Malakai Black Talks Of Promises “Not Upheld” In New Statement
Malakai Black has issued a lengthy statement regarding his wrestling future as he reveals that he has requested his release from AEW.
Malakai Black roared into AEW, emerging from the darkness to take out both Arn Anderson and Cody Rhodes with his Black Mass kick. All of this happened just one month after Black had been released from his WWE contract amid ongoing budget cuts in that company.
Despite an initial high-profile role in AEW, Malakai Black found his on-screen time becoming lessened despite putting together the House of Black group with Brody King, Buddy Matthews, and Julia Hart. It has been reported that Black has been given a release from AEW following speculation surrounding his future that surfaced around the All Out event.
Now Malakai Black has released a full statement on his Instagram where he delves into the situation as he sees it as he takes issue with things that he believed to be private being aired in public:
“Firstly thank you for all your messages, know they are being read and appreciated. With all the turmoil going on in the landscape of Professional Wrestling I took the time to think of my words but also needed to wait until conversations between mine and AEW’s camp had come to a conclusion.”
“Firstly, I dislike reading parts of my private conversations between myself and AEW in regards to my mental well being on the internet. These conversations were private and not meant to be shared with the public. As by now most people realize I am a very private person and do not feel the need to have stuff like this out on the internet.”
“If you’ve been following me longer than a cup of coffee you’re aware I’ve spoken about them prior but would like to be the one deciding when this finds its way to the public and not through someone else’s mouth, as with anything through the lips of someone else: that story gets distorted.”
“Secondly, to be in line with the above, they also need context:
“I did indeed ask for my release, the last 2 years of my life have lended to a lot of set backs. Both me and my wife have been affected by uncontrollable actions from outside that resulted in loss of life, medical set backs, career jeopardizing, the suicide of a close friend and a close family member almost losing their life, then experiencing an injury that I was sure was the end of my career.”
“I spend every week going through several sessions of rehab, dry needling, and therapy just to be able to walk and compete. Now this being the tip of the iceberg and with the combination of the promises in my professional field that were not upheld which resulted as a combination of all these to a complete demoralization of life and career. This decision has been in my mind for the past six months.”
“It’s hard to really put a finger and say “this was the moment it all went wrong.” But I can tell you after many years that I have learned from a rational point of view to see when I need to hit the breaks; which is what this is.”
“Perhaps once my mind settles on certain things and processes the last 2 years a bit better I will convey (via a different platform than written out) what the exacts were that happened, and have a more informed conversation about them.”
“For now know that I am good, and am taking, for the first time in 22 years, a few months to recalibrate the last 2 decades of my life.”
“Lastly, I have read a few narratives online in regards to my “release,” mental health and my personal life that I can summarize swiftly; if it didn’t come from me, it didn’t happen. Stuff about conditional releases, stuff in my marriage or using said mental health to leverage the other when as I said before that part wasn’t even going to be part of the public conversation are false. My marriage is fine, I am fine. It is just time to make sure these things stay that way.”
“Once again, I appreciate your support and we will see each other soon enough. MB”