Recent reports indicate that Aleister Black is poised for a significant push into the main event scene on SmackDown, as the former NXT Champion has been earning considerable praise backstage. Since his return to the company in April, WWE creative has reportedly been impressed with Black’s work and merchandise sales.
According to a report from PWInsider, discussions are underway to elevate Black’s profile on the blue brand. This follows a period where he has been featured in segments with multiple main roster talents since his return on the April 25, 2025, episode of SmackDown.
The report offered specific details on the internal discussions.
“There has been a lot of praise and talk surrounding Aleister Black in WWE creative circles. According to some of the same sources who said that Damian Priest was earmarked to be elevated to upper card years ago, there’s been a lot of discussion within creative management wanting to raise Black’s profile going forward on SmackDown. This is why Black has been interacting with many personalities in recent weeks and the plan is to move Black upwards as the company has been happy with both his work and his merchandise sales thus far.”
This reported plan for a renewed push provides a sharp contrast to the trajectory of his first main roster tenure.
A Second Chance and Renewed Ambition
For Black, the return to WWE under its current leadership has felt like a homecoming. He has expressed comfort and familiarity with being back in the company, stating he feels great physically and believes he has another five to eight years left in his career.
With this new chapter, Black has set ambitious goals for himself, including headlining WrestleMania and capturing a major championship. These aspirations are now backed by the reported corporate support that was absent during his previous main roster run, which was often marked by inconsistent booking and creative struggles despite a dominant championship reign in NXT.
Black’s first stint with the company came to an unexpected end with his release on June 2, 2021, leading to a near four-year absence before his return. Now, with significant backstage momentum, his career path appears to be on a distinctly different and more prominent track.