‘Calculated Business Decision’
Black explained that his ultimate decision to leave AEW and return to WWE, where his wife Zelina Vega works, was a simple business choice based on the creative options presented to him by both companies. “I made a calculated business decision and I looked at what I wanted to do, where I wanted to do it, and how I wanted to do it,” he said. “Listening to option A and what they wanted, option B and what they wanted, and I picked the one that, business-wise, made sense for me.”
Black returned to WWE in April 2025 and has been a featured competitor on the SmackDown brand. On tonight’s go-home episode for SummerSlam, he is scheduled to face The Judgment Day’s Damian Priest in a high-profile singles match.
If you use any portion of the quotes from this article, please credit The Ringer Wrestling Show with an h/t to WrestlingNews.co for the transcription.
