Aleister Black’s recent WWE release has not led to any positive movement toward a return to All Elite Wrestling. Internal reaction within AEW has reportedly been negative, with little support for bringing him back.

According to Dave Meltzer on Wrestling Observer Radio, several people within AEW are not in favor of a reunion. Meltzer made it clear that the feedback he received leaned strongly in one direction.

“From what I have heard, and you may have heard differently, the idea of Aleister Black and AEW was not fondly thought out by the people I spoke with there. Now, I did not speak to Tony Khan. Andrade was mixed. I know people there that were not high on Andrade at all and others who were. Black, from what I gathered, pretty negative. There were even people who publicly said that. That they were negative on Black,” Meltzer said.

One of the names who shared that view publicly is Shawn Dean, an AEW talent who also works as the promotion’s Extras Coordinator. When asked on social media about a possible return of the House of Black faction, Dean responded with a short but clear message.

“No.”

Black previously worked in AEW from 2021 until February 2025. During that time, he entered a singles feud with Cody Rhodes before forming the House of Black alongside Buddy Matthews and Brody King. The group became a regular part of AEW programming during his run.

Reports at the time of his departure noted that there had been some criticism behind the scenes. Concerns reportedly included a reluctance to lose matches and repeated claims of injury. His relationship with Tony Khan was also described as not particularly strong.

Black later returned to WWE on the post-WrestleMania 41 episode of WWE SmackDown. However, his second run with the company ended on April 24 when he was released along with several others, including Zelina Vega.

At this point, a return to AEW does not appear to be likely based on current internal sentiment.

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