wrestling / News

Note on Backstage Reaction to Aleister Black Potentially Returning to AEW Post-WWE Release

April 27, 2026 | Posted by Yash Mittal
Aleister Black WWE Smackdown 4-25-25 Image Credit: WWE

Aleister Black’s WWE release this past Friday has led to speculation about the Dutch wrestler returning to All Elite Wrestling. However, the road back to Jacksonville may not be as easy as it looks from the outside for Aleister Black, as people within AEW are not high on the prospect of him returning to the company, if Dave Meltzer’s comments on Wrestling Observer Radio are to be believed.

“From what I have heard, and you may have heard differently, the idea of Aleister Black and AEW was not fondly thought out by the people I spoke with there. Now, I did not speak to Tony Khan. Andrade was mixed. I know people there who were not high on Andrade at all, and others who were. Black, from what I gathered, pretty negative. There were even people who publicly said that. That they were negative on Black,” Meltzer said. [H/T: Wrestling News.Co]

AEW wrestler Shawn Dean, who also serves as the promotion’s Extras Coordinator, publicly expressed his disapproval of the prospect of Black’s return to the Tony Khan-led company. When someone on Threads suggested that he may return to AEW following his WWE release, Dean replied with “No.”

The Dutch wrestler returned to WWE on SmackDown after WrestleMania 41 following a four-year stint with AEW, where he performed as Malakai Black. He started off with a singles program with Cody Rhodes, but then transitioned to multi-person matches after forming the House of Black. His stint was marred by claims from his colleagues about his reluctance to put his opponents over and frequent injuries. However, he debunked that narrative last year.

You can check out Aleister Black’s comments HERE.

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