Malakai Black Credits Big Damo for Support During Difficult WWE Tenure
- Professional wrestler Malakai Black has publicly credited Big Damo—formerly known in WWE as Killian Dain—for pulling him out of a severe mental health slump following his second departure...
- Damo was the first person to reach out with a message that truly resonated.
- Black returned to WWE as Aleister Black in 2025 after spending several years in AEW.
Professional wrestler Malakai Black has publicly credited Big Damo—formerly known in WWE as Killian Dain—for pulling him out of a severe mental health slump following his second departure from World Wrestling Entertainment. Black detailed the experience during an appearance on the ZELVX and CHARLIE GIRL podcast. Black described his final year in WWE as a frustrating experience defined by unfulfilled promises. The mental toll weighed heavily on him after his release.
A Second WWE Departure and Creative Stagnation
The Voicemail That Drove It Home
Damo was the first person to reach out with a message that truly resonated. “Damo has been around my career, you know, especially the up part of my career, for a very long time,” Black said on the podcast. “When I got released, the first person on the phone to send me a message that really hit me on a deep level was Damo. Damo sent some words to me, and I think I showed you the message, like the voicemail that he sent to me, that really, really drove home.” He continued, noting the impact on his well-being: “And it really pulled me out of, like, a really bad spot that I was mentally because of, you know, obvious things … You know, I can pretend that it didn’t suck, but of course it sucks. It always sucks, you know what I mean? And in my case, it sucked harder because of the mountains of things that were, like, promised and all the other conversations, and then, like, being presented with this f*cking dud of a year.”
From Aleister Black to Independent Circuit Stints
Black returned to WWE as Aleister Black in 2025 after spending several years in AEW. His second stint with the promotion ended in April 2026 when he was included in roster cuts. Following his release, he reverted to using the Malakai Black ring name.
Championship Gold at PROGRESS Wrestling
Following his WWE departure, Black returned to PROGRESS Wrestling. Damo serves as part of the promotion’s leadership team under its current ownership group. On September 6, Black defeated Cara Noir at the O2 Ritz in Manchester to capture the PROGRESS Men’s World Championship for the first time, establishing a new chapter in his career alongside his longtime colleague.
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