Malakai Black’s status with AEW has sparked significant speculation, with recent reports hinting that he may be done with the company. Despite AEW President Tony Khan’s earlier statement that Black was signed through 2027, other sources suggest that his deal may already be up, or soon to expire. According to Dave Meltzer of the Wrestling Observer, backstage rumors indicate that “nobody expects him back.” While Meltzer tried to confirm this, he noted that AEW officials have been tight-lipped on the matter.
There have been subtle clues within AEW programming that suggest Black may indeed be leaving. Julia Hart, who had previously been aligned with the House of Black, made her return from injury without any mention of the stable. Buddy Matthews, who faced Will Ospreay on the January 8 edition of AEW Dynamite, was still billed as part of the group. However, during the post-match promo, Ospreay told Matthews that he and Brody King “don’t need to be following no leader at all” and could stand on their own, suggesting the possibility of the stable fracturing.
Black’s last match in AEW was at Full Gear, where he and Brody King competed in a four-way AEW World Tag Team Championship match, which was won by Private Party. However, it was his match against Adam Cole on the November 6 Dynamite that first raised suspicions about his departure. At the end of the match, Black sat cross-legged in the middle of the ring and willingly took Cole’s finisher, before uncharacteristically hugging him instead of shaking his hand, a moment that seemed to signal an emotional farewell.
Adding further intrigue, WWE has reportedly shown interest in bringing Black back into their fold, further fueling the speculation about his future.