New reports provide updates on the contracts of AEW stars Malakai Black and Buddy Matthews.
Ibou of WrestlePurists sparked some buzz after reporting that Buddy Matthews had re-signed with AEW while Malakai Black had a short amount of time left on his contract.
Sean Ross Sapp of Fightful (via Fightful Select) reports that, internally, AEW claimed that Matthews’ deal would have had to be extended “quite a while back”. It was not clear whether this was a new contract or option years being picked up. Per Sapp, there had been internal talk that AEW had options years on his deal.
Additionally, Mike Johnson of PWInsider reports that Matthews signed a new deal in February, and the length had not been confirmed.
As for Black, Tony Khan previously said in 2022. that Black had nearly five years left on his deal. Sapp had reported that there was a conditional aspect that could potentially cut that time. Sapp cites sources who shared their belief that Black’s deal reaches “towards the end of the year.” The report notes that at one point, two option years were applied. Johnson writes that Black’s deal takes him into 2025. Khan’s comments on Black’s contract complicate the situation.
Black made his AEW debut in July 2021. Matthews signed with the company and debuted in February 2022. Together, they are former AEW World Trios Champions alongside Brody King.
WrestleZone will provide more information as it becomes available.
