Malakai Black didn’t just return to the independent wrestling scene to pick up a few matches. Less than five months after his WWE release, Black already has championship gold around his waist again.
During PROGRESS Wrestling’s September 6 event, Black defeated Cara Noir to capture the PROGRESS Men’s World Championship. The victory gives Black his first championship since leaving WWE in April and immediately puts him at the top of PROGRESS.
Black had already started getting his feet wet again before winning the title. His first match following his WWE departure actually took place on August 22 at his own Dark Arts Gym, where he faced J. Villa and picked up the win.
That match came earlier than most fans expected. PROGRESS had previously announced Black against Donovan Dijak for September 4 in Edinburgh, which was originally expected to be his first match since leaving WWE.
Now, just a couple of weeks after quietly stepping back between the ropes, Black has already taken a much bigger step. Beating Cara Noir for the PROGRESS Men’s World Championship makes it clear that his post-WWE run isn’t simply about getting matches wherever he can find them.
Black left WWE in April without knowing exactly what the next chapter would look like. Five months later, he’s back in the ring and already a World Champion, giving his independent run a pretty big start.
What do you think of Malakai Black winning the PROGRESS Men’s World Championship so soon after his WWE release? Let us know in the comments.
