Jonathan Coachman just threw a major curveball into the Aleister Black conversation, claiming that Black and Zelina Vega are headed back to AEW.
While speaking on his YouTube channel, Jonathan Coachman claimed that one of his trusted wrestling connections contacted him with word that Aleister Black and Zelina Vega are heading to AEW.
“So, I have two incredible connections in the pro wrestling space. One of them just contacted me just now. Aleister Black and Zelina Vega are confirmed to be going back to AEW. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a talent go back and forth twice to each.”
That claim is notable because it comes after a previous update from WrestleVotes Radio suggested AEW was not expecting Black back anytime soon. Black was recently released by WWE as part of the company’s latest post-WrestleMania cuts, a wave that also included members of the Wyatt Sicks faction, Kairi Sane, Zelina Vega and Alba Fyre.
Black previously worked for AEW as Malakai Black before returning to WWE in 2025, so speculation about another AEW run started almost immediately after his WWE release. However, WrestleVotes Radio said the internal belief within AEW was that a return was not expected in the near future.
“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 idea of personality dynamics behind the scenes was brought up while discussing why AEW might not be expected to bring him back quickly. The point was expanded further, with the explanation that backstage relationships and unseen conversations can affect how someone is viewed by a company.
“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.”
Zelina Vega being included in Coachman’s claim makes the situation even bigger. She and Black are married, and if both landed in AEW, it would be a major shift following their WWE exit.
For now, Coachman’s claim directly conflicts with the earlier belief that Black was not expected back in AEW anytime soon. That leaves Black’s next move in a very interesting place, especially with Vega now being mentioned as part of the alleged return.
What do you think about Jonathan Coachman claiming Aleister Black and Zelina Vega are going back to AEW? Do you believe this move is happening, or do you think there is more to the story? Let us know your thoughts and leave your feedback in the comments.
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