In this WrestleTalk News, Malakia Black requests AEW release?
Bobby Fish gone from AEW, and Tony Khan media call gaffs aplenty.
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Another day, another so-and-so is unhappy in AEW story, what a difference a year makes.
With rumors regarding Bobby Fish being done with AEW swirling, more on that in a bit,
another name was added to the mix.
Because there were rumblings about the fall of the House of Black, as some Twitter accounts
posted that Malakai Black had reportedly asked for his release.
Wrestling Inc’s Raj Giri tweeted then later deleted to say he had heard someone had asked
for their release and signs pointed to Black being unhappy.
“I heard an AEW star requested their release, and follow up sources indicate it was Malakai
Black.
He reportedly has repeatedly shown concerns about his mental health due to personal life
and demoralization due to the booking and handling of his character.”
“I reached out to AEW for comment earlier today and will provide any updates should
I receive anything.”
Giri noted that the heard that Black’s release wasn’t granted, but as I say the tweet wasn’t
long for this world and was deleted.
Fightful Select then did some follow up work looking into it.
They said that they had “heard that rumor within the AEW roster that Black had been
unhappy, but the reason why wasn't something we could report without confirming first-hand.
There were outside sources that indicated Black had asked for his release, but we've
not been able to confirm that with the company.”
“AEW sources that we spoke to that had claimed Black wasn't happy, also said that they believed
things had been smoothed over to some degree.
Black is signed to a five-year AEW contract that has four years left on it.”
Then in the midst of all this happening it was announced that Black would be appearing
at All Out in a trios match with fellow House of Black members Brody King and Buddy Matthews
taking on Sting, Darby Allin and Miro.
Speaking of Miro, the name of the Redeemer was another one cited by those less than reliable
posters as somebody apparently unhappy in AEW and asking for his release.
However Fightful’s following up found that this was “denied completely and repeatedly
by sources”, saying it was “just all untrue”.
Miro re-signed with AEW last year, keeping him in the company until early 2026, and the
rumbling is that he was angling for a increased deal on his second contract and reportedly
that came to fruition, good on him.
But some releases do happen, because yesterday we were talking about the young Bobbert Fish
who it was reported would not be having his AEW contract renewed when it came up whenever
that was.
Well, that was two days ago apparently.
Wrestling Observer Radio’s Bryan Alvarez and Dave Meltzer had a little chat about it,
with Bryan saying: “It looks like Bobby Fish is likely done.
His AEW contract expires I believe today.”
And Dave following up with: “It sounds early because he started in October, but I know
you’re right.
It’s not ‘probably’ – he’s done.
It’s confirmed, he’s done.
Whatever the deal was, either he was not offered a renewal or he chose not to be renewed.”
And an update from PW Insider said that AEW had confirmed that Fish’s contract came
up on August 31st, meaning he is officially a free agent.
Fish’s AEW definitely seems sudden, not only because he started in October so hasn’t
done a full year, but also because it seemed as if AEW were building to the Undisputed
Elite vs Kenny and the Bucks.
What do you think Fish should do next?
Let me know in the comments down below.
With the drum being banged by the wrestling media rumor engine that people are unhappy
backstage at AEW, Tony Khan has an uphill PR battle ahead of him to assure everyone
that AEW is fine.
And seemingly some of the pressure of that and having to compete with a revamped WWE,
one that some wrestlers actually want to do back to, seems to be getting to him.
On the All Out Media Call Khan was asked about his choices when it comes to promo time, specifically
when it came to champions announcing their injuries.
In this instance CM Punk who was given an 8 minute promo segment on Rampage to announce
his injury, AEW Women’s Champion Thunder Rosa was given a backstage segment with Tony
Schiavone on Dynamite that only lasted a minute.
TK said: "I give the TV time based on what I believe is going to draw the most ratings.
If you want my honest opinion on an eight-minute Thunder Rosa promo vs an eight-minute CM Punk
promo, then you're going to get an honest answer, and I think the eight-minute CM Punk
promo is probably going to do a better rating ... To come out and do a live eight-minute
promo, I'm not sure that would've been good for the television show, to be honest with
you."
He said the quiet part out loud there.
This drew some flack on social media with people saying that TK was backing up the age
old wrestling adage that ‘women don’t draw’.
I don’t think it’s quite that in the case of CM Punk vs just about anyone when it comes
to promo time, an 8 minute Punk promo would outdraw most things, but it’s a slippery
slope.
Because I think in this case the bigger issue is that AEW programming has been criticized
heavily by many fans for not featuring their women’s roster evenly, and it’s a self
fulfilling prophecy to not feature half of your roster on TV to make them seem important
and then point to the fact that nobody is really that interested as if that proves anything.
You are in control to a degree of what is deemed interesting, because you have to make
the fuss about it, wrestling is about making a fuss.
Never mind eh?
TK decided that he would smooth over that gaffe in his usual way, by either hiring new
people or announcing more matches.
In this instance he announced that he might add even more matches to the card for All
Out: On the media call he teased that he would
be interested in potentially adding more matches both to the main card of the show and the
Zero Hour pre-show.
As it stands All Out has 11 matches on it and the pre-show will feature 3.
This PPV is going to go on for years - I do not envy the people doing live reactions,
especially after our SOLD OUT watchalong party for Clash at the Castle, looking forward to
seeing you there if you’re coming along!
Another question that cropped up on the media call was about the potential of AEW working
with WWE following the near complete change of management at the latter company.
AEW saw much success recently with their NJPW crossover PPV Forbidden Door and have continued
to feature talent from the top Japanese company even now, Will Ospreay and United Empire were
on Dynamite just this week.
Now obviously, it seemed like a brave new world for wrestling alliances when Triple
H took over the creative reigns and Stephanie McMahon took the mantle of CEO, but that was
before all the reported contract tampering and booking an NXT event mere hours before
All Out.
Asked on the Media Call whether he thinks a join PPV or something similar could ever
be in the works, TK noted: “I was pretty optimistic when they first
made the change, but I’m less optimistic now, given how they’ve treated me.”
Rumblings from the other side had suggested that the new trio in charge Nick, Steph and
Trips were open to the idea of the two companies working together in the future.
But we all know now that was just a way to get close to the AEW talent and steal them.
So transparent.
One more talent who has been spending time in AEW also seems to be done with them for
the foreseeable future.
Will Ospreay, the man of the five star match, and someone certainly gunning for a wrestler
of the year award or two considering his output in 2022, finished up the AEW Trios Championship
tournament coming up short against the team of Kenny Omega and the Young Bucks in a match
on Dynamite.
Post-show Ospreay tweeted to say: “For the foreseeable future my time with @AEW is done
thanks to @TonyKhan for having your own mind and not listening to @KennyOmegamanX attempts
at blocking me from coming to do a few matches for ya.
We are even for now Ken, keep your mouth shut & we won’t have any issues.”
That slow burn Kenny Omega 1-on-1 still in the works then lads?
Aside from attempting to pinch their former talent back from AEW, WWE have been hoovering
up any and all ex-stars released during Vince’s frequent bouts of house cleaning/profit margin
extending.
One name that they are looking to bring back is Braun Strowman, who according to PW Insider
is set to return to the company as soon as next week.
According to the report Strowman is set to be at Monday’s Raw taping in Kansas City.
It had recently been reported that Strowman was among names pitched or discussed for a
return to the company, following Triple H taking over WWE creative after Vince McMahon’s
retirement and departure.
Strowman was released from WWE in June 2021 and has since been working the independent
circuit either under his real name Adam Scherr or as The Titan and formed the Control Your
Narrative promotion alongside another former WWE talent EC3.