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#1 Malakai Black - AEW
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Malakai Black made a dramatic debut in AEW on the Road Rager special episode of Dynamite. He shocked the Miami crowd and nailed both Arn Anderson and Cody Rhodes with Black Mass kicks. Malakai followed this up with a dominating victory over Cody on AEW Homecoming in just four minutes and laid out Rhodes with a crutch after the match.
Malakai Black's first month in AEW has to be considered a success, with him decimating a bonafide top star and taking him out of action in the process. This is a far cry from most of his booking in WWE, where Aleister Black was the victim of many start and stop pushes.
To continue on his journey in All Elite Wrestling, a confrontation with one of the most important stars in NJPW history would be a welcome sight. Malakai Black has expressed wanting to perform for New Japan Pro Wrestling. With Tanahashi's arrival in AEW and the forbidden door being opened, he can stay at his home promotion and face the very best from Japan.
Hiroshi Tanahashi is a consummate babyface. This makes for a perfect story heading into this encounter with Malakai Black's character relying on darkness and mystery to gain the mental edge against his opponents. It would be a better light vs. dark feud than Black's rivalry with the much-maligned Cody Rhodes.
A victory for Malakai Black could propel him even more than his annihilation of Cody. Beating Hiroshi Tanahashi would mark a huge turning point in his career that could lead to opportunities at not just the AEW World Championship but the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship in NJPW.
Tanahashi could create magic with a performer as layered in character and in-ring ability as Malakai Black. Not only would the leadup be deeply compelling, but the matchup could be phenomenal with two amazing professional wrestlers going at it.
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