New Details On Malakai Black's AEW Debut, New Character & More
The former Tommy End tells all in new Twitch appearance.
AEW newcomer Malakai Black went live on his wife Zelina Vega's Twitch channel on Thursday, speaking less than 24 hours after an impactful Dynamite debut that saw him knock Arn Anderson and Cody Rhodes down following an arena-wide blackout.
The former Tommy End spoke on all kinds of topics relating to his new direction and the events that brought him to Road Rager, with his appearance kept secret from all but a select few (h/t Fightful for the transcriptions):-
"It was a hassle to keep under wraps. Once I found out that my contract was a tad different than the usual, I just came up with this idea. I had already made the character movie and I came up with this idea and the company liked it so we ran with it. It was all very last second. I feel like, in modern day wrestling, there are few moments to make a genuine surprise and get people to look your way. For me to sneak in, not be seen, dip and dive so they wouldn't see me, that took some skill."
Malakai went on, explaining that only "five or six people" were in the loop:-
"We made it a thing to make it available to as limited people as possible because that's how you keep it under wraps. Security, Cody Rhodes, and a few others. It may have been five or six total people. It was a good feeling. It's been a rough seven or eight months but I feel like I got a win last night. I feel wrestling got a win."
Black's debut came after the arena lights had cut out for a second time during the show. Cody Rhodes and QT Marshall were contesting the opener the first time they cut, with the announcers putting it over as a technical fault.
It turns out this was all part of the plan:-
"I pitched that idea and said, 'what if we do multiple blackouts throughout the show and insinuated the technical difficulties?' Commentary did a great job getting that over and it came off great."
On the creative side of things, the former WWE wrestler explained that his new character is in line with what he originally wanted to do in NXT, as a heel, but Triple H preferred that he work babyface. Malakai confirmed that he will be using new ring gear in AEW - and he's taking his own new entrance theme with him as well.
It took them a while, but AEW finally unleashed the "Malakai Black is All Elite" graphic on Thursday evening:-
Welcome to the team…#MalakaiBlack (aka @TommyEnd) is #AllElite pic.twitter.com/BF6DRYunli
— All Elite Wrestling (@AEW) July 8, 2021
As previously covered, an embarrassing WWE clerical error led to Black being able to debut in AEW earlier than expected, having only been released by his former employers on 2 June.