House of Black

For the fictional house in Harry Potter, see Sirius Black § Family.

The Hounds of Hell, formerly known as the House of Black, is a professional wrestling stable, performing in All Elite Wrestling (AEW). The group consists of Brody King, Buddy Matthews, and Julia Hart. The group was formerly led by Malakai Black. Black, King and Matthews are former one-time AEW World Trios Champions; while Black and King also wrestle for Pro Wrestling Guerrilla (PWG), where they are the final PWG World Tag Team Champions in one time. Hart is a former one-time AEW TBS Champion.

House of Black
The stable's logo as House of Black
Stable
Members	Brody King Buddy Matthews Julia Hart
Name(s)	Hounds of Hell House of Black
Former member(s)	Malakai Black (leader)
Debut	August 1, 2021
Years active	2021–present

The group started in PWG at Mystery Vortex 7 in 2021, where Black and King formed a tag team called Kings of the Black Throne. They would win the promotion's World Tag Team Championship later that year. King joined AEW in 2022, where Black was already competing, thus bringing the Kings of the Black Throne to AEW and starting the formation of the House of Black.^[1] Their motto is "The House Always Wins."^[2] In 2025, Black left the group and it was renamed to the "Hounds of Hell".^[3][4]

History

Pro Wrestling Guerrilla (2021–present)

Malakai Black made his surprise return to Pro Wrestling Guerrilla (PWG) at Mystery Vortex 7, the promotion's first event since 2019, on August 1, 2021, by aiding Brody King in rescuing the PWG World Champion Bandido from an assault by Super Dragon, Black Taurus and Demonic Flamita. Black announced that he would be back the following month and King said that he would follow Black where he would go, thus forming a tag team called Kings of the Black Throne. At Threemendous VI, Kings of the Black Throne defeated Taurus and Flamita to win the vacant World Tag Team Championship.

All Elite Wrestling (2022–present)

House of Black (2022–2024)

House of Black - from right to left: Malakai Black, Brody King, and Buddy Matthews - menacing Wheeler Yuta (bottom) at All In in August 2024.

Malakai Black made his All Elite Wrestling debut on the 7 July 2021 episode of Dynamite, attacking Arn Anderson and Cody Rhodes with the Black Mass.^[5] In early 2022, Black began a feud with The Varsity Blonds (Brian Pillman Jr. and Griff Garrison) and Death Triangle (Pac and Penta El Zero Miedo). On the January 12, 2022 episode of Dynamite, Brody King made his AEW debut, thus continuing their team "Kings of the Black Throne" and subsequently forming the stable the House of Black.^[1] On the 23 February 2022 edition of Dynamite, Buddy Matthews made his debut as the third man for the "House of Black".^[6] The trio would defeat Death Triangle and Erick Redbeard at the Revolution buy-in show.^[7]

On the December 8, 2021 edition of Dynamite, Black spat black mist in the eyes of Julia Hart, causing her to later resort to wearing an eye patch, and showing signs of opposition to The Varsity Blondes.^[8][9] At Double Or Nothing, The House of Black faced Death Triangle. During the match, Hart sprayed PAC with black mist and officially joined the stable.^[10][11]

At AEW x NJPW: Forbidden Door on June 26, Black was involved in a four-way match in which he sprayed Miro with black mist, beginning a feud.^[12] Brody King had also begun feuding with Darby Allin, with King losing a Coffin match against Allin on 10 August.^[13] This culminated in a six-man tag team match at All Out on September 4 where Darby Allin, Sting, and Miro defeated House of Black.^[14]

At Revolution in March 5, 2023, the House of Black won the AEW World Trios Championship from The Elite.^[15] They lost the titles to The Acclaimed and Billy Gunn at All In in August 2023.^[16] At Full Gear in November 18, 2023, Julia Hart won the AEW TBS Championship - her first title in AEW after she defeated Skye Blue and former TBS Champion Kris Statlander in a three-way match. At Dynasty, Julia Hart lost the AEW TBS Championship to Willow Nightingale. Between November and December, King participated in the inaugural Continental Classic, where he finished with 6 points in his block, but failed to advance to the semi-finals.

On the June 15, 2024 episode of AEW Collision, the House of Black won a #1 contenders' match for The Patriarchy's AEW World Trios Championships. After the match, Patriarchy leader Christian Cage appeared on the titantron and revealed that they had attacked Matthews with a con-chair-to, turning the entire House of Black stable face for the first time.^[17] On August 25 at All In, the House of Black participated in the ladder match for the AEW World Trios Championships, but failed to win.^[18] On November 23 at Full Gear, Kings of the Black Throne participated in a four-way tag team match for the AEW World Tag Team Championships, but failed to win^[19] Between November and December, King participated in the 2024 Continental Classic, where he finished with 6 points, but failed to advance to the semi-finals.^[20]

Hounds of Hell (2025–present)

On the January 22, 2025 episode of Dynamite, Malakai Black was silently removed from the group.^[3] On the January 25 Homecoming special episode of Collision, the group renamed to the "Hounds of Hell".^[4]

House Rules match

As part of their tenure as the House of Black, select matches involving the stable, such as title matches, are contested under "House Rules"; in May 2023, Matthews specified that a House Rules match would have no rope breaks, enforced disqualifications, and 20 second count outs. As a concession, the House of Black allows their opponent to choose an additional stipulation;^[21] for example, at All In in 2023, The Acclaimed's stipulation for their Trios Championship match against the House was that it was conducted under No Holds Barred rules.

Members

Brody King

Buddy Matthews

Julia Hart

*	Founding member(s)
L	Leader

Current

Member		Joined
Brody King	*II	August 1, 2021
Buddy Matthews		February 23, 2022
Julia Hart		May 29, 2022

Former

Member		Joined	Left
Malakai Black[3]	*L	August 1, 2021	January 22, 2025

Timeline

Sub-groups

Former

Affiliate	Members	Tenure	Type	Promotion(s)
Kings of the Black Throne	Malakai Black Brody King	2021–2025	Tag team	AEW PWG

Championships and accomplishments

The House of Black (left) surrendering the AEW World Trios Championship to The Acclaimed and Billy Gunn at All In in August 2023.

• All Elite Wrestling
  • AEW World Trios Championship (1 time) - Black, King, and Matthews^[22]
  • AEW TBS Championship (1 time) - Hart^[23]
  • Royal Rampage (2022) - King
• Melbourne City Wrestling
  • MCW World Heavyweight Championship (1 time) - Matthews^[24][25]
• New York Post
  • Female Breakout Wrestler of the year (2023) - Hart ^[26]
• Pro Wrestling Guerrilla
  • PWG World Tag Team Championship (1 time, current) – Black and King^[27]
• Pro Wrestling Illustrated
  • Ranked No. 105 of the top 250 women's wrestlers in the PWI Women's 250 in 2023 - Hart^[28]
• Wrestling Observer Newsletter
  • Most Improved (2023) - Hart^[29]

References

1. "God\'s Hate Frontman Brody King Wrestles His First Match In AEW: Watch". Stereogum. 2022-01-20. Retrieved 2022-09-16.
2. Mohan, Sai (2022-05-30). "Julia Hart Reacts After Joining House Of Black At AEW Double Or Nothing". Wrestling Inc. Retrieved 2023-11-18.
3. Rueter, Sean (2025-01-22). "With Malakai Black gone, House of Black tease changes to their act". Cageside Seats. Retrieved 2025-01-28.
4. Pizzazz, Manolo Has (2025-01-25). "AEW Collision Homecoming live results, open thread: Storm meets May, Champ vs. Champ". Cageside Seats. Retrieved 2025-01-26.
5. Powell, Jason (2021-07-07). "7/7 AEW Dynamite results: Powell's live review of The Young Bucks vs. Eddie Kingston and Penta El Zero Miedo in a Street Fight for the AEW Tag Titles, Andrade El Idolo vs. Matt Sydal, Cody Rhodes vs. QT Marshall in a strap match, Santana, Ortiz, and Jake Hager vs. FTR and Wardlow". Pro Wrestling Dot Net. Retrieved 2022-09-16.
6. "Buddy Matthews Makes AEW Debut On 2/23 AEW Dynamite | Fightful News". www.fightful.com. Retrieved 2022-09-16.
7. Renner, Ethan. "Erick Redbeard teaming with Death Triangle at AEW Revolution Buy-In". WON/F4W - WWE news, Pro Wrestling News, WWE Results, AEW News, AEW results. Retrieved 2022-09-16.
8. Clark, Ryan (2021-12-11). "Julia Hart Says Her Sister Cried Following Black Mist Spot On AEW Dynamite". eWrestlingNews.com. Retrieved 2022-09-16.
9. "The Subtle Brilliance Of Julia Hart's Long Term AEW Story". MSN. Retrieved 2022-09-16.
10. Jalbuena, Joan (2022-05-30). "Julia Hart Officially Joins House of Black at AEW Double or Nothing". WrestlingWorld. Retrieved 2022-09-16.
11. G, Joey (2022-09-02). "Brody King Thinks The House Of Black Is The Best "Full Product" In AEW". Wrestling Headlines. Retrieved 2022-09-25.
12. Sachdeva, Sidharth. ""They need TV ratings" - Disco Inferno upset over AEW prolonging the inevitable match between two former WWE Superstars". www.sportskeeda.com. Retrieved 2022-09-16.
13. Fuentes, Jon (2022-08-11). "Darby Allin Defeats Brody King In Epic Coffin Match On AEW Dynamite". eWrestlingNews.com. Retrieved 2022-09-16.
14. "The House of Black is gone from the AEW Trios title tournament". www.cagesideseats.com. 26 August 2022. Retrieved 2022-09-25.
15. Powell, Jason (March 5, 2023). "AEW Revolution results: Powell's live review of MJF vs. Bryan Danielson in an Iron Man match for the AEW World Championship, Jamie Hayter vs. Saraya vs. Ruby Soho in a three-way for the AEW Women's Title, Jon Moxley vs. Hangman Page in a Texas Death match, Samoa Joe vs. Wardlow for the TNT Title, The Elite vs. House of Black for the AEW Trios Titles". Pro Wrestling Dot Net. Retrieved March 6, 2023.
16. Powell, Jason (August 27, 2023). "AEW All In results: Powell's live review of MJF vs. Adam Cole for the AEW World Championship, Will Ospreay vs. Chris Jericho, CM Punk vs. Samoa Joe for the Real World Title, Stadium Stampede". Pro Wrestling Dot Net. Retrieved August 27, 2023.
17. ""AEW Collision Results for June 15, 2024". June 15, 2024. Retrieved August 15, 2024.
18. Staff, A. E. W. (2024-08-25). "AEW: All In London 2024 Results". All Elite Wrestling. Retrieved 2024-11-25.
19. Powell, Jason (2024-11-24). "AEW Full Gear results: Powell's live review of Jon Moxley vs. Orange Cassidy for the AEW World Championship, Mercedes Mone vs. Kris Statlander for the TBS Title, Will Ospreay vs. Kyle Fletcher". Pro Wrestling Dot Net. Retrieved 2024-12-03.
20. Rueter, Sean (2024-12-25). "AEW Dynamite on 34th Street live results, open thread: Worlds End go home". Cageside Seats. Retrieved 2024-12-26.
21. Pizzazz, Manolo Has (2023-05-10). "House of Black clarify Open House rules for AEW Trios title matches". Cageside Seats. Retrieved 2023-12-31.
22. "Official AEW World Trios Championship History". All Elite Wrestling.
23. "TBS Championship History". All Elite Wrestling (AEW). Archived from the original on November 19, 2023. Retrieved November 19, 2023.
24. Kreikenbohm, Philip (28 January 2012). "MCW Heavyweight Championship". Cagematch - The Internet Wrestling Database. Retrieved 21 February 2021.
25. "'It's full circle': Aussie wrestling star Buddy Matthews regains top local title... and proves he's not 'selfish'". Fox Sports. 2023-02-12. Retrieved 2023-02-12.
26. Staszewski, Joseph (December 26, 2023). "The Post's 2023 pro wrestling awards". New York Post. Archived from the original on December 27, 2023. Retrieved December 29, 2023.
27. Kreikenbohm, Philip (September 26, 2021). "PWG World Tag Team Championship". Cagematch - The Internet Wrestling Database. Retrieved December 15, 2021.
28. "PWI Women's 250". Cagematch. Archived from the original on March 17, 2024. Retrieved March 17, 2024.
29. Meltzer, Dave (23 February 2024). "February 26, 2024 Observer Newsletter: 2023 Observer Awards issue". Wrestling Observer Newsletter. Archived from the original on February 23, 2024. Retrieved February 23, 2024.

External links

• House of Black's profile at Cagematch.net, Wrestlingdata.com