Aleister Black

Tommy End wrestling Donovan Dijak in August 2016

Budgen wrestled extensively on the independent circuit in the United Kingdom and Europe, under the ring name Tommy End, working for promotions like Pro Wrestling Holland (PWH), Insane Championship Wrestling (ICW), Progress Wrestling, Westside Xtreme Wrestling (wXw), Over the Top Wrestling (OTT), Revolution Pro Wrestling (RPW), and Pro Wrestling Showdown (PWS) among others.[5][7][8][9] He also worked for international promotions, such as North America's Combat Zone Wrestling (CZW), Evolve and Pro Wrestling Guerrilla (PWG), as well as the Japanese promotion Big Japan Pro Wrestling (BJW).[10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17]

He held numerous championships, among other accolades, he is a former wXw Unified World Heavyweight Champion, wXw World Light Heavyweight Champion, wXw World Tag Team Champion, ICW Tag Team Champion, and Progress Tag Team Champion.[18]

In June 2016, it was reported that Budgen had signed with WWE,[19] and he reported to the WWE Performance Center on 19 October.[4] On 7 January 2017, he debuted the new ring name, Aleister Black.[20] On 15 January, he made a surprise appearance at the United Kingdom Championship Tournament finals, losing to Neville in a non-tournament match.[21]

Black performing his in-ring pose in May 2017

Vignettes began to air from the 8 March episode of NXT, promoting Black's television debut.[22] Black made his televised in-ring debut at NXT TakeOver: Orlando on 1 April, defeating Andrade "Cien" Almas.[23] On 2 August episode of NXT, prior to Black's match, Hideo Itami cut a promo in the ring and demanding respect.[24] Black interrupted Itami, resulting in a stand-off between the two, and then Black performed Black Mass on Itami.[25] Itami attempted to attack Black afterwards, but the two were eventually separated.[26] At NXT TakeOver: Brooklyn III, Black defeated Itami.[27] Black then began a feud with Velveteen Dream, where Dream constantly stalked and harassed Black in order for him to say his name.[28] This led to a match at NXT TakeOver: WarGames, which Black won.[29][30] On 27 December episode of NXT, Black suffered his first pinfall loss by Johnny Gargano in a fatal-four way match, after interference from The Undisputed Era (Adam Cole, Bobby Fish, and Kyle O'Reilly).[31] At NXT TakeOver: Philadelphia on 27 January 2018, Black defeated Adam Cole in an Extreme Rules match.[32]

On 14 February episode of NXT, Black said that he had "a devil on [his] back", which was the NXT Championship,[33] he was then interrupted by Killian Dain, whom he defeated on 7 March episode of NXT to become the number one contender for the NXT Championship.[34][35] Black received his title opportunity against Andrade "Cien" Almas at NXT TakeOver: New Orleans on 7 April, where he defeated Almas to win the NXT Championship.[36] On 30 May episode of NXT, Black was interrupted by Lars Sullivan, who wanted a shot at the NXT Championship.[37] This led to a match at NXT TakeOver: Chicago II, where Black successfully retained his title.[38] On 25 July episode of NXT, Black lost the NXT Championship to Tommaso Ciampa due to interference from Johnny Gargano, ending his reign at 108 days.[39]

The following week on NXT, Black approached the ring, during Ciampa's address to the NXT Universe, only for Gargano to run out ahead of him to attack Ciampa, after which he attacked Gargano with a Black Mass before indicating that his NXT Championship loss was Gargano's fault.[40][41] A match between the three for the title was scheduled for NXT TakeOver: Brooklyn 4, however, Black was later found unconscious in the parking lot outside the arena, after being attacked by an unseen and unknown assailant.[42] It was later reported that Black was sent to a local medical facility, and was announced as being unable to compete.[43] After being out of action for two months, Black returned on 17 October episode of NXT, confronting Nikki Cross, who revealed that Johnny Gargano was the one, who had attacked him.[44] A match between Black and Gargano was scheduled for NXT TakeOver: WarGames, in which Black was victorious.[45] At NXT TakeOver: Phoenix on 26 January 2019, Black failed to regain the NXT Championship from Tommaso Ciampa.[46] The next night at the Royal Rumble, he entered the Royal Rumble match at number 21, but was eliminated by Baron Corbin.[47] In March, Black formed a tag team with Ricochet and the two competed in the 2019 Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic, which they won after defeating The Forgotten Sons (Steve Cutler and Wesley Blake) in the finals.[48] At NXT TakeOver: New York on 5 April, Black and Ricochet unsuccessfully faced The War Raiders for the NXT Tag Team Championship.[49]

On 18 February episode of Raw, Black made his official main roster debut, defeating Elias.[50] Black also continued his team with Ricochet, and the duo competed in a Raw Tag Team Championship match at Fastlane that featured Bobby Roode and Chad Gable, and The Revival (Dash Wilder and Scott Dawson), but failed to win.[51] Black and Ricochet also competed for the SmackDown Tag Team Championship in a fatal four-way match the following month at WrestleMania 35, but were again unsuccessful.[52][53]

As part of the Superstar Shake-up on 15 April, Black was drafted to the Raw brand.[54] However, on 22 April, Black was drafted to the SmackDown brand, due to his real-life wife Zelina Vega being drafted there, therefore splitting him from Ricochet.[55] Black then began appearing in ominous backstage promos in a dark room, awaiting a challenger.[56] On 9 July episode of SmackDown, his challenge was eventually accepted,[57] with the mystery opponent to be revealed as Cesaro, who was Black's opponent at Extreme Rules in Black's first singles pay-per-view match since joining the main roster.[58] At Extreme Rules on 14 July, Black defeated Cesaro.[59]

As part of the 2019 Draft in October, Black was drafted to the Raw brand.[60] Over the following weeks, Black would develop a winning streak, squashing his opponents.[61] On 18 November episode of Raw, Buddy Murphy went to Black's locker room to challenge him, but Black was absent and Murphy claimed that Black was all talk and no fight.[62] The following week, Black appeared and attacked Murphy after his match.[63] A match between Black and Murphy was scheduled for TLC: Tables, Ladders & Chairs,[64] which Black won.[65] At the Royal Rumble pay-per-view on 26 January 2020, Black entered the Royal Rumble match at number 28, but was eliminated by Seth Rollins.[66] On 24 February episode of Raw, Black was attacked by The O.C. (AJ Styles, Luke Gallows, and Karl Anderson) backstage.[67] The next week on Raw, Black faced The O.C. members in separate matches, and suffered his first pinfall loss on the main roster, to AJ Styles.[68] At Elimination Chamber on 8 March, Black defeated Styles in a no disqualification match, with interference from The Undertaker.[69] At WrestleMania 36 on night two of the event, Black defeated Bobby Lashley.[70][71] On 20 April episode of Raw, Black defeated Austin Theory to qualify for the Money in the Bank ladder match at Money in the Bank.[72] At the event, Black failed to win the match.[73][74]

Following this, Black began a feud with Seth Rollins and Murphy after Rollins injured Rey Mysterio's eye.[75][76] On 27 July episode of Raw, Rollins and Murphy injured Black's right eye by driving it through the steel steps.[77]

On 24 August episode of Raw, Black, now wearing an eye bandage, returned during The Kevin Owens Show and attacked Kevin Owens, turning heel for the first time in his WWE career.[78][79] The following week on Raw he attacked Owens again with his Black Mass finishing move before a match against Randy Orton which Owens lost. On 14 September episode of Raw, Owens defeated Black. Owens would go on again to defeat Black, via disqualification, on 28 September episode of Raw. On 12 October episode of Raw, Black lost to Owens in a No Disqualification match.

As part of the 2020 Draft in October, Black was drafted to the SmackDown brand.[80]