Top AEW star to finally return to WWE during the 2025 Men's Royal Rumble match? Analyzing the possibility

AEW controversy is in the news again as WWE prepares for its 38th annual Royal Rumble PLE in three weeks. The new year has been full of swerves and happenings so far, and the official kickoff to WrestleMania 41 Season will be no different. Amid Royal Rumble rumors, new information is fueling speculation on a potential massive return by a top AEW star.

Malakai Black is once again rumored to be leaving AEW for a return to WWE. The All Elite run of the Dutch grappler has been a controversial topic since he joined the company in July 2021, one month after his five-year run with WWE ended. Black debuted in AEW with a strong push, but Tony Khan has been criticized at times for how Malakai and his faction, The House of Black, are used.

Rumors on WWE bringing back the former Aleister Black recently caused a stir as Khan has stated that the veteran star is under contract through 2027. Black's AEW career has seemingly ended, and while it's not official that he has been released, no one within the company expects him back.

Furthermore, it was reported that Black communicated with WWE fairly recently, and talk from the Stamford-based promotion is that he was expected back when his All Elite contract expired. This has been expected for a while, but word is that it's "evident" the WWE creative writing team has had recent talks about the former NXT Champion.

The Anti-Hero is rumored to be available to join WWE or any other promotion imminently, but that has not been confirmed, and Khan may give him a conditional release, as he did with William Regal. However, if Black is free to work for whomever he wants, a likely date for his WWE comeback would be the 38th Royal Rumble PLE. The annual spectacle usually features surprises and returns, which could make The Rumble the perfect place to re-introduce the 6-foot wrestler married to RAW's Zelina Vega.

Black would be making his third appearance in the Men's Royal Rumble if he were to return on February 1 at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, IN. His debut came at the 2019 Rumble, where he entered at #21 as a surprise entrant.

The Dutch Destroyer has not wrestled since AEW Full Gear on November 23, where he and Brody King competed in a four-way match that saw World Tag Team Champions Private Party retain their titles. Black's last singles match was a Dynamite loss to Adam Cole on November 6, and his last singles win came on May 22, when he defeated Kyle O'Reilly on Dynamite.

Black has had just one championship reign in AEW after The House of Black held the World Trios Championship for 175 days in 2023. The 39-year-old also had just one reign in WWE, as he held the NXT Championship for 108 days in 2018.

Updated lineup for AEW Dynamite: Maximum Carnage

All Elite Wrestling is set to present the inaugural Maximum Carnage edition of Dynamite next Wednesday from Brady Music Center in Cincinnati. Below is the updated lineup:

• Hook vs. Christian Cage
• Women's Casino Gauntlet: Participants TBA (winner challenges Women's World Champion Mariah May at Grand Slam: Australia)
• Kenny Omega vs. Brian Cage
• World Championship Match: Jon Moxley (c) vs. Powerhouse Hobbs

The promotion will return to the Brady Music Center the next night for the Maximum Carnage Collision tapings, which will air on Saturday.