Aleister Black hasnt been seen on WWE television since his devastating ambulance match against Damian Priest on January 2 and now we know why.
According to PWInsider on January 17, 2026, Blacks current absence is completely planned and meant to sell the violent nature of the match. WWE officials intentionally pulled him from TV as part of the storyline fallout from the SmackDown main event that ended with Black getting slammed through a windshield and tossed off an ambulance roof.
Theres word going around that Black may have been a little banged up coming out of the match which wouldnt be surprising given the brutal stunts but nothing serious enough to prevent him from appearing if WWE had wanted him to.
The finish of the match saw Damian Priest hit a Razors Edge on Black through the ambulance windshield before throwing him off the roof and into two tables. Priest then shut the ambulance doors, symbolically putting an end to their rivalry.
As of now, theres no timetable for Aleister Blacks return, but the dark mystique around his character has only grown in his absence.
What do you want to see when Aleister Black returns to SmackDown? Let us know your dream feud in the comments below.
