Malakai Black Next In-Ring Appearance Announced Following AEW Departure Reports

AEW

A new appearance has been announced for Malakai Black, following reports that he’s expected to be finishing up with AEW.

Per Fightful Select, those that they spoke to in the company were of the belief that Black was finishing up with AEW, if he hadn’t already.

Amid speculation about his actual status, Malakai Black has now been announced for a rare independent appearance this weekend.

Coastal Championship Wrestling has announced Black for Saturday’s (January 11) Havoc & Haze 9 event, sharing a graphic for a match against Orion.

CCW shared the following:

Coastal Championship Wrestling (CCW) is excited to announce the upcoming debut of MALAKAI BLACK. The All Elite Wrestling star and former WWE NXT Champion will be in action this Saturday, January 11, 2025, at CCW’s HAVOC & HAZE 9 at Magnanimous Brewing in Tampa, FL.

A rare independent appearance by Malakai. One you will not want to miss!

CCW interestingly refers to Black as an All Elite Wrestling star, indicating that he’s still with AEW.

Per Fightful, those within the company did not clarify if he would be appearing on AEW television again.

Fightful had previously reported that there were option years on Malakai’s contract after 2025, with Tony Khan previously noting that he had Black under contract until 2027.

Fightful couldn’t confirm whether his contract was up, or that an option had been declined, picked up or anything transactional.

For more details on this report, click here.

We will continue to provide updates on the situation as they become available.

Malakai Black has now been announced for Coastal Championship Wrestling's (CCW's) Havoc & Haze 9 event this Saturday!

This comes after a report that Black is expected to be finishing up with #AEW. pic.twitter.com/GaxXzD1e95

— WrestleTalk (@WrestleTalk_TV) January 9, 2025

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• AEW
• Malakai Black
• independent
• departure

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