LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - JANUARY 06: In this image released on January 07, 2026, All Elite Wrestling (AEW) founder, owner, president and CEO Tony Khan attends the Sports Illustrated Sportsperson of the Year ceremony at XS nightclub at Encore Las Vegas on January 06, 2026 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)

WWE fired popular performer Aleister Black, but it appears he won’t even have a chance to sign with rival promotion AEW. Aleister wrestled in AEW under the name of Malakai Black for a few years. Unfortunately, it seems like his reputation backstage was negative enough to see a return nearly impossible. Most WWE talents to lose their job hope to join AEW as the only other major American promotion, but Black will have a tough path.

Dave Meltzer’s Wrestling Observer Newsletter reported the following about Black in AEW:

“The idea of Aleister Black and AEW was not fondly thought out by the people I spoke with there (AEW). Now, I did not speak to Tony Khan. Andrade was mixed. I know people there that were not high on Andrade at all and others who were. But, Black, from what I gathered, pretty negative.”

Current AEW star Andrade was named since he was the latest star to return to AEW after losing his WWE job. Black would have the same WWE-AEW-WWE-AEW career path of jumping back and forth between promotions if he returned. However, management and talent don’t seem keen on signing Black for a second run like with Andrade.

Why Aleister Black Is Unpopular In AEW

Black spent almost four full years in AEW after he was released by WWE the first time. Crowd excitement was strong since Black showed great potential in NXT, and he even scored huge victories over Cody Rhodes in his first AEW feud near the main event scene.

Rumors circulated that Black refused to lose matches to certain talents and was selective about who he put over. This added to the growing tension of Black already planning to return to WWE before his AEW contract expired, which happened as expected.

AEW’s top star MJF made some social media posts this weekend implying the company doesn’t want Black to return. Talent relations employee Shawn Dean shared similar sentiment to back up the reports from Meltzer. The locker room apparently disliked how Black carried himself and treated AEW secondary to WWE, despite being under contract with the promotion.

Where Can Aleister Black Wrestle Next?

TNA is the most obvious choice for Black and his wife Zelina Vega to sign there next. However, the drop off from WWE and AEW to TNA is a massive one for someone that’s been wrestling on bigger television shows for the past decade and change of his career.

Foreign promotions like New Japan, AAA and CMLL all provide great opportunities for wrestlers to make a living and perform in front of big crowds. All three promotions currently have ties to AEW or WWE to make spots harder to find due to the crossover of USA talents.

Black could get a chance in NJPW or CMLL as bigger promotions than TNA, but it won’t help him in the United States unless AEW changes their stance. WWE shockingly firing Black so soon into his return creates a difficult path for the talented 40-year-old to remain relevant in pro wrestling.