New WWE Signing Lays Out Retirement Plan

A new WWE signing already has one eye on the end game.

After months and almost years of near-constant speculation, Aleister Black finally returned to WWE on the April 25 edition of SmackDown.

On the show, The Miz came to the ring and began cutting a promo about feeling disrespected. While he was in full flow the lights went out and Black rose from the stage as his old WWE theme music hit.

After slowly making his way to the ring, Black smashed Miz with Black Mass and celebrated by silently hitting his signature cross-legged pose.

WWE Star Aleister Black Wants To Wrestle For Eight More Years

In a new video with Josiah Williams, Black reflected on his career to date while looking to the future and pondering what that might look like. The former NXT Champion said he wants to keep performing for between five and eight years, before admitting he lost sight of how many people are pulling for him to succeed.

“I’m 39. I hope that I have another five to eight years left in me. Physically, I feel great. I think this is the best I’ve looked physically as well. Technology changes, nutrition changes, science changes, sports science changes. You see athletes getting older and older and being able to perform at higher levels, even when they’re old.

I definitely feel I’m part of that in certain aspects, but I have no illusions about this that the majority of my career is well past me, absolutely.

That’s not a sad thing, that’s a good thing. Being able to survive for this long and staying relevant, I’d say that’s something I’m definitely proud of. Dedicated fanbase, we’re still doing good despite setback after setback after all the things that have happened, they’re all still there and it’s heartwarming to feel that a lot of people are still rooting for me.

That’s something I think I lost sight of. You dive down into that darkness you feel and that misery you cling onto, especially when that’s what you’re used to your entire life.

Going back to that first emotion you’re familiar of; everything is bad, everything will be falling down anyway. It doesn’t matter. To have that control is life-changing and that mechanism is the best thing I’ve learned over the last year. This is absolutely a part of me that has accepted, at age 39, I have five to eight years left, and I’m okay with that.”

Speaking elsewhere, Aleister Black opened up about his friendship with the late, great Bray Wyatt. Black recalled sending ideas to Wyatt, who urged him to be himself and follow his own path without becoming what others want him to be.

H/t to Fightful