Since being released by WWE in June, Malakai Black has let fans in on his creative process and using easter eggs in his storytelling.
Black has played off his WWE history in AEW by marking his right eye, which was damaged during his WWE run.
Speaking to Chris Jericho on Talk Is Jericho, Black discussed how Jericho and his facial expressions helped him when it comes to storytelling.
"One of the things that (Chris Jericho) did with Shawn Michaels, taught me (how to use facials to express). We're in Shawn's class and he's showing us the angle with his wife involved. You gave the shove, he hits his wife, and you do something with your facials that tells me, 'I shouldn't have done that, but I'm taking full advantage of it.' You didn't say anything. It was a non-verbal cue. I remember seeing that and going, 'I have so much to learn.' It was one of those things where I was like, 'This is what wrestling is.' It isn't all kicks and punches, it's a lot of what you do before, after, and how you connect it. Stuff like that, when I question myself, it's stuff like that that validates that I'm making the right steps," he said.
Black is referring to the angle between Jericho and Michaels in 2008, which involved Jericho striking Michaels' wife.
Speaking about that moment, Jericho said, "It was Vince [McMahon] who said to me, 'Don't sell it like laughing. Sell it like, oh shit, I shouldn't have done that. Take advantage of it, but deep down inside, you know you went too far and you're gonna die.' It was a great point from him because most heels would be like 'rub your mustache' and this was the opposite. Wrestling really is facials and storytelling and connecting the stories to the crowd."
Jericho and Michaels would settle things in a ladder match at No Mercy 2008 with Jericho retaining the World Heavyweight Championship.
Elsewhere during the podcast, Black discussed his final WWE TV appearance. You can find his full comments by clicking here.
If you use any of the quotes above, please credit the original source with a h/t and link back to Fightful for the transcription.
