'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,/9j/2wBDAAYEBQYFBAYGBQYHBwYIChAKCgkJChQODwwQFxQYGBcUFhYaHSUfGhsjHBYWICwgIyYnKSopGR8tMC0oMCUoKSj/2wBDAQcHBwoIChMKChMoGhYaKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCj/wgARCAAGAAoDASIAAhEBAxEB/8QAFgABAQEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAYH/8QAFQEBAQAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAQT/2gAMAwEAAhADEAAAAMriAu//xAAfEAABBAICAwAAAAAAAAAAAAABAgMEBREhABITkeH/2gAIAQEAAT8AYpVVBfpmZCFSrKJ2fc8ADaRjPUbydnhiOjRRG9fOf//EABcRAQADAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAEAAgP/2gAIAQIBAT8Azss//8QAFhEBAQEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAQAC/9oACAEDAQE/AHJf/9k='%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Dutch professional wrestler Malakai Black is immensely talented. He is currently signed to All Elite Wrestling. However, Black's previous employers were none other than AEW's rival promotion, WWE. There, he held the prestigious NXT Championship once.
Malakai Black's AEW run has been a mixed bag. Like most former WWE stars, he has not achieved extraordinary success in the Jacksonville-based company but has held the AEW World Trios Title with his House of Black stablemates, Brody King and Buddy Matthews. Interestingly, during this run, The Antihero has lost only three singles matches.
In 2021, the year when the 39-year-old made his AEW debut, Malakai locked horns with the reigning Undisputed WWE Champion, Cody Rhodes. Their rivalry was fascinating, and it gave fans many memorable moments. However, The American Nightmare was the first wrestler to defeat Black in AEW.
Trending
Former WWE writer buries Judgment Day HERE
Black's second loss in the Tony Khan-led company was against Adam Copeland in a Barbed Wire Steel Cage Match at Double or Nothing 2024. Their feud, too, was mesmerizing. Had the former Edge lost, he'd had to join the House of Black. The former AEW TNT Champion won this match by referee stoppage.
Finally, Black's third singles defeat came at the hands of Adam Cole on this week's Dynamite. After this showdown, the two stars embraced each other as an act of mutual respect.
Tommy Dreamer comments on Malakai Black vs. Adam Cole's post-match segment
Like most fans across the world, ECW legend Tommy Dreamer was confused about what the heartwarming moment between Malakai Black and Adam Cole on last night's Dynamite meant. The veteran talked about it on the Busted Open podcast.
"Don't know his [Malakai] status; don't know what that was all about; it was just weird; it was respectful, and then it was just almost like their own curtain call. Cool stuff to see; hopefully he sticks around AEW, or if he goes back to WWE, who the hell knows? But it was just an interesting, interesting ending," Dreamer said. [From 15:25 to 16:19]
It remains to be seen if the leader of House of Black stays in AEW or returns to the Stamford-based promotion.
