10 Real Inspirations Behind Current Wrestling Gimmicks

10. Malakai Black - European Tribalism And Paganism

A lot of noise was made about the overall lack of respect and attention the Aleister Black character received whilst attempting to make an impact on WWE's main roster. However, proving that it most definitely wasn't the performer that was the issue, Black swiftly set about captivating the masses upon arriving on AEW's shores in July.

Fans were quick to spot that Malakai Black had maintained his character's seriously dodgy eye that we'd last seen in Vinnie Mac's empire, but the leader of The House of Black would later reveal some of the more fascinating origins he'd channelled when bringing this newer iteration of the gimmick to The Land of All Elite.

Speaking to Bleacher Report, Black would note that his new moniker of "Malakai" had its origins in the prophet "Malachi", which is Hebrew for "messenger". On top of this, he'd also go on to reveal that a lot of this new character "is based on European tribalism and paganism from around the time of Julius Caesar." Disclosing that some Celtics worshipped a deity known as Cernunnos, the disturbing AEW presence also confirmed that he " based the mask and a lot of the dressing off of that symbolism."