3 Reasons why Malakai Black needs to ditch House of Black in AEW
Malakai Black is inarguably one of the most intriguing and captivating performers currently active on the AEW roster. Despite his considerably strong booking and stunning presentation, the 39-year-old star's tenure in the Tony Khan-led company has had its share of critics, who voice their displeasure at the former NXT Champion not being featured more prominently on All Elite television.
Black, alongside his House of Black stable-mates Brody King and Buddy Matthews, was in action on Collision last week. He and King will also team up against FTR on Dynamite this Wednesday for a shot at advancing to the four-way AEW World Tag Team Championship bout scheduled for Full Gear 2024.
While Malakai's presence in the tag team and trios divisions undoubtedly elevate both, there are several good reasons for considering breaking the Dutchman away from the faction he founded. Let us explore three reasons why Malakai Black should ditch The House of Black in AEW.
#1: Malakai Black can benefit from a singles spotlight in AEW
So far in 2024, Malakai Black has competed in only five singles matches on All Elite Wrestling programming. Despite his incomparable character work, promo abilities, and in-ring prowess, the former Aleister Black has not managed to take off as a solo act in AEW so far. One way this can be remedied immediately is by booking Malakai to leave The House of Black, amicably or otherwise, to focus on his singles career.
This can be achieved by inserting Black into the International Title or the TNT Title picture. The former WWE superstar has a history with both belts, as he competed in a four-way to crown the inaugural International (then All-Atlantic) Champion at Forbidden Door 2022 and challenged Adam Copeland for the TNT Championship in a barbed-wire steel cage match at Double or Nothing earlier this year.
Furthermore, Black could participate in this year's Continental Classic and have a dominant run like his teammate Brody King did in 2023. A star of his caliber would no doubt be a worthy candidate for challenging and/or dethroning the reigning Continental Champion, Kazuchika Okada.
#2: Long-awaited world championship push for Malakai Black in All Elite Wrestling
Despite rarely competing in singles matches, Malakai Black has an enviable record in one-on-one action in All Elite Wrestling, boasting twelve singles wins with only three losses to his name. As such, the Jacksonville-based promotion not having yet slotted The Anti-hero into an AEW World Championship program even once since his 2021 debut continues to be one of the company's more baffling decisions.
The reigning World Champion, Jon Moxley, is currently wreaking havoc on the All Elite roster. While there is no shortage of babyfaces to oppose the self-proclaimed One True King of the company, few possess the record, experience, and credibility in the squared circle that Black does, which could lead him to emerge as a serious threat to Moxley's run with the belt.
The two men have never met in All Elite Wrestling, and the former Dean Ambrose would likely be keen to return the favor to Black for eliminating him from the 2019 WWE Royal Rumble, potentially resulting in an iconic matchup.
#3: Buddy Matthews ought to have a singles feud with Malakai Black
In case All Elite Wrestling does pull the trigger on splitting up The House of Black, one way the angle could play out could witness Buddy Matthews turning on or going after Malakai Black.
Although The Best Kept Secret has been teammates with the former Tommy End ever since his AEW debut, the two have also been rivals in the past, facing each other several times during their stint in WWE and even in the independent circuit in 2021.
In most of their past encounters, Malakai has been victorious against Matthews. The dissolution of The House of Black could thus provide the former Buddy Murphy with an opportunity to challenge Black one-on-one in an All Elite Wrestling ring. A long-running feud between the two men could benefit them, especially if they are both pushed as singles competitors moving forward.
It remains to be seen what Tony Khan and company have planned for Malakai Black and The Hose of Black in AEW.