Malakai Black stepping away is the right move for his mental health

Malakai Black taking a hiatus from AEW is the break he needed for a long time.

Since debuting in AEW,  Malakai Black came in on fire and grabbed the attention of fans. There were high expectations on him the minute he stepped into the ring. It eventually led to him leading the way with the House of Black as they methodically left their mark on AEW.

The expectations eventually lead to impatience, as fans wanted to see Black reach the main event picture, or at least find his way into a major title feud. Even though the support is there, it turned back to an old issue where fan influence could either empower or add pressure to a star. It reminds us of a time before Black came to AEW and fans pushed for him to be used better on WWE shows. That didn’t happen and led to his eventual departure from the promotion.

The pressure Malakai Black endured before and during AEW.

When Black debuted in NXT, he became a top prospect right from the start. This was while NXT was going through great changes with superstars being called up on the main roster fast. That pressure continued after his reign as he went on Monday Night Raw and it showed no sign of stopping anytime soon even as he moved to Smackdown.

It was to the point that Black couldn’t even have a segment without being criticized. It didn’t help matters when it seemed like WWE had no idea where they were going with his storyline at all. It only added fuel to the fire as fans grew impatient and awaited a major feud on the program. Even as WWE seemingly kept him out of major angles, they booked him very well, keeping him undefeated for an extended period of time on the main roster.

The pressure continued to grow as he made the transition from WWE to AEW. It was a different kind of pressure that reached an unhealthy level already, but it was clear that the fans had something else in mind when he signed to AEW.

Since the culture in AEW contrasted with the culture in WWE, it equaled a lot of excitement for wrestling fans across the board. It also ramped up the pressure in a different way that was different than his previous run in WWE.

While Malakai made himself known to fans in his new home, there was a lot of speculation about his spot in the company. He started at the very top with the best possible debut as he went straight for Cody Rhodes.

This gave fans hope that their favorite superstar would be pushed to the moon as champion sooner rather than later. With the creative difference and how much Malakai can take matters into his own hand and show fans his true form.

However, fans grew restless with his role and another issue came full circle. This company likes to draw stories out and allow superstars time to develop. It contrasts since Malakai was doing it his way to slowly spread the darkness across the roster.

It hits a major issue that fans want results and satisfaction right then and there even when the storyline may be rushed. They want results right then and there with superstars getting all or they will proclaim that the stars are giving nothing to the program.

This is the new pressure since Malakai has debuted in AEW with an atmosphere that has an expectation of top stars getting everything immediately. It’s a lose-lose situation where it doesn’t matter what Black does because the pressure of success is still there.

That’s why Malakai Black taking this hiatus is long overdue and it will help him in every aspect. When there is nonstop pressure for any star, it’s bound to make everything difficult that they intend to do and it’s time to reset.

Hopefully, this hiatus gives Malakai everything he needs and there is high hope that the pressure will be off and Malakai will be allowed to work no matter what happens next. This may be the rejuvenation needed to bring energy to a new level with hopefully no pressure.

All of us wish the best to Malakai Black and hope that there will be no pressure and energy like never before to allow him to work his magic. No matter when he comes back, hopefully, he will be given a fair chance without the pressure of status and standing as a measuring stick on AEW.