Malakai Black Receives ‘Highly Conditional’ AEW Release

Malakai Black had a promising start in AEW. But sadly, he didn’t have the best run with the company. Now he wanted out and he got approved.

According to Sean Sapp behind Fightful’s paywall, Black was granted an early release from AEW courtesy of Tony Khan. It was noted that the release is highly conditional, which isn’t usually the case for AEW. AEW usually doesn’t even release talent outside of disciplinary reasons, and requests for releases are done on a case-by-case basis.

Numerous talent informed is that they’ve been told that Malakai Black is done with the company for the foreseeable future, with many saying that he got his release. AEW sources claim that the release is highly conditional, which isn’t usually the case for the company. Usually, AEW doesn’t even release talent outside of disciplinary reasons, and requests for release are done on a case-by-case basis. We’re told by many in the company that Tony Khan specifically wanted to retain Black, and hoped to see him as a part of the brand “for years to come.” There were efforts to have conversations to salvage the working relationship that AEW believed were fruitful, however we’re told that a meeting took place sometime recently and it was decided that if Black wanted out, they should probably allow it.

Black kissed goodbye and bowed to the AEW crowd after All Out.

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Talent are of the belief that there are heavy restrictions on Black, and there may be more to the agreement, including conditions that would prevent him from wrestling elsewhere any time soon. Black withdrew from a September 9 indie show in Ohio, according to PWInsider. AEW sources told us that the door isn’t closed on a potential return for Black as far as they’ve heard.

It was reported earlier this week that Black was scheduled to face Impact World Tag Team Champion Matt Taven at the NEW event in Niles, OH this coming Friday, but he pulled himself from the booking. We’ll see what the future holds for Black.

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