Aleister Black is officially back in action—and he’s not Aleister anymore. The moment he became free to wrestle again, he reverted to the name fans knew from his AEW run: Malakai Black. His first matches since leaving WWE are now set, marking a major return to the independent scene.
On August 12, PROGRESS Wrestling announced that Malakai Black will compete on its Odyssey Tour in September. The promotion made his comeback official using the Malakai name, confirming that his WWE-era identity is already in the rearview mirror.
This won’t be a one-night appearance. Black is advertised for three stops on the tour: Edinburgh, Leeds and Manchester. PROGRESS promoted the announcement by calling him one of the biggest names in the industry and teased that he’s returning with a specific purpose.
The promotion noted that Malakai has held championships in every major company he’s worked for and hinted that he’s coming back with “one major goal.” What that goal is remains unknown, but the messaging suggests he isn’t returning just to make cameos—he’s coming back to make an impact.
The name change is significant. After returning to WWE earlier this year, he competed as Aleister Black. But once his run ended in April, the Aleister name ended with it. His first matches back on the independent scene will be under the Malakai Black identity, signaling a clean break from his WWE chapter.
The announcement arrives shortly after Malakai resurfaced in a cinematic video declaring, “I am the death of me.” The footage showed him reflecting on gear from both his WWE and AEW careers before revealing a shaved head and diving into intense MMA-style training. At the time, he didn’t reveal where he was heading next.
Now the picture is clear. Aleister Black left WWE in April. Malakai Black returns to the ring in September—and PROGRESS Wrestling will host the first chapter of his comeback.
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