Updated

Updated · Fox News · Aug 27

MLW Draws Tessa Blanchard, Aleister Black Interest as Austin Aries Cites 4 Distribution Platforms

Updated

Updated · Fox News · Aug 27

MLW Draws Tessa Blanchard, Aleister Black Interest as Austin Aries Cites 4 Distribution Platforms

Q: Despite bold claims of unprecedented growth, why did MLW's high-profile negotiations with top-tier talent like Malakai Black suddenly stall?

MLW’s talks with Malakai Black appear to have stalled not because of a breakdown, but because they never advanced beyond an early exploratory stage. Fightful Select reported that MLW and Black had only “preliminary contact” several months ago, shortly after his WWE release, and that the conversations “didn’t go very far.” Just as importantly, sources said “things didn’t go awry,” meaning there was no reported falling-out, dispute, or hard collapse in negotiations. Black remains a free agent, and there has been no sign that talks later picked back up. That matters because Austin Aries’ comments about MLW’s momentum speak more to growing visibility than to completed signings. Being linked to names like Black and Tessa Blanchard showed MLW was entering more serious talent conversations, but the reporting does not support the idea that Black was ever close to a deal. The broader context also suggests practical limits. MLW is expanding distribution and profile, but it still operates in a market where high-profile free agents can weigh multiple options, short-term bookings, and financial leverage. Black has since been announced for PROGRESS dates, indicating he is taking outside appearances while keeping his options open. So the stall was less a sudden reversal than a case of early interest failing to mature into meaningful negotiations. The buzz around MLW was real, but in Black’s case, it reflected attention and access, not an imminent signing.

1 articles · Updated · Fox News · Aug 27

Austin Aries said MLW’s links to Tessa Blanchard and Aleister Black reflect the promotion’s strongest-ever roster and business position as its industry profile rises.
4 distribution outlets — YouTube, Veeps, beIN Sports and New Japan World — have made MLW more accessible, Aries said, helping attract talent willing to discuss joining.
Court Bauer said earlier this month that MLW was in talks to bring in Blanchard, while Fightful Select reported preliminary contact with Black, who remains a free agent.
Aries, the MLW openweight champion, argued the company now offers a broad mix of styles, women’s wrestling and tag teams while keeping live events family-friendly and affordable.