“The Antithesis Has Endless Options”: Aleister Black Opens Up On His WWE Return, Names Roman Reigns and Rising Stars as Dream Opponents
Aleister Black is back in WWE, and he’s already mapping out his future between the ropes.
The Dutch superstar returned to the company in April 2025 after a several-year detour through AEW, and he’s wasting no time looking ahead at potential opponents. In a recent interview with SportsBoom, Black made it clear that he sees his current WWE run as filled with fresh possibilities.
Black’s first WWE chapter ran from 2016 to 2021 before he made the jump to AEW. Now that he’s back, he likes what he sees in the locker room.
WWE has this really interesting mix right now, Black explained. There are established veterans who have been here for years, but there’s also this wave of newer talent coming up from NXT that have moved to Raw and SmackDown. That mix creates so many questions about where things could go.
He pointed specifically to how his character works best when pulling something darker out of his opponents.
My whole thing has always been about bringing out what’s underneath the surface in people, he said. That’s where the real stories come from. So when I look at someone like Je’Von Evans, I wonder what’s hiding under all that potential. What would happen if I pushed him to a place he’s never been?
Black didn’t stop there. He also named Johnny Gargano as someone he’d love to share the ring with again, even though they’ve crossed paths before. Things change over time, he noted. Different setting, different circumstances. That could look completely different now.
And then there’s Roman Reigns.
The former WWE Champion has dominated the main event scene for years, but Black sees something he wants to explore.
What would happen with Roman? What could I pull out of him that audiences haven’t seen? That’s the part that gets me excited. He’s done so much, but nobody has ever really tried to drag that specific darkness out of him the way my character can.
Black made it clear he’s not just looking for matches, he’s looking for moments that tell real stories.
There’s always something for me to do here because the character can go in so many directions, he said. Whether it’s with someone who’s been here forever or someone just getting started, that’s where the real interest lives for me.
With Black back in the fold and clearly hungry for meaningful programs, fans have plenty to look forward to in the coming months.
What match interests you most? Aleister Black vs. Roman Reigns? Or would you rather see him test the younger generation first? Drop your thoughts in the comments below.
