WWE stars Aleister Black and Zelina Vega recently appeared on the SwerveCity podcast, where the former NXT champion revealed some insightful details about his wrestling persona. Black explains how he approaches his promos and psychology much like a method actor would approach a difficult role, claiming that a performer should be able to explain or defend their character if necessary.

My character is not just something that I think is a character … Aleister Black is also a very social statement. And there’s a lot to Aleister Black that I don’t explain to an audience, but will do eventually. I think, as a wrestler, you need to be able to defend your psychology and you need to be able to defend your character. And you need to be able to explain your psychology and character.

Black continued…

It’s a metaphorical idea … but the idea that I’ve always had with Aleister Black in terms of a social statement is that I know what I look like. I know how I talk. I’m trying to evoke a response from you and the second I see you judging me for what I look like, or what I’m trying to do, that tells me something about you as a human being. By your reaction on me, I understand what type of person you are. And that’s how I designed Aleister Black. I either want you to be judgmental as hell … or I want you to be comfortable.

He would also elaborate on the idea of his “knocking on the door promos,” detailing how the hidden message is for someone to come put him out of his misery.

This whole pursuit of me wanting people to fight me is because I want someone to end me. That’s this whole narrative. End me. Do it! Pull the trigger on me! Do it!

You can check out the full interview below. Black’s comments begin around the 36 minute mark. (H/T and transcribed by Pro Wrestling Sheet)