Eric Bischoff revealed that when he and Paul Heyman worked together in WWE, Heyman was constantly praising Aleister Black. However, Bischoff expressed doubt regarding Black’s recent claims that WWE reneged on multiple promises made to him. This discussion took place on the latest episode of 83 Weeks, following Black’s recent interview where he shared how deeply affected he was by his latest WWE release, especially due to assurances given to him during his departure negotiation from AEW. Despite highlighted main event opportunities, Black described his comeback year in WWE as disappointing.
Black was let go on April 24 during a post-WrestleMania 42 wave of cuts, which also included his wife, Zelina Vega. He had returned to WWE in April 2025 after spending four years in AEW as Malakai Black, where he led the House of Black faction and captured the AEW World Trios Championship alongside Brody King and Buddy Matthews. His second WWE stint lasted just over a year, with Black and Vega frequently appearing together on television, yet never sharing a spot on a premium live event card.
Bischoff reflected on the 2019 period when he was made executive director of SmackDown and Heyman was in the same role for Raw, where Black was a performer. He explained that Heyman was so enthusiastic about Black that it was nearly impossible to get him to stop bringing him up, consistently advocating for him at every chance. Bischoff believes Heyman’s strong support is noteworthy, given Heyman’s reputation as a reliable talent evaluator.
Though Bischoff finds Black respectful in their limited interactions, he remains skeptical about the promises being broken. He acknowledged that Black might have perceived certain creative intentions as promises, especially amid the stress of an uncertain career path—highlighting the limited opportunities for a character like Aleister Black outside WWE. Bischoff outlined a common emotional progression where anxiety turns into fear, then anger, and eventually bitterness, causing individuals to feel misled—even if those feelings stem more from internal coping than actual deceit.
Urging Black to reconsider his approach, Bischoff remarked that Black has already had three significant attempts—his initial WWE run, his AEW tenure, and his WWE return—and none has fully panned out. Using his personal experience as an example, Bischoff admitted his own WWE stint was short-lived due to his own decisions, not external factors, emphasizing the importance of owning outcomes and moving forward.
Bischoff empathized with Black’s situation, acknowledging how frustration can lead people to deflect blame and make poor choices. He encouraged Black to make proactive changes rather than dwelling on alleged unfulfilled promises. It’s important to note that Bischoff was not involved in Black’s 2025 negotiations and has no direct insight into those discussions. Black has yet to publicly respond to Bischoff’s comments.
Fan Take: This exchange highlights the high stakes and emotional toll for wrestlers navigating corporate promises and personal ambitions within WWE and beyond. For fighting entertainment fans, it underscores the delicate balance between creative fulfillment and business realities—reminding us that the path to wrestling stardom can be as much about resilience and adaptability as it is about talent.
Source: wrestlingnews.co
