5 released WWE Superstars who became champions this year

#3 Former WWE superstar Aleister Black A.K.A. Malakai Black won the PWG Tag Team Championship

Aleister Black A.K.A. Malakai Black had quite an unusual ending to his time with WWE. He was absent from WWE programming before vignettes were shown building up to his return. He eventually returned for a night on SmackDown in June 2021 before being released from his contract.

Almost immediately after his non-compete clause had expired, he joined All Elite Wrestling and debuted as Malakai Black. As of this writing, Black has only had eight televised matches for the company, but it is a return to PWG that has currently brought him his best post-WWE success.

Black performed for Pro Wrestling Guerrilla before joining WWE, where he made his return to challenge Black Taurus and Demonic Flamita for the vacant PWG Tag Team Championship. He teamed up with Brody King to form The Kings of the Black Throne.

On a special night at the Globe Theater in Los Angeles, CA, The Kings of the Black Throne picked up the victory. It marked Black's first-ever reign as a PWG Tag Team Champion, and his first gold since leaving WWE.