Aleister Black, who reappeared on WWE SmackDown in April 2025 following WrestleMania 41, recently shared his candid thoughts about his initial NXT match against Andrade. Appearing on the “Wrestling the Rap Game Podcast,” Black did not hold back his feelings regarding that debut performance.
“First and foremost, I did not like that match,” Black stated directly. He attributed his negative assessment to several factors, including how the match was set up. “The production of how we went into it was wrong and because of that, the match didn’t come out the way it should have come out.”
Black also revealed he was unwell and overwhelmed by anxiety. “I was physically ill at the time… anxiety is the word, I was terrified, absolutely petrified,” he admitted, despite previous experience before large audiences. He described the experience as “nerve-wracking” and “humbling.”
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Reflecting on his early NXT days, Black acknowledged the brand’s initially confusing environment but credited its coaching with making him a sharper performer. He also lauded NXT for producing the world’s best pro wrestling from 2015 to 2020.
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