Overview
- In an interview Tuesday on The Ariel Helwani Show, MJF named Malakai Black as the clearest case of a wrestler trying to use AEW to return to WWE.
- MJF said AEW has since weeded out performers he viewed as short‑timers and credited that cull with a stronger, more unified locker room.
- He claimed many wrestlers who aimed to jump back to WWE after leveraging AEW would be asked to take 50% pay cuts or be released.
- Black, known as Malakai Black in AEW and Aleister Black in WWE, worked in AEW from 2021 to 2025, returned to WWE, and was released after about a year, according to reporting.
- Framing himself as a long‑tenured leader, MJF said he turned down WWE interest to build his legacy in AEW as he heads into Sunday’s Double or Nothing main event against Darby Allin in New York.