Tommy End Debuts In AEW As ‘Malakai Black’, Attacks Cody Rhodes (Updated)
Image Credit: WWE
The artist formerly known as Aleister Black is seemingly All Elite.
At AEW Road Rager, Black, also known as Tommy End, made his debut for the company. The lights went out during a promo segment with Arn Anderson, and when they came back on, Black was standing in the ring.
Black brutally kicked Anderson and Cody Rhodes with his signature Black Mass finisher. The broadcast team called him “Malakai Black”, and he stood tall over both men to make it clear that he has arrived in AEW.
HOLY S**T … Malakai Black ( @TommyEnd) has arrived in @AEW!
Tune into #AEWDynamite NOW on @tntdrama pic.twitter.com/CgU959OPkI
— All Elite Wrestling (@AEW) July 8, 2021
Black was released from WWE on June 2nd during a wave of cuts. He is a former WWE NXT Champion, and at one point in time, he was one of the brightest stars on WWE RAW.
Update: Dave Meltzer of the Wrestling Observer reported that Black only had a 30-day non-compete clause, compared to the typical 90-day period. As a result, he was perfectly free to appear on the show.
Mike Johnson of PWInsider provided more details by pointing out that a “clerical error” might be responsible for the fact that Black was able to sign elsewhere so soon after his release.
“PWInsider.com is told that back when Tommy End was moved to the main WWE roster several years ago, the company failed to update his contract from the standard 30 day non-compete that NXT level talents receive to the 90 day non-compete that main roster performers are given,” wrote Johnson. “So, what can only be described as a bad clerical error allowed End to be free and clear in time for the first episode of AEW Dynamite on the road and surprise everyone.”