
Aleister Black marked his official WWE comeback with a dominant victory over The Miz on the May 2 SmackDown, delivering his signature Black Mass finisher for the pin. This marks Black’s first WWE match since October 2020, when he faced Kevin Owens on Raw during his initial run with the company.
The decisive win came under the watchful eye of Carmelo Hayes, with whom Black shared a tense post-match staredown. The moment potentially seeds Black’s first major WWE feud since returning from his three-year AEW tenure, where he competed as Malakai Black until December 2024.
Black’s striking prowess appeared undiminished despite his 54-month WWE hiatus, showcasing the same methodical offense that originally made him a NXT standout. The victory positions him for immediate contention on SmackDown’s roster, with Hayes emerging as a likely next opponent following their nonverbal exchange.
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The Dutch star’s return completes WWE’s reacquisition of several former AEW talents, joining the likes of Jade Cargill and Cody Rhodes in making successful comebacks to the company. His last professional match occurred at an independent show in February before finalizing his WWE return.
Nice try, @Carmelo_WWE 🙄
— WWE (@WWE) May 3, 2025
Aleister Black is always one step ahead…@mikethemiz #SmackDown pic.twitter.com/VNfICiBPTC
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