The Inside Story Of Malakai Black's AEW Debut
Here's how Malakai Black's striking AEW arrival (and win over Cody Rhodes) came to life.
Tony Khan came up with the framework for Malakai Black's AEW debut and first match with Cody Rhodes.
As reported by Dave Meltzer in this week's edition of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, Khan devised the former Tommy End debuting by attacking Arn Anderson building towards the Rhodes match. The AEW founder also suggested that Black defeat Rhodes cleanly, selling Cody on the idea as this was the right time, place, and occasion to put somebody over strong.
Timing-wise, it worked out perfectly. Rhodes is currently off television filming season two of the Go-Big show for TNT.
Black, meanwhile, came up with some of the material in between the program's biggest moments, including all of his promos.
Released by WWE on 2 June, Malakai was able to debut in AEW on 7 July as an administrative error meant he was bound only to a 30-day non-compete clause, not the standard 90 days that main roster stars are usually beholden to. Anderson and Rhodes were both wiped out by head kicks on his first night, with Cody eating a five-minute squash defeat on Dynamite: Homecoming four weeks later.