Subhojeet Mukherjee on April 30, 2026
Aleister Black possibly returning to AEW has been a hot topic since his WWE release, but now Jim Ross is weighing in, and he made it clear that he doesn’t think Black has burned bridges with AEW.
Speculation picked up quickly after Black was let go, especially given his past run in AEW as Malakai Black and his ties to the House of Black. That talk was already cooled down when Shawn Dean gave a blunt one-word response—“No”—to a fan suggestion about bringing him back.
Speaking on Grilling JR on April 30, 2026, Jim Ross was asked directly whether he believes Black had burned his bridge with AEW. He immediately shut that down, as he said, “No, I do not.” But Ross didn’t frame the situation as entirely positive either. After saying the bridge isn’t burned, he pointed to concerns about trust and reliability, suggesting that those factors could impact Black’s future opportunities.
“But I think his chances are running out. Trust is a big thing, man—reliability. Are you reliable? I’m sure a small fraction of some in the wrestling business believe he’s missing something, and I don’t disagree with that.”
He also clarified that the issue isn’t about Black’s presentation or in-ring work, making it clear those strengths are still intact. Even with those concerns, Ross made it clear where he personally stands.
“He’s not missing his attire, his look, or his work ethic. So whatever his downfalls are, they seem to be things outside the bell-to-bell. “But I like that guy—I’d hire him in a heartbeat.”
Bottom line—Jim Ross isn’t closing the door on Aleister Black in AEW, but he’s not pretending everything is perfect either. The opportunity is still there, but it may depend on how those concerns are addressed moving forward.
Do you think Aleister Black should get another shot in AEW, or is it time for him to try something new elsewhere? Sound off in the comments.
Please credit Ringside News if you use the above transcript in your publication.
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