The WWE SmackDown after WrestleMania 41 is gearing up to be a big show. The Street Profits will defend the WWE Tag Team Championship in a Triple Threat TLC match against the Motor City Machine Guns and DIY. But that’s not the only thing to look forward to. Fans will finally learn who is behind the mysterious videos that have popped up on the show. Speculation is growing that this will lead to the return of Aleister Black, formerly known as Malakai Black.
The speculation of Aleister Black’s return to WWE started long before his time with All Elite Wrestling was over. Fans stretched every moment to find any connection or breadcrumbs to mean he was leaving AEW and heading back to WWE.
Black, along with Rusev and Ricky Starks (now known as Ricky Saints) were all suddenly cut from the company after each was removed from television for months. Saints has since appeared on WWE NXT, winning the NXT North American Championship. Rusev has re-signed with WWE and there’s growing rumors that he could be the man to answer Randy Orton’s open challenge on Night Two of WrestleMania.
It makes sense for Black to return to WWE, particularly the SmackDown brand. His wife, Zelina Vega, performs on that brand and WWE typically works to keep couples on the same show.
Where does Aleister Black fit in today's WWE?
It has been nearly five years since Aleister Black appeared on WWE Television. Things are quite different now compared to the state of affairs during his first stint. Black had a strong run in WWE NXT, but the moment he made it to the main roster it was clear that Vince McMahon had no intention of giving him a solid run. Even though he was involved in the 2020 Money in the Bank match and picked up a solid win over Seth Rollins after, his run quickly shifted, leading to his release later that year.
The question is how does Black fit into today’s WWE? The main roster is stacked with talent on both SmackDown and Monday Night Raw. It’s becoming clear that there isn’t enough television time to go around. Fans point to several in both the men’s and women’s divisions who’ve been “benched” and under-utilized. Black has the benefit of being a “Triple H Guy,” which should give him some added momentum in his return.
April 25 is shaping up to be an excellent edition of WWE SmackDown. All signs are pointing to an Aleister Black return and fans are interested in seeing how this plays out long term.