Malakai Black To Be Pushed As Top WWE Singles Act, Tony Khan/AEW Issues Revealed (WWE News)

Influential people within WWE who see Malakai Black as a potential top singles star in the promotion have pushed for the outbound AEW star's return, reports PWTorch.

Black is on the verge of departing AEW, though his situation has been complicated by a contentious expiration date. Per PWTorch, Malakai had time added onto his AEW contract due to inactivity through injury, but had pushed back against being extended. As such, it is believed a deal is either in the works or already in place that would see him become a free agent soon.

People within AEW have been told he "won't be back", though there's no word on the exact departure date.

Malakai reportedly sees the current WWE landscape as more palatable, now that Paul Levesque is booking the shows and not Vince McMahon. Although it is widely assumed the former Aleister Black will rejoin WWE, he has told people in AEW over the past couple of years that he was burned out and needed time away. Potentially retiring may also have been mentioned. This may no longer be the case, however, and PWTorch acknowledges Black may have been telling people in AEW this to secure an easier release.

Malakai Black Criticised For Being Resistant To "Do Business" In AEW

Although Malakai Black reportedly has WWE personnel arguing for him to be re-signed, it sounds like he has faced backstage criticism in AEW.

PWTorch states that some of Black's AEW colleagues were frustrated by what they perceived to be a lack of willingness to "do business" on Malakai's end. This included regular injury claims and an apparent reluctance to take losses. Additionally, the Torch writes that "He and Tony Khan never developed rapport."

With speculation on Malakai's future swelling, AEW has seemingly moved his House of Black stablemates Buddy Matthews, Brody King, and Julia Hart in new directions. On last week's Dynamite, Will Ospreay encouraged Matthews to forge his own path. Then, on Collision, Cope did the same for King and Hart.

Black has been with AEW since July 2021, when he debuted in a high-profile singles feud with Cody Rhodes. He had been released by WWE one month prior, concluding a main roster run that struggled to gain the traction of his NXT spell, largely thanks to inconsistent booking.