Malakai Black Says Big E Feud Was Due To Lead To WWE SummerSlam 2021 Match

Malakai Black has revealed his developing feud with Big E on WWE SmackDown would have led to a match between the duo at WWE SummerSlam 2021.

Black, then known as Aleister Black, attacked Big E on SmackDown in May, only to then be released from his WWE contract just two weeks later.

The 36-year-old has since joined All Elite Wrestling, while Big E has gone on to become WWE Champion on Monday Night Raw, and Black has recalled the pair had been set on a path for a huge match at SummerSlam in August.

Speaking to Alex McCarthy of TalkSPORT, Black said: "The only note that I ever got was that it was going to lead to me and him at SummerSlam. That’s all I know and after that, it was whatever it was going to be.

"He won the world title exactly two months after I got released and he was kind of in limbo but very quickly they were building him up to, rightfully so, be the champion. It’s funny because I did something in my own way that caught the eyes of professional wrestling and he did something that he set out to do since starting his journey in pro wrestling.

"So I messaged him and he gave me the best message back. We were like man, what a difference two months can make for two individuals that were basically lost in the shuffle who were set out to do great things, but then kind of muffled down. In two months, everything changed for the both of us. I have a lot of love and appreciation for Big E, and respect. He's an immensely talented individual."