Aleister Black Not Expected Back In AEW Anytime Soon After WWE Release

Aleister Black’s WWE release already raised questions about where he might land next, but a new update suggests AEW may not be part of his immediate future.

Black was among several names cut during WWE’s latest round of post-WrestleMania releases, a wave that also included members of the Wyatt Sicks faction, Kairi Sane, and Alba Fyre. Given his past run in AEW before returning to WWE in 2025, many fans quickly wondered if he would head back to Tony Khan’s company.

However, a new report from WrestleVotes Radio indicates that a return to AEW is not currently expected. After speaking with sources, the belief internally within AEW appears to be that Black will not be reappearing there anytime soon.

“And then a minor little nugget from the land of Elite. TC. After speaking with a source, we are told the current belief within AEW is that Aleister Black won't be returning anytime soon. Internal chatter suggests that even those who remain close with Black would caution against expecting a return in the foreseeable future.”

The reaction that followed made it clear that expectations for a quick AEW comeback are extremely low at the moment.

“So it looks like Malachi Black is going to remain with quotes here, dead and buried, and it is what it is. What happened there with TC, I don't know.”

While no official reason has been confirmed for why a return doesn’t appear likely, the discussion turned toward the possibility that perception behind the scenes may be playing a role. The commentary suggested that personality dynamics and working relationships can sometimes influence how talent are viewed and positioned.

“To me, it seems like a personality thing.”

That idea was expanded on further, pointing to how unseen interactions backstage can impact opportunities and long-term plans.

“I think there's a little bit of a personality thing here… I don't know if he comes across a certain way to some people… until you work with people, you don't really know the full story… there's a million different things that we don't know conversationally that happen backstage that play into how people are slotted on the card or slotted in people's minds moving forward.”

Black’s situation now becomes even more interesting following his WWE departure. With AEW reportedly not expecting him back anytime soon, his next move remains uncertain, leaving open the possibility of other promotions entering the conversation or a break from the ring altogether.