Wrestling Duo Returns Independent
Malakai Black and Zelina Vega Mark Independent Wrestling Return with PROGRESS Dates
Key Points
MLW had preliminary talks with Malakai Black a couple of weeks after WWE release, but the discussions didn’t advance and there has been no renewed movement between the two sides.
Malakai Black is slated to wrestle three PROGRESS Wrestling dates in September (Edinburgh, Leeds, Manchester) under his Malakai Black name, marking a formal return to the independent circuit.
Zelina Vega will also appear on the PROGRESS Odyssey Tour, signaling the couple’s first matches back on the independent scene since their post-WrestleMania 42 WWE cuts.
Black released a cinematic video after his WWE exit showing gear from both WWE and AEW, a shaved head, MMA-style training, and the line 'I am the death of me,' signaling a dramatic new chapter.
Although some outlets later claimed Black returned to WWE in 2025, Fightful Select has indicated there is no confirmed return and the situation remains fluid.
Malakai Black is officially a free agent, and his next steps are coming into focus. According to Fightful Select, Black held preliminary talks with Major League Wrestling shortly after his WWE release, but those discussions never moved forward.
Black has since committed to the independent scene. He will wrestle three dates on the PROGRESS Wrestling Odyssey Tour in September — Edinburgh, Leeds, and Manchester — under the Malakai Black name. His wife, Zelina Vega, will also appear on the tour.
MLW Talks Stalled After WWE Release
A few weeks after Black's WWE exit, MLW reached out. The two sides held preliminary contract talks, according to TJR Wrestling. But the discussions did not go far. As of now, there is no renewed movement between the two sides.
Sescoops confirmed that MLW was the only promotion Black actually spoke with following his departure. Reports of talks with AEW have circulated, but Fightful Select has stated there are no active negotiations with the company at this time.
PROGRESS Tour Marks Black's Independent Return
Black signed on for three PROGRESS Wrestling shows this September. The stops are Edinburgh, Leeds, and Manchester — all part of the promotion's Odyssey Tour. This marks his formal return to live independent wrestling following his post-WrestleMania 42 WWE cut.
Zelina Vega will also appear on the tour. The couple were both released by WWE around the same time. Their PROGRESS bookings mark the first confirmed live dates for either since leaving the company, according to WhatCulture.
Cinematic Video Signals a Dark New Direction
Shortly after his WWE exit, Black released a cinematic video. The clip showed gear from both WWE and AEW, a shaved head, and MMA-style training footage. He spoke the line: 'I am the death of me.' The video made clear he is positioning himself for a major reinvention.
The imagery was deliberate. Including both WWE and AEW gear suggested Black is not locked into any one path. The shaved head and combat training visuals pointed toward a harder, more intense character, according to Rajah.
WWE Return Rumors Persist But Remain Unconfirmed
Some outlets have reported that Black returned to WWE in 2025. But Fightful Select has pushed back on those claims. No confirmed deal has been announced. His status as a free agent remains officially in place.
The situation is described as fluid. Black has PROGRESS dates locked in for September. Beyond that, his long-term destination — WWE, AEW, MLW, or the full independent circuit — remains an open question, according to Yahoo Sports.
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