Report: Malakai Black had contact with promotion following WWE release

Malakai Black has had contact with a promotion following his WWE release earlier this year.

Fightful Select is reporting that there was preliminary contact between Black and Major League Wrestling “a number of months ago,” specifically saying it was a couple of weeks following his WWE release.

While there was contact, Fightful said that the conversations “didn’t go very far” and no progress was made, but things didn’t go awry either. Now that Black is officially a free agent, Fightful has confirmed that conversations between the two sides has not been picked up.

Regarding his status with AEW, Fightful said that they have not heard about a potential return.

Aleister Black’s brief WWE comeback

Black returned to WWE in 2025, where he was best known for his feud with Damian Priest. Earlier this year, he began to tease an alliance with Randy Orton but was phased out as Orton instead infamously aligned with Pat McAfee. Following WrestleMania 42, both he and wife Zelina Vega were among cuts to the main roster.

Earlier this month, Black debuted a new bald look as his 90-day release window expire. He has since been announced for three PROGRESS Wrestling dates starting on September 4.