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Aleister Black has been a mysterious, enigmatic figure who has embraced his gimmick from the time he came to NXT and became an instant favorite of the fans. It was only a matter of time before he would be hailed as a top star in Vince McMahon's eyes.
I think that 2020 is going to be the year where he first leaves an impression in the WWE landscape. What I mean, in this case, is that I see him winning the Money in the Bank contract this year, and I think somewhere, deep down, you can see it too.
Be sure to leave a comment and let me know if you think this will be the year of the Black Mass. And if you disagree with my assessment, you are more than welcome to let me know who you think is the favorite to become Mr. Money in the Bank in 2020.
#5 His recent string of victories
To gauge which superstar is in line for a big push, the easiest indicator is to note if he/she has been winning a lot more than he/she has been losing on television. I can say with certainty that Aleister Black is winning more of his matches than he is losing. Not only did he defeat Bobby Lashley at WrestleMania, but he has been picking up victories on a weekly basis since his big win.
WWE wants him to come across as a big star and a breakout performer, and this is so that they can possibly put the Money in the Bank contract in his grasp. This is a man who wants to go out and pick a fight, and now he can do so with the Champion of whichever brand he is eventually on.
It is clear as day to me.
#4 Signs that WWE is very high on him
Let me take you back to 2017, back when Aleister Black was a part of NXT. A report from back then had stated that officials backstage were very happy with the way Aleister Black was coming along and they didn't expect his stay in the black and gold brand to be for much longer.
You may read the report right here. But the good news is that the praise has not stopped since he's left NXT as well and not so long back, there was yet another report about Black which would state that the company was very happy with his work with Buddy Murphy, as reported by Sportskeeda's own Tom Colohue.
It is abundantly clear that both Vince McMahon and Paul Heyman see him as a prospect that can climb the ladder to success metaphorically and he could literally do so if/when he wins a contract at Money in the Bank. As a European man, he could also help the cpmpany enter a brand new market as well.
#3 Clear favorite among everyone else in the pack
If you look at all of the other names in the pack, who will be vying for the briefcase on top of WWE Headquarters, there are no names that clearly stand out, at least to me. There is no chance at all that WWE will take a chance with Apollo Crews, as talented as he is, at this point in his career, I think.
Daniel Bryan and King Corbin (provided he wins) have a greater chance of becoming Mr. Money in the Bank, but let's be honest, Black winning the contract is a far more exciting prospect, at least, in my personal opinion. The last spot could go to someone like Sheamus and I wouldn't really mind him winning the whole thing because he's been booked like a beast since his return, but no, I can't see him winning the Contract either.
Rey Mysterio is approaching the end of his career, which leaves just one real contender from the whole pack and we all know his name- Aleister Black.
#2 A special entrance, a special finisher
As Aleister Black rises from the depths, every week on RAW, we know that the man we're seeing is a big deal. And it is a rare sight indeed to see anyone kick out of the Black Mass. The fact that he is being treated as a special star pretty much indicates that Vince McMahon sees a lot of value in Aleister Black.
And why wouldn't he? Black is exactly the kind of star that Vince McMahon is known to like- someone who works great with almost every single opponent that he is placed with and who has a unique look and a gimmick that he embraces to the fullest. Sure, he is a lot smaller than the kind of stars that Vince McMahon has traditionally liked, but we have seen how the boss has changed with the times which is the central reason why the product has survived for as long as it has.
It doesn't take a genius to figure out that Aleister Black has WWE Champion written in his future.
#1 Keeping him out of the title picture for a long time
Between 2017 to 2019, Aleister Black became one of the most decorated superstars in the NXT brand, not only winning the NXT Championship but also the Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic with the 'one and only' Ricochet. And yes, he also picked up the Year-End Awards a sum total of three times.
But then, since he's come up to what is known as the 'main roster', Black has just been kept out of the title picture. And there could be a very special reason for this, so that his first victory, whether it comes against Drew McIntyre or Braun Strowman is truly special.
I would personally love to see Aleister Black cash in against someone like The Fiend so that both men can channel the forces of darkness to play mind games with one another before Black can possibly cash in his contract, for the first time in history, in a cinematic vignette.
Whether he becomes the Universal Champion or the WWE Champion (no idea yet, when the next draft will happen), Black is ready to be the face of the company.
