Malakai Black Reveals How NXT Felt Unique During His Time In WWE

Malakai Black is one of the most compelling characters in AEW. Before joining Tony Khan’s promotion, Black worked for Vince McMahon’s WWE where he was part of the NXT brand.

Black recently appeared on an episode of SHAK Wrestling to talk about his time in the former black and gold brand and reflected how that particular era in NXT felt different and unique from the rest of the eras.

“I always talk about this with, you know, with the people I was in NXT with,” he said. He continued, “There was a moment where we did a Pay-Per-View and Triple H came running in and he said ‘guys we did it. We made a million dollars.”

He went on to discuss his time in Triple H’s version of NXT.

“And we all look around and we’re all very, very proud. I feel that we were an era in NXT uncommon to any of the other eras. And that is no way or shape meant as a criticism at any other person that ever was in NXT, especially the people before us because we were able to do that because of them.

“You know, they helped grow that brand to the point where we could step and say ‘let’s take it’ and we took it up man. Looking back at that era of NXT, it was truly unique. We’re talking about the Adam Coles, the Tommaso Ciampas, the Johnny Garganos, the War Raiders, Ricochet, Matt Riddle… it was truly a unique time in NXT.

“I think we were in a locker room where we were competing with each other every single night, but we were also very, very, very supportive of one another. Like, I remember one specific moment where Tommaso walks up next to me and he said ‘I’m gonna outsell you tonight’ and I said ‘bring it.’

“We would do that and it wasn’t meant in a bad way, it was meant in a great way. It was meant in a way where, we knew we had something special, we knew we had something unique and I think for a few years we were one of the most revolutionized like companies.”

Black is currently signed to AEW where he leads The House of Black faction. Black introduced Brody King as the newest member of his stable. King debuted on the January 12th episode of Dynamite. Check out the video below:

Thanks to Wrestling Inc for the transcription. What’s your take on this story? Sound off in the comments!