Jim Ross is confident that Aleister Black will continue to secure work in wrestling but believes Black should stop publicly focusing on what went wrong in his career. On a recent episode of Grilling JR, Ross discussed Black’s situation after the wrestler spoke about unfulfilled promises WWE allegedly made before his departure from AEW. Ross, with extensive experience running WWE talent relations, praised Black’s skills and unique presence, stating he can succeed as either a hero or villain in the ring and will have no trouble finding new opportunities.
However, Ross criticized Black’s public handling of his exit, urging him to avoid drama. While Ross acknowledged he has no reason to doubt Black’s account, he emphasized the importance of having contractual promises in writing, something many wrestlers overlook. He explained that adding specific guarantees as contract addendums is a simple fix that could prevent such disputes since having agreements documented creates clear boundaries and expectations.
Drawing on his history managing WWE talent contracts during the company’s peak years, Ross warned that potential employers might view Black’s ongoing drama as a red flag, making him seem like a difficult hire. Nonetheless, Ross affirmed that Black’s talent would be valuable anywhere in the wrestling world. He admitted he is unaware of the exact reasons behind Black’s AEW issues but reiterated that Black is highly skilled.
Aleister Black was part of a wave of WWE releases on April 24, 2025, which also affected his wife Zelina Vega, Kairi Sane, Zoey Stark, Andre Chase, the Motor City Machine Guns, and the Wyatt Sicks faction. Black had returned to WWE after four years in AEW, where he performed as Malakai Black and led the House of Black, holding the AEW World Trios Championship alongside Brody King and Buddy Matthews. His second WWE stint lasted just over a year. Black has said his recent release was more impactful than his first due to alleged promises made during his return talks, calling the year disappointing despite opportunities he received.
Others from his era have also commented; Eric Bischoff noted on 83 Weeks that Paul Heyman strongly supported Black back in 2019 but expressed skepticism about the claims of broken promises and suggested Black should take responsibility for his role in the situation. Black has yet to respond to these remarks.
Fan Take:
This update on Aleister Black’s career highlights the importance of clear communication and contracts in wrestling, a lesson that could improve the sport’s professionalism. For fans, Black’s ongoing journey emphasizes how even talented performers face challenges behind the scenes, reminding us that the wrestling world is as much about business dealings as it is about athleticism.
Source: wrestlingnews.co
