Malakai Black is a free agent again, and now there’s a little more clarity about who has—and hasn’t—been in the mix since his WWE release. Black has already lined up his first matches back on the independent scene, but there was also some behind-the-scenes contact with another promotion shortly after he became available.
According to Fightful Select’s Sean Ross Sapp, Major League Wrestling had preliminary contact with Black a couple of weeks after WWE released him in April. The conversations didn’t get very far, but there was no bad blood or breakdown between the two sides. They simply never developed into anything serious.
Now that Black is fully free to wrestle elsewhere, those talks still haven’t picked back up. There has been no renewed movement between Malakai Black and MLW at this point. There’s also been plenty of speculation about a possible return to AEW, where Black previously led the House of Black. However, sources within AEW said they have not heard that he is coming back to the company right now.
What is confirmed is that Black is getting back in the ring. PROGRESS Wrestling announced that he will compete under the Malakai Black name during its Odyssey Tour in September, with appearances scheduled for Edinburgh, Leeds and Manchester. PROGRESS made it clear that Black’s return to the independent scene isn’t just a quick cameo.
“One of the biggest names in professional wrestling is coming to Edinburgh, Leeds and Manchester for his first matches back on the independent wrestling scene!”
Black had also resurfaced after his WWE exit with a cinematic video featuring gear from both his WWE and AEW runs, a shaved head and MMA-style training before declaring, “I am the death of me.”
So far, Malakai Black has independent dates locked in, MLW talks that never gained traction and no current indication that an AEW return is happening. That still leaves plenty of possibilities open as he starts the next chapter of his career.
Where do you think Malakai Black ends up next now that he is officially back on the open market? Let us know what you think and leave your feedback in the comments.
