Jim Ross Doesn’t Think Aleister Black Was Happy In AEW, But Doesn’t Believe The Bridge Was Burned

Aleister Black was one of the more surprising departures from WWE last Friday, given that he was regularly featured on television and in recent feuds with Damian Priest and Randy Orton.

Black returned to WWE in 2025 after a run with AEW that began in 2021.

Speaking on Grilling JR, Jim Ross was asked what advice he would give to Black following his WWE run ending.

“If I were counseling him, I’d say take some time off. Step away for a few months. I would encourage my wife to get back in the ring. She’d be a good hire for AEW. Aleister Black is one of my favorite competitors. He’s compelling. Maybe it’s his look or the fact that he uses kicks a lot and is proficient at it. I like Aleister Black. I think he could do himself a favor by simply stepping away for a while. He’s got a 90-day no-compete anyway. How can you improve in 90 days? That’s my question to you. What can you do to make your game better? I think the guy has a good upside and is a main event level talent. He’s a keeper. He seems to run afoul of the establishment from time to time. I don’t know why that is. I don’t work with him in that regard. Whatever it is, my advice to him would be ‘get over it.’ Don’t be so critical of things. Just be critical of your own work and make it better,” he said.

Asked why his AEW run didn’t work, Ross replied, “I don’t think he wanted it to. I don’t think he was happy there. I think he looked at it as a step down. Like it was the minor leagues or some shit. That’s a WWE mentality rubbing off on you. That’ll happen. I like his game a lot, and his wife is a hell of a hand. Two keepers. Embrace the fact that he’s wanted, but you have to get better at what you do and have the right attitude. He has to have a set of rules he can live with that he can base his work on. He’s had several chances. He’s not a young kid. It might be time to make psychological aspects to his presentation. If I was booking, and he was being a good citizen and top pro, he’s a main event guy. It’s up to him. He has to have the right attitude. He has to be willing to change a few things. Things have not worked long-term anywhere he’s been.”

Finally, Ross was asked if he felt Black had burned his bridge with AEW.

“No, I do not,” said Ross. “I think that his chances are running out. Trust is a big thing. Reliability. Are you reliable? I’m sure there are a small faction of some that believe he’s missing something. I don’t disagree with that. He’s not missing his attire, his look, his work ethic. Whatever his downfalls are, they seem to be stimulated for outside of bell-to-bell. I like the guy. I’d hire him in a heartbeat.”

Along with Black, his wife Zelina Vega was part of the departures on Friday.

Elsewhere during the podcast, Ross commented on his potential return to AEW TV. You can find his full comments here. 

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