Contrary to circulating rumors, Aleister Black was not excluded from the WWE Royal Rumble event held on January 31, 2023, at the Riyadh Season Stadium in Saudi Arabia because of his tattoos. In a recent interview with Rob Pasbani of The Stunner, Black directly addressed the speculation around his demon-themed tattoos and their alleged role in his omission from the 30-man Royal Rumble match, firmly denying these claims.
Aleister Black explained that he was indeed flown to Saudi Arabia for the event but did not compete because it aligned better with his storyline at that time with Randy Orton. He emphasized that the decision to exclude him from the match was a strategic storytelling choice, not one based on any cultural or visual concerns over his tattoos.
Behind the Scenes: Storyline Strategy with Randy Orton
Black revealed that WWE’s plan was to start a new storyline between himself and Randy Orton, and that launching this narrative during the Royal Rumble could have resulted in it being overlooked or wasted. He said the intention was to build the story gradually over the following weeks so it could develop its full potential rather than being quickly dismissed during the chaotic Rumble match.
“No, that is not true. I was supposed to be in the Rumble, but then they were going to start myself and Randy, and I felt like, man, if we are going to do that story and we’re going to start in the Royal Rumble, it’s just going to get snowed under. And we don’t want it to just go to waste for them to just be two guys that are being dumped out or anything like that. So why don’t we save it for the weeks to come?”
Aleister Black explained during the interview.
Addressing Past Concerns About Tattoos in Saudi Arabia
Regarding the rumors about his tattoos being the reason for his non-participation, Black acknowledged that the topic was brought up initially when WWE first started working events in Saudi Arabia about five years ago. Conversations with Vince McMahon and others addressed concerns over how Saudi audiences might respond to his visible body art, which includes prominent demon imagery.
However, Black made it clear these concerns are no longer relevant. He pointed out that in a recent SmackDown segment filmed in Saudi Arabia, he wrestled with R-Truth while his tattoos were clearly visible on his arms and head. This demonstrated that the controversy about his tattoos is outdated and was not part of the decision this time around.
“I think the initial setup of Saudi Arabia, my tattoos did come in question. That is absolute fact. In the initial setting, it was definitely like, ‘Well, we don’t know how they are going to respond.’ I’m talking five years ago when it all first started. That was definitely a conversation at the time I had with Vince [McMahon] and also was brought to me. But that is no longer the case. The last time I was in the ring with R-Truth, even though the segment was small, I was still presented on TV and everything was still pretty much there. My arms were exposed. Obviously, the side of my head is always exposed. You could still see a lot of my tattoos. I think that became just like, ‘Well, because it happened back then perhaps that’s the reason why it happened now.’ But no, that was not the reason why.”
The Success of the Black and Orton Story on SmackDown
Aleister Black highlighted that the decision to postpone the storyline until after the Royal Rumble paid off. When the feud with Randy Orton did begin on SmackDown, it gained widespread attention and engagement. One particular moment where both wrestlers simultaneously sat down during the main event went viral, amassing millions of views.
“It was, in my opinion, a very smart decision. Because looking back at what me and Randy did, it got its own life on SmackDown in the main event. That little clip between me and Randy where we both sit down at the same time got millions and millions of views. And I don’t know if it would have been able to exist in that way if we would have done it at the Rumble… Now it was able to live on its own, which, obviously, that’s what you want. Because that optimizes it. But no, that was not a thing. But, again, I always see those things or hear about those things, and I always consider it to be coming from a place of genuine care from fans, which I always appreciate. Because it’s a good thing, right? It’s good to know that fans care. It’s always good to know that people care.”
Aleister Black’s WWE Appearances in Saudi Arabia
Although Aleister Black has never competed in a WWE match within Saudi Arabia, he has been featured there on television. His recent appearance alongside R-Truth on an episode of WWE SmackDown that was recorded in Saudi Arabia marked a significant moment where his tattoos were clearly visible on-screen. This further supports his claim that his body art did not influence his Royal Rumble status as speculated online.
Implications for Aleister Black and WWE Storylines Moving Forward
This clarification from Aleister Black sheds light on the complexities behind booking decisions in WWE, particularly for major events like the Royal Rumble. It also underscores WWE’s attention to long-term storytelling rather than forcing narratives into high-profile matches that may dilute their impact.
Fans can expect Black’s narrative with Randy Orton to continue evolving in a way that maximizes engagement, rather than being rushed or overshadowed. This approach highlights WWE’s strategy in balancing character development with event spectacle, especially in international venues such as Saudi Arabia.
