Ah, the wrestling rumor mill—always grinding away, especially when it comes to a mysterious character like Malakai Black. But this time, Black has had enough. Following his match against Adam Cole on last night’s AEW Dynamite, whispers and speculation started to swirl once again. Is Black injured? Is he leaving AEW? Is he packing up his dark robes and heading back to WWE?
Turns out, the man himself decided to put all that to rest, hopping onto Instagram for a temporary video message. And let’s just say, he wasn’t thrilled about the latest chatter. “I’m not injured, nor am I retiring, nor am I leaving,” he declared, frustration evident in his voice. “I haven’t been injured in more than three years. … I would really appreciate it if that stuff stops, man. If I’m gonna retire, you’re gonna hear it from me, and not after Adam cuts a promo just as a thank you for that match, and that’s all it was.”
For those keeping score at home, this isn’t the first time Malakai has had to swat down rumors about his AEW future. Back in 2022, similar reports claimed he was looking to exit AEW after a phone call from WWE. Black denied those claims, and after a short hiatus, he returned to AEW to continue bringing his signature dark and enigmatic style to the ring. Since then, he’s been a steady presence—sometimes taking brief breaks, but always returning to his macabre AEW spotlight.
As of now, reports suggest that Black’s AEW contract expires at the end of 2024 or early 2025. So, while he made it clear he’s not leaving just yet, it’s anyone’s guess if he’s planning to stick around for the long haul or if he’s keeping his future options open.
Black’s AEW Dynamite match against Adam Cole ended with a scene that had fans buzzing for all the right reasons—he refused a handshake, but pulled Cole in for a hug instead, nodding to their shared history back in WWE’s NXT. Despite all the speculation, it looks like Malakai Black is focused on what he does best: creating compelling moments in the ring and keeping fans guessing. Just, maybe not about his contract status.