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Jim Ross gives insight into current Aleister Black & AEW relationship

Posted: May 1st 2026 By: Ian Carey

Jim Ross says he doesn’t believe Aleister Black has burned his bridge with AEW.

Speaking on his Grilling JR podcast, Ross referred to Black as a “main event” talent and said he and Zelina Vega are “two keepers.” However, Ross suggested that Black take some time off before returning to the ring.

Ross said:

“I like Aleister Black. I think he could do himself a favor by simply stepping away for a while. He’s got a 90-day no compete anyway. How much can you improve in 90 days, Aleister? That’s my question to you.”

Ross said he’s not sure why Black has had conflict with management previously, but encouraged him to not be so critical.

“He seems to run afoul of the establishment from time to time and I don’t know why that is. I’m not there to work with him in that regard, so I don’t know why that is, but whatever it is, my advice to him would be to get over it. Don’t be so critical of things. Just be critical of your own work and making it better.”

Conrad Thompson asked Ross why Black’s run in AEW wasn’t more successful, and Ross answered that he feels Black looked at his time in the company as a “step down.”

“I don’t think he wanted to, Conrad. I don’t think he was happy there. I think he looked at it as a step down. He’s in the minor leagues or some s–t. But that’s that WWE mentality rubbing off on you, and that’ll happen. It’s unstoppable and it can’t be helped. That’s kind of how I looked at his situation.”

Ross continued:

“I like his game a lot and his wife is a hell of a hand. You’ve got two keepers in those two people.”

Asked if he feels Black has “burned his bridge” with AEW, Ross responded:

“No, I do not. But I think that his chances are running out. Trust is a big thing. Reliability. Are you reliable? There is I’m sure a small faction of some in the wrestling business that believe he’s missing something. I don’t disagree with that. But he’s not missing his attire, his look, his work ethic. So whatever his downfalls are, they seem to be stimulated from things outside the bell-to-bell. But I like the guy. I’d hire him in a heartbeat.”

Black’s initial run with WWE lasted from 2016 until he was released on June 2, 2021. He debuted in AEW the following month. Black left AEW in February 2025 after it was reported that his contract had expired. He returned to WWE in April 2025 and was part of WWE’s post-WrestleMania 42 roster cuts a year later.