Malakai Black got off to a great start in AEW by taking on Cody Rhodes. Black also formed his own faction with Brody King and Buddy Matthews. But Black wasn’t in the best shape mentally or physically and decided to take a break from pro wrestling.
Malakai Black took to Instagram on Sunday and gave an update on his future. Black confirmed that he had asked for his release from AEW, noting that a combination of factors led him to a point where he felt demoralized by his life and career. Read the full post below.
All,
First of all thank you all for your messages, know that they are read and appreciated. With all of the turbulence in the professional wrestling landscape, I took the time to think about my words, but also had to wait for discussions between me and the camp of AEW to come to a conclusion.
First, I dislike reading parts of my private conversations between myself and AEW regarding my mental well-being online. These conversations were private and should not be shared with the public. As most people realize by now, I’m a very private person and I don’t feel the need to post such things on the internet. If you’ve been following me for more than a cup of coffee, you know I’ve spoken about this before, but I want to be the one who decides when this makes its way to the public and not through someone else’s mouth like everything else does Another’s Lips: This story is being distorted.
Second, to be consistent with the above, they also need context:
I actually asked for my release, the last 2 years of my life have led to many setbacks. Both myself and my wife have been affected by uncontrollable outside actions resulting in deaths, medical setbacks, career jeopardy, suicide of a close friend and close family member who nearly lost their life, and then sustained an injury that I was sure the end of my career. I spend each week going through multiple rehab, dry needling, and therapy sessions just to be able to run and compete. This is now the tip of the iceberg and with the combination of unfulfilled promises in my professional field, which together have led to a complete demoralization of life and career. I had had this decision in my head for the past six months.
It’s hard to really point a finger and say, “That was the moment it all went wrong.” But I can tell you after many years, I’ve learned from a rational point of view to see when I’m the must take breaks; what is that.
Perhaps once I settle on certain things and process the last 2 years a little better, I’ll share (via a different platform than posted) what exactly happened and have a more informed conversation about it.
Now that I know I’m fine, I’m taking a few months for the first time in 22 years to recalibrate the last two decades of my life.
Finally, I’ve read a few stories online about my “release”, my mental health, and my personal life that I can quickly summarize; if it didn’t come from me, it didn’t happen. Things about parole, things in my marriage, or using that mental health to benefit the other when, like I said before, that part wouldn’t even be part of the public conversation, is wrong. My marriage is fine, I’m fine. It’s just time to make sure these things stay that way.
Once again, I appreciate your support and we’ll see each other soon enough.
MB
As previously reported, AEW has conditionally released Malakai Black. His last television appearance for the promotion was on All Out. The House of Black faced off against Sting, Darby Allin and Miro in a trios tag team match. Black said goodbye to the crowd after the match.
Black also made an announcement regarding his future following his match at last night’s Prestige Wrestling’s: Perseverance event in Pomona, Calif. “Please give me a few weeks or months to recalibrate. This is not goodbye and we will see each other again very soon,” he said.
Black takes a break from pro wrestling to focus on his mental health. He has devoted his years to the profession and it has taken a tremendous toll on his health. We hope he comes back stronger than ever.
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Sep 18, 2022 6:34 p.m
