Malakai Black Opens Up About WWE Release Following 'F***ing Dud Of A Year' - Wrestling Inc.
Black said WWE promised a major push and WrestleMania 42 plans with Randy Orton, but the company went another way and released him in April.
- Malakai Black revealed on the ZELVX and CHARLIE GIRL podcast that WWE scrapped his planned WrestleMania 42 match against Randy Orton, leaving him off the card while Orton challenged Cody Rhodes instead.
- Black, who returned to WWE in April 2025, described his tenure as a "dud of a year" despite the company promising him a significant push and prominent role upon his comeback.
- He explained that a specialized "smoking jacket" entrance developed with Jason Baker was originally designed for his WrestleMania appearance; Black debuted the device during his recent PROGRESS run instead.
- Following his April release, Big Damo and Nikki Storm, who own PROGRESS, supported Black's comeback; he recently captured the PROGRESS World Championship reconnecting with the independent scene.
- Options for the wrestler remain limited, with independent circuit appearances or TNA serving as primary paths forward, as peers like MJF have publicly distanced themselves from welcoming a potential AEW return.
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Malakai Black - 'WWE Presented Me With This Fu**ing Dud Of A Year'
Malakai Black was seemingly on a collision course with Randy Orton during the early months of 2026, with the two WWE stars becoming increasingly intertwined on SmackDown. However, WWE ultimately went in a different direction for WrestleMania 42. Black was left off the WrestleMania card, while Orton went on to challenge Cody Rhodes for the […]
Malakai Black Says He Was Presented With A 'Dud' Year - Fightful
Malakai Black (Aleister Black in WWE) returned to the promotion after WrestleMania 41, coming off a run in AEW where he was a member of House of Black. During his year in WWE, Malakai feuded with people like Randy Orton Damian Priest, and was aligned on-screen with his wife Xelina (Zelina Vega in WWE). He…
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