Mansoor experienced significant heat backstage following an event in Saudi Arabia, the former WWE Superstar has revealed.
Mansoor was among many Superstars released from WWE in September, alongside his tag-team partner Mace, Dolph Ziggler, Mustafa Ali, Matt Riddle, and others. His release marked the end of Mansoor’s five-year tenure with the promotion. Mansoor joined WWE after being scouted during a 2018 tryout ahead of that year’s Greatest Royal Rumble event.
Mansoor’s Backstage Heat
After being signed by WWE, Mansoor would work a handful of NXT live events to hone his skills and adapt to WWE’s style. Speaking to Instinct Culture, Mansoor recalled committing to a tradition in wrestling in which you shake hands with all those you meet.
“I show up at my first NXT show, and I’m shaking everybody’s hands. And who of all people, Mace, pulls me aside and says, ‘We don’t do that here, okay. That’s an indie thing, all right. You don’t have to do that.”
With this in mind, Mansoor decided against shaking hands when he traveled back to Saudi Arabia for 2019’s Super ShowDown event, though this would be the wrong call.
“I end up going to the Saudi show being like, ‘I’m not gonna bother anybody. I’m not gonna shake anybody’s hand. Huge mistake. Huge mistake. Who pulls me aside but my future wrestling dad, Mustafa Ali. He said, ‘Hey brother, I’m looking out for you because you and me, you know, we’re brothers. You got major heat. You got major heat because not only did you not say hi to everybody, you’re winning the damn Battle Royal that everybody got dragged over here for. And you’re not being gracious about it.’ And I was like, ‘Oh, I was freaking out.’ I was like, ‘Oh my God!’”
Mansoor’s victory in the 51-man battle royal would mark his biggest victory in WWE. With his non-compete clause over, Mansoor has already been making appearances at independent events. Mansoor and Mace will be part of Effy’s Big Gay Brunch event in January.
