Malakai Black is a Dutch professional wrestler known for his dark, striking-based in-ring style and intense character work. Competing under multiple ring names during his career—including Tommy End, Aleister Black, and Malakai Black—he has built a reputation as a technically skilled striker who blends martial-arts influence with dramatic storytelling inside the ring. Standing about 6 ft 0 in (183 cm) and weighing around 215 lb (98 kg), he is known for his signature kick-based offense, particularly the finishing move Black Mass.
Büdgen began his professional wrestling career in 2002, initially competing across the European independent circuit under the ring name Tommy End. Over the following decade he gained recognition in promotions such as Progress Wrestling, Pro Wrestling Guerrilla, Insane Championship Wrestling (ICW), and Westside Xtreme Wrestling (wXw), capturing several championships and building an international reputation.
In 2016, he signed with WWE and debuted on the company’s NXT brand under the ring name Aleister Black. His momentum quickly grew, culminating in victory over Andrade “Cien” Almas at NXT TakeOver: New Orleans (2018) to win the NXT Championship, a title he held for 108 days.
Black later transitioned to WWE’s main roster, appearing on Raw and SmackDown between 2019 and 2021, where he competed in singles matches and briefly teamed with Ricochet.
In July 2021, he debuted in All Elite Wrestling (AEW) under the ring name Malakai Black, attacking Cody Rhodes on AEW Dynamite. He later formed the faction House of Black, which went on to capture the AEW World Trios Championship with Black as its central figure.
Before joining major global promotions, Büdgen established himself as one of Europe’s most respected independent wrestlers. Competing as Tommy End, he won championships in several promotions and became particularly prominent in Westside Xtreme Wrestling, where he captured the wXw Unified World Heavyweight Championship and other titles. His international schedule included appearances throughout Europe, North America, and Japan, helping him develop a global following before entering WWE.
Malakai Black’s in-ring approach is heavily influenced by kickboxing, Muay Thai, and martial arts, disciplines he studied earlier in life. His offense emphasizes precision strikes, spinning kicks, and sudden finishing sequences that contrast with the more traditional grappling-based wrestling style. This striking approach, combined with a dark, mystic character presentation, has made him one of the more distinctive performers in modern professional wrestling.
Malakai Black is a Dutch professional wrestler whose distinctive striking style, dark persona, and international championship success have made him a recognizable figure in modern wrestling. From his early independent career as Tommy End to his championship run in WWE’s NXT and leadership of the House of Black in AEW, he has built a reputation as a technically skilled and visually unique performer across major wrestling promotions.
Netherlands
