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AEW teams up with CMLL and NJPW for the latest installment of "Forbidden Door".

AEW surprisingly went on the record to confirm that they are not talking to recently fired WWE star Aleister Black about a new contract. The recent news of Black getting released saw his WWE tenure ending after just one year back in the company. AEW employed him under the name of Malakai Black for years until he let his contract expire in favor of another WWE run.

Rumors started circulating this week about AEW holding interest in bringing back Black and engaging in contract talks. However, AEW employees answered Fightful’s calls and shut down the rumor.

Fightful reporter Sean Ross Sapp reported the following news about AEW and Black:

“AEW has denied to Fightful that they are currently in negotiations with Malakai Black.”

Fired WWE stars typically have a 90-day contract clause before they are legally able to work for another promotion with a television deal. AEW legally wouldn’t have been able to sign Black to a contract now, even if they wanted.

Time will tell if AEW has any interest in bringing Black back to the promotion. Tony Khan has shown he will give talents another chance after he brought back Andrade in a similar situation. The situation depends on how Khan feels about Black and if he likes his work enough to sign the free agent again.

Why Most Expect AEW To Pass On Aleister Black

Multiple people related to AEW have already said negative things about the potential of bringing Black to the company. Rumors have existed for a long time that Black refused to lose matches and upset a lot of the other performers in the locker room.

AEW’s top star MJF posted a story on Instagram implying that he and others don’t want Black to return shortly after the news of the release. Office employee Shawn Dean expressed negative reactions to the idea of Black coming back when asked on Twitter.

Black has a lot working against him with many talents clearly not enjoying him and fans now viewing him as a prima donna. AEW could give him another chance, but things will need to change for him to have any chance at success.

Free Agents AEW Will Likely Have Interest In

WWE has lost a lot of great talent over the past few weeks due to the releases and names refusing to take a pay cut. New Day’s Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods seem like no-brainers for dream tag team feuds against the Young Bucks, FTR, and Adam Copeland & Christian Cage.

The Motor City Machine Guns are another legendary team hitting the free agent market and have a style that fits perfectly in AEW. Female performers Kay Lee Ray, Zoey Stark, and Kairi Sane could all help the women’s division.

AEW will have plenty of options to choose from and already have one of their best rosters in years going strong right now. Black’s chances of returning to AEW is far slimmer than other names on the market that are easy fits for the tag team or women’s divisions.