Malakai Black Drops AEW Name To Return As Tommy End At PROGRESS Event

Former WWE and AEW star Malakai Black formally closed the chapter on his national television persona on September 27, dropping his ring name to officially return as Tommy End following his PROGRESS Men’s World Championship match.

The emotional moment came at the conclusion of his title defense against Cara Noir, who regained the championship gold in the main event.

Emotional In-Ring Speech And Name Change Announcement

Rather than heading directly to the back after losing the title, the veteran took to the microphone to address the crowd and express deep gratitude to the promotion that helped propel his international career.

Black emphasized that his success across WWE and AEW was built on the foundation established during his early runs in PROGRESS Wrestling. He revealed his return was never intended as a brief cameo, stating,

“Without this place, I wouldn’t have the WWEs, AEWs, and I only have the platform now because of people like you and companies like PROGRESS. I know wrestlers like to come out here and say that, but I’ve been PROGRESS from the start. That’s why, when I got released, Damo was the first one on the phone and said, ‘Come back.’ He asked, ‘When? Where? How many times?’ I said, ‘However long you want,’ because I’m in for the long haul.”

Before exiting the ring, he delivered the definitive declaration that officially retired his AEW identity, telling the crowd,

“Hey, you clearly need your reference ready—it’s not Malakai Black, it’s Tommy End.”

The announcement confirms that as he embarks on this extended run with PROGRESS, he will compete exclusively under the moniker that first established him on the independent scene.

Malakai Black has lost the PROGRESS Men’s World Championship to Cara Noir.

After the match he says he’s not finished with PROGRESS.

“It’s not Malakai Black. It’s Tommy End.” pic.twitter.com/b4p14V4VDd
— 𝐃𝐫𝐚𝐕𝐞𝐧 (@WrestlingCovers) September 27, 2026