Backstage Update on Aleister Black Potentially Returning to AEW

A report by WrestleVotes Radio on Fightful Select has some more details regarding the potential wrestling future of recently released WWE Superstar Aleister Black and if he might be making his way back to AEW. As noted, Black and his wife, Zelina Vega, were among the talent cuts that took place last week.

Per WrestleVotes Radio on Fightful Select, sources they spoke to in AEW “do not believe that… Aleister Black will not be back in AEW any time soon.” Fightful’s Sean Ross Sapp reports that he was told the bridge between AEW and Black is not considered to be burned.

Black wrestled in AEW from 2021 to 2024 as Malakai Black. He later returned to WWE in April 2025. Interestingly, AEW wrestler and Extras Coordinator Shawn Dean publicly expressed disapproval about the idea of Black possibly returning to AEW in a Threads post. When someone suggested the idea, Dean later replied, “No.”

Additionally, AEW’s Max Caster shared a meme of him saying on social media, “We don’t him!” It was later reshared by MJF. Many fans believe the comment was linked to Aleister Black, but that hasn’t been confirmed (Available HERE).

For now, Black and Vega still have to fulfill their 90-day notice period before they become unrestricted free agents. It remains to be seen if Aleister Black plans on reviving his Malakai Black persona in AEW.