Malakai Black left AEW fans scratching their heads after a cryptic display in his latest Dynamite match against Adam Cole. As part of Cole’s three-win path to a shot at MJF, Black’s peculiar finish—in which he sat cross-legged in the ring and invited Cole to hit his finisher—had the audience and wrestling insiders wondering if we’d just witnessed the beginnings of a farewell.
After Cole sealed the victory, he extended a hand in respect, only for Black to refuse the handshake and pull Cole in for an unexpected hug, leaving fans and commentators buzzing with questions about the gesture’s true meaning.
According to Fightful Select, there’s no official word on whether this is a “send-off,” but backstage sources hint that Black’s contract could indeed be winding down. Although Tony Khan originally hinted at a nearly five-year deal for Black back in 2022, it’s now understood that some of those years include optional extensions, meaning his deal might be set to expire as early as late 2024 or early 2025. With a history of rumored exits—most notably in 2022, when Black was thought to be WWE-bound before publicly clarifying his AEW loyalty—speculation is at an all-time high.
Since joining AEW, Black has had a memorable reign with Brody King and Buddy Matthews as Trios Champions, and a record-breaking run with King as PWG Tag Champions. Yet, his singles title history remains confined to his WWE days, with his last big solo triumph being his NXT Championship win in 2017.
As 2024 winds down, AEW fans are left wondering: will Malakai Black continue his journey in AEW, or will he find his way back to the dark corners of a new promotion?