2 Vignettes Tease Arrival Of Former AEW Stars

WWE SmackDown at the Olympic Arena in Barcelona, Spain, had great energy, thanks to the vibrant fans. However, beyond the Street Profits winning the tag team championships over DIY, the most memorable moments came from a pair of vignettes that ran during the program.

After they aired and were reposted online, many fans are convinced the two videos were teasers for the arrival of a pair of long-awaited AEW stars set to arrive—and, in one instance, return—to WWE.

This is Ray Fenix for Sure

With Penta having arrived to much fanfare and success—including a long and respectable run in the Royal Rumble—most have been anxiously awaiting the arrival of Rey Fenix. The two are brothers in real life and have been linked for years, including during their time in AEW.

Once this vignette ran on SmackDown, it seems Fenix is coming sooner rather than later.

What some are wondering is whether Fenix will arrive as a friend or foe to Penta. At this point, it seems more likely Fenix and Penta will rejoin their tag team and initially engage in a feud with Ludwig Kaiser and Pete Dunne.

That duo has squabbled with Penta over the past few weeks, and things are set up for Fenix to arrive with a splash similar to the one his brother enjoyed. It’s only a matter of time before they are in the running for tag team gold—if not in line for some singles success.

Penta and Fenix are two of the most exciting in-ring performers in professional wrestling. It’s great to see them have an opportunity to perform on the biggest stage the industry has to offer.

By joining WWE at this time, the brothers are arriving during an era when exposure is at its highest, and they have the best chance to be featured fairly.

This Could Be Malakai Black, Right?

The other vignette that ran was a little tougher to decipher. Many believe it is associated with the return of Aleister Black or Malakai Black—whichever name he settles on. No one doubts the charismatic star is headed back to WWE, as rumors have swirled about his return over the past six months.

What we don’t know is if the vignette on SmackDown was referring to him. Take a look:

The number “4” doesn’t seem to have much of a connection to Black, but perhaps it’s something that will be unveiled at a later time. Black’s return will be a family affair as well. His wife is Zelina Vega, and she is a member of the Latino World Order faction and a part of the SmackDown women’s roster.

If the “4” is not related to Black, the only other performer that comes to mind is Hikuleo. He has seemingly been on the WWE roster for months but has yet to make an appearance on WWE TV. Like Black, it’s tough to determine what the “4” would have to do with Hikuleo, who is the real-life brother of Tama Tonga and Tonga Loa and the son of WWE Hall of Famer Haku.

However, also like Black, perhaps the significance of the number will be tied to Hikuleo in some way down the line.

With WWE on a high-profile European tour, it’s possible the answer to all of these questions could be revealed before the end of the month when the promotion returns to the United States.