Jim Ross Didn’t Know About Malakai Black’s AEW Debut Until It Happened

"I didn't even know that he was there."

By Andrew Pollard /

AEW

While the AEW debut of Malakai Black this past Wednesday shocked wrestling fans, it also came as a shock to Jim Ross.

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Speaking to Dave LaGreca and Mark Henry on Busted Open, Ross revealed how he didn't know about Tommy End's AEW Dynamite appearance until the former Aleister Black appeared in the ring to lay out Arn Anderson and Cody Rhodes.

As JR explained:

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"Well, I'll tell you the honest to god truth. I didn't even know that he was there. We were in a unique building that was kind of old school, had different levels and different little cubbyholes. It was funny; Mark [Henry], Big Show and I shared a room for the announcers. I didn't see this guy [Black] all day long, so I was shocked at how it came off."

Ross added how, as detailed regularly on his own Grilling JR podcast, he prefers not to know about such shocks and surprises so that he can react better to them.

The legendary JR would also discuss how he met Malakai Black for the first time after Dynamite went off the air, saying how the one-time NXT Champion came over and shook Ross' hand as the pair exchanged pleasantries - including Jim telling Black how "we're counting on you to play in a big way".

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Black has now been formally announced as being #AllElite, with him able to debut for AEW so soon due to a WWE clerical error that meant his non-compete clause was only 30 days as opposed to the regular 90 days.