Malakai Black Wins PROGRESS Men’s Championship In First Match Since Leaving WWE

Malakai Black is the new PROGRESS Men’s Champion.

On April 24, Aleister Black was named among the post-WrestleMania WWE talent cuts. Today, he made his first wrestling appearance since his release, returning home to a promotion that helped make his name.

Taking place at the 02 Ritz in Manchester, Black wrestled PROGRESS Men’s Champion Cara Noir during “The Odyssey Tour”. Not only did he make his first post-WWE appearance, he defeated Noir to become the Progress Wrestling Men’s Champion for the first time in his career.

Black previously wrestled for PROGRESS between 2013 and 2016. As well as competing in the singles division, he featured in a tag team alongside Michael Dante as The Sumerian Death Squad. Black also won the Super Strong Style 16 Tournament in 2016.

Black initially left the promotion almost exactly a decade ago, making his last appearance at one of PROGRESS Wrestling’s biggest shows at the time entitled “We’re Gonna Need A Bigger Room Again” on September 25, 2016, at Brixton Academy.

From there, Black would sign with NXT, where he became an NXT Champion. He would move to the WWE main roster, also having a four-year stint in AEW beginning in 2021. Black returned to WWE in April 2025, but the run was short lived as he was released a year later.

Having won the PROGRESS Wrestling Championship in his first match back, attention now turns to what the former SmackDown star does next. On that note, Black suggested that his time on TV may not be done as he begins the next portion of his careers

As always we will aim to provide any further updates on what’s next for Malakai Black as soon as we hear more.