Aleister Black is back in WWE. He made his stunning return on the April 25 edition of Friday Night SmackDown. Black had parted ways with The Sports Entertainment Juggernaut after the company released him in June 2021. The Dutch Destroyer then joined AEW and worked there for a few years. His last appearance for the promotion was at the Full Gear 2024 Pay-Per-View in November.
Aleister Black Attacks The Miz on SmackDown
Former Malakai Black left AEW in February 2025. Since mid-March, WWE had been airing cryptic videos, teasing the return of a top star. Fans hoped it was Aleister Black. The wait finally came to an end when the star made his return on this week’s edition of Friday Night SmackDown.
The Miz cut a promo on this week’s episode of the blue brand, expressing his displeasure with WWE for leaving him out of the WrestleMania 41 match card. Black interrupted his promo, making his surprise return to the company. He returned with his original theme and entrance music.
The A-lister was angry at the erstwhile Malakai Black for interrupting his promo, but before he could vent out his anger, the returning star took him out with a Black Mass. The two are scheduled to face each other in a singles match at next week’s SmackDown episode.
The WWE Universe was excited to see Aleister Black return to WWE. Check out some of the reactions below:
HES BACK HOME.
— Rich (@RaidAway) April 26, 2025
Back home with daddy Paul
— Isn't That Fake? (@Isntthatfake) April 26, 2025
“OG THEME OG ENTRANCE OG NAME HITS BLACK MASS SITS CROSSED LEGGED IN THE RING WE ARE SO BACKKKKKKKKKK,” wrote one fan.
The darkness has returned. Time to fade to black 🔥🖤
— George Treadeu (@GeorgeMAGA25) April 26, 2025
SmackDown needed this desperately.
— Masked J, of PW Nexus (@PWNReports) April 26, 2025
“Aleister Black returning under Triple H I think is going to be great! I think he could make a lot of noise like he did in NXT! Very happy he got to keep his old theme song as well, fits perfectly with his character!” wrote this one.
Rusev is Back in WWE
Aleister Black was not the only ex-AEW star to return to WWE this week. Rusev (aka Miro) made his surprise return on the RAW after WrestleMania episode earlier this week and attacked Alpha Academy’s Akira Tozawa and Otis.
Miro was released from AEW around the same time Black was go. The two stars were seemingly not happy with their creative directions in the Jacksonville-based promotion.
Is AEW Star Mariah May Next to Join WWE?
Mariah May grew insanely popular last year because of her incredible feud with “Timeless” Toni Storm in AEW. Their rivalry had a Hollywood ending at AEW Revolution in March 2025, where Storm defeated May for the AEW Women’s World Championship.
According to the reports, The Glamour is set to be a free agent later this year. It was recently reported that the Stamford-based promotion is preparing to make a huge offer to the brilliant up-and-coming AEW star.
WWE is prepared to make an outstanding offer for upcoming free agent Mariah May.
(via @WrestleVotes Radio – Backstage Pass) pic.twitter.com/XokifY7bcl
— Wrestle Ops (@WrestleOps) April 25, 2025
It would be interesting to see if The Fighting Princess ends up on Triple H’s roster in the near future.