The co-main event of last Sunday’s AEW All Out PPV Event saw The House Of Black (Malakai Black, Brody King and Buddy Matthews) battle Darby Allin, Sting and Miro in Trios action and come out of the match on the losing end. After the match, members of The House Of Black hugged each other at the stage area and Malakai Black bowed and waved to the crowd like he was saying goodbye. This segment was not shown on the screen, but fans in attendance and several sources noted that it seemed that Malakai Black was bidding his final farewell to the AEW crowd.
AEW President and CEO Tony Khan was questioned about this during the post-All Out media scrum, but he didn’t provide any comments on the matter. Dave Meltzer reported on a recent edition of the Wrestling Observer Radio Program that it felt like this past Sunday’s AEW All Out PPV was Malakai Black’s final night in the company, with the way they went about things as the AEW fans in Chicago cheered for him, he blew the fans a kiss, he bowed and he left. Bryan Alvarez then added that he isn’t sure if Malakai is truly done with AEW as Tony Khan didn’t provide an answer when he was questioned about it, but the AEW President could have said he was there if Black isn’t really leaving.
Meltzer then noted that Tony Khan did the same thing about the MJF situation earlier this year by not providing any comments, but that was different as it was part of the work/shoot storyline and there’s no word yet on if this situation with Malakai is part of a work/shoot storyline as well. The House Of Black leader previously requested his release from All Elite Wrestling, but there’s no word yet on if his release was granted.
This is what Dave Meltzer said:
“I think he’s done.”
“I certainly felt that reaction and everything…what’s interesting about it a couple of weeks ago about ‘oh, Triple H is back, and he’s gonna want all of these guys back’ and the two names mentioned were Adam Cole and Malakai Black. And he [Khan] said they’re under contract for five more years….four more years…and now two weeks later Malakai Black is waving goodbye or is seemingly waving goodbye. If it was just him blowing a kiss and it means nothing, Tony wouldn’t have said I can’t talk about it unless it’s an angle, and I don’t think…it didn’t feel like an angle. Also, the thing is that he took the pin. He had the mist blown in his face. He had his own gimmick done on him by Sting. He got pinned by Darby. If they were going to win that match, that’s Buddy Matthews’ role.”
This is what Bryan Alvarez added:
“They cheered him, he blew a kiss, he bowed, and he left. Man, I thought, ‘this dude is done.’”
“I don’t know if he’s done because Tony was asked about it, and Tony didn’t answer. He said he couldn’t talk about it. If he’s not leaving, then why didn’t you say no, he’s here.”
H/T to WrestlingNews.co for transcribing the quotes.
