Aleister Black is one of the best wrestlers in the world right now. In his time prior to WWE when named Tommy End, he was recognised as one of the best wrestlers on the independent circuit and made his name in companies like Progress and WxW.
His NXT career was incredible, winning the NXT Championship and The Dusty Rhodes Tag Tournament with Ricochet. He also had some brilliant feuds with The Velveteen Dream and Johnny Gargano and some of the best matches in NXT history such as his NXT Championship match with Andrade ‘Cien’ Almas.
However, on the main roster, things just haven’t worked out as they should’ve for the Dutchman. He’s been put in useless feuds that he didn’t need to be involved in, like the Mysterio and Rollins debacle earlier this year and has lost feuds that he’s needed to win to build momentum, for example, Kevin Owens a month or so ago.
It’s clear that Black isn’t a character that Vince doesn’t like/understand. Yet to me, Vince not understanding the character doesn’t make sense to as it’s not difficult to decipher. He’s simply a silent assassin. He’s even got a supernatural aura about him that could’ve been put into a match against ‘Demon’ Finn Balor or even The Fiend.
The thing that irritates me the most about this situation is that Black requested to return to NXT and management denied it. However, they clearly have no plans for him right now as according to Dave Meltzer, Vince ‘forgot about him’ so why would you deny his request as you clearly have no plans for him.
There’s also the perfect example of Finn Balor, which should show Vince what a return to NXT could do for Black as now, Balor is arguably having as good of a run now as he had in his first stint, if not better.
It’s evident Vince doesn’t want to comply with Black and if I was the former NXT champion, I’d have some serious thoughts about leaving WWE, especially after the release of his spouse, Zelina Vega a few weeks ago.
I think after both of their 90 day no compete clauses are done, we’ll see Black and Vega in either Impact or AEW. Especially if Vega moves first. I don’t see a scenario where Vega moves and Black permanently stays because we know WWE like to humiliate people who’s partners have moved to a rival promotion and I don’t see Black as a person who’d take that type of treatment.
If Black does stay, what will he actually achieve? The answer to that question is absolutely nothing. Unless Vince out of nowhere gives up the company to HHH, I don’t see any purpose for Black in WWE. He’ll simply be used as a number in useless Battle Royales.
I think it’s a shame that Black’s WWE career is practically finished, but I’m sure his next few years in wrestling, if he leaves, will be filled with success elsewhere.
TheWrestlingFallacy 