Black wrestled his first post-WWE match at Dark Arts Gym
Summary
– Malakai Black returned to action on August 22 at Dark Arts Gym
– Black defeated J. Villa in his first match since leaving WWE
– His PROGRESS match against Donovan Dijak is still set for September 4
Malakai Black has officially returned to the ring, competing in his first match since leaving WWE earlier this year.
Black wrestled J. Villa on August 22 at Dark Arts Gym, the wrestling school he operates. The match marked his first appearance inside the ring since his WWE departure in April and gave him an earlier comeback than fans originally expected.
Black showed little visible ring rust during the bout, working through several familiar moves and looking comfortable despite spending months away from competition. He ultimately defeated Villa, officially putting his first post-WWE victory in the books.
The return changes the timeline surrounding Black’s previously announced comeback. PROGRESS Wrestling had promoted his September 4 match against Donovan Dijak in Edinburgh as his first match following his WWE exit.
Instead, Black now heads into that bout with a recent match already behind him. Getting back into the ring at Dark Arts Gym allowed him to test himself before returning to a larger stage overseas.
Black’s September 4 showdown with Dijak remains one of his biggest announced appearances since leaving WWE. With his first match now complete, attention shifts to how he performs when he steps into the ring for PROGRESS.
