Update on Malakai Black’s Expected AEW Departure & WWE Return

As noted before, Malakai Black is currently believed to be finishing up with AEW and he is expected to leave the company. Wednesday’s AEW Dynamite show in Knoxville, Tennessee was notable for House of Black disbanding. During their video promo segment, Brody King referenced Black stating that the voice who had guided them for years has gone silent while Buddy Matthews and Julia Hart talked about how it was time for them to get out of this person’s shadow and move forward as a new group.

PWInsider’s Mike Johnson reported that his sources within AEW stated that AEW officials currently have not had any internal talks about Black making any final appearances for the company. Johnson reported that the current expectation is that Black will be kept off AEW television until his contract with the company expires.

In regards to Black’s contract status, Johnson reported that Black’s contract is currently set to expire in either February or March meaning that he would not be able to make a potential surprise return to WWE in the Men’s Royal Rumble match at next month’s Royal Rumble 2025 event, which takes place on February 1st.

Johnson reported that the current expectation is that Black will be returning to WWE once his contract with AEW officially expires.