WWE superstar Aleister Black has pushed back against the long-running narrative that he was frequently injured during his time in AEW, stating that his lack of utilization in singles matches was a booking decision, not due to his health.
Debunking The Injury Narrative
Speaking on The Ringer Wrestling Show, Black addressed the perception that he was constantly on the shelf during his AEW run. He explained that a single social media post he made about recovering from a back injury months after it had healed was misinterpreted and became a persistent, incorrect narrative.
“I made that post and within months, weeks, days, maybe, everyone is like, ‘Aleister Black back injury. This is why he’s not being utilized.’ I was like, ‘Guys, this is about me not having a back injury,’” he explained. “To this day, that narrative about, ‘his injuries,’ I’m not really that injured… I’m absolutely fine. There is nothing going on.”
‘That’s Just The Way It Was Booked’
Black clarified that his frequent use in trios matches as part of the House of Black, rather than as a singles star, was a choice made by AEW President Tony Khan. “Number one, Tony (Khan) was very adamant about us being in six-mans, which is fine, it’s his company,” Black said. “That is literally because we weren’t utilized that way. That’s just what it was. There was no grand scheme or grand agenda. No conspiracy.”
Since his return to WWE in April of this year, Black has been a consistent presence on Friday Night SmackDown. On tonight’s go-home episode for SummerSlam, he is scheduled to go one-on-one with former World Heavyweight Champion Damian Priest.
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.
