Aleister Black expressed gratitude for not making his WWE return as Randy Orton’s surprise opponent at WrestleMania 41, which took place on April 7, 2025. Following his comeback to the promotion, fans were left questioning the decision to exclude him from such a high-profile event. In an interview on the WrestleRant podcast, Black, who previously wrestled under the name Malakai Black, shared insights into the discussions that occurred behind the scenes regarding his return.
The 40-year-old wrestler confirmed that WWE officials had considered him as one of the potential options for Orton’s mystery opponent. Black noted, “They were toying with a bunch of ideas. I know at one point it was this conversation about like, ‘Oh, is he coming back to wrestle Randy Orton at WrestleMania?’” Ultimately, the plan was scrapped because WWE executives believed it would not be beneficial for Black to lose to Orton during such a significant event that marked the latter’s 20th WrestleMania appearance.
Instead, Black made his return on the April 25, 2025 episode of SmackDown, where he confronted The Miz. Despite an impactful comeback, WWE struggled to establish a compelling storyline for Black in the following months. He did engage in a rivalry with Damian Priest, although this storyline did not achieve the expected success. Nevertheless, it did lead to the on-screen pairing of Black and Zelina Vega, a collaboration that had been anticipated for years.
In an interview with Sports Illustrated, Black revealed that the original idea for him and Vega to team up dates back to when he was portraying the Dark Father character during the Thunderdome era. Despite initial reluctance from WWE Chief Creative Officer Triple H, the pairing gained momentum after seeing the success of other real-life couples on screen, such as CM Punk and AJ Lee, and Seth Rollins and Becky Lynch. This shift in perspective ultimately allowed the collaboration to move forward.
Following a brief feud with Priest, Black transitioned into a storyline involving Cody Rhodes, where he expressed intentions to pursue the Undisputed WWE Championship. Their recent non-title match on SmackDown ended in disqualification after Drew McIntyre attacked the referee, leading to a chaotic confrontation between the wrestlers.
As the storyline progressed, it seemed that Black was in a good position to continue his feud with Rhodes, especially with the impending build-up to the WarGames event. However, his recent absence from WWE programming raises questions about his next steps following the Survivor Series.
Black’s journey in WWE has certainly been eventful, filled with unexpected twists and turns. His reflections on the missed opportunity at WrestleMania not only highlight the complexities of wrestling storylines but also underscore his appreciation for the careful planning that goes into significant moments in the sport. As fans continue to engage with his character, the future remains bright for Aleister Black in WWE.
