Aleister Black made his return to WWE on SmackDown, marking his first appearance on WWE television since his release in 2021.
After leaving WWE, Black spent several years in AEW from 2021 to 2025, though he hadn’t appeared on TV since November 2024.
Ahead of his comeback, Josiah Williams of Wrestle & Flow released a mini-documentary on Black, where he opened up about the highs and lows of the past few years and shared insight into his current mindset.
In the video, Black said, “I’m 39. I hope I have another five to eight years left in me. Physically, I feel great. I think this is the best I’ve ever looked. Technology, nutrition, sports science — all of it has evolved. Athletes are competing at higher levels later into their careers now, and I definitely feel like I’m part of that. But I have no illusions. Most of my career is behind me, absolutely. And that’s not sad — that’s a good thing. To have survived this long and stayed relevant, that’s something I’m proud of. The fanbase is still there, still supporting me through every setback. It’s heartwarming and something I lost sight of at times. When you’re used to darkness, it’s easy to fall back into it. But learning to control that feeling has been life-changing. Now, at 39, knowing I have five to eight years left, I’m at peace with it.”
Black is set to take on The Miz on next week’s episode of WWE SmackDown.
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