Mustafa Ali announced during Thursday’s live episode of TNA Impact that he has officially signed with TNA Wrestling. This move marks Ali’s return to the promotion, where he previously made a significant impact by winning the X-Division Championship in 2024.
As part of his new agreement, Ali is scheduled to appear at six TNA Wrestling events across February and March 2025. His return coincides with TNA’s exciting new multi-year talent exchange partnership with WWE, signaling a collaborative future for both promotions.
Outside of the ring, Ali is focusing on personal projects, including the launch of his Chicago Wrestling Center, which is set to begin training classes in January 2025.
During the interview, Ali also talked about his new wrestling school called Chicago Wrestling Center starting in January 2025, and revealed what advice he would give to anyone who desires to become a pro wrestler.
The 38-year-old first explained that there is ‘never a good time for anything’ and one should find ways to do something if they really want to. He also explained the importance of physical fitness for anyone who wants to enter the business:
“The advice I would give to people that are planning on going to a wrestling school is, I don’t want to say workout, but it’s intense. You have to realize someone else’s life is literally in your hands when you’re picking them up and you’re running and this and that.
So fatigue and weakness from a physical standpoint is very dangerous, both to you and your partner. So I would say that would be my biggest advice, and then be prepared for the mental challenge.”
Continuing the conversation Mustafa Ali noted that his school will not be one of those establishments that take your money even when they don’t see any potential.
Per the former X Division Champion, this school is a passion project for him rather than a financial one and he’ll be screening the applications carefully to find the candidates who really want to train with him.
You can check out Mustafa Ali’s full interview below:
Former WWE superstar Mustafa Ali, who has been actively competing on the independent wrestling circuit since his release in September 2023, remains optimistic about a potential return to WWE. During an interview with Insight host Chris Van Vliet, Ali shared insights into his journey post-WWE and the evolving dynamics of the wrestling industry.
Ali, a former X-Division Champion during his tenure with TNA Wrestling, is also preparing to launch a wrestling school in Chicago next month. He sees WWE’s upcoming transition to Netflix as a potential game-changer, offering new opportunities and flexibility for performers.
“There’s multiple paths. Their move to Netflix is very interesting… it opens up possibilities. I don’t know how much the show is going to change, but it might affect the dynamic, ratings, and what they’re open to.”
Reflecting on his time with WWE and working independently since his release, Ali believes he knows what it would take in order for him to have a more successful run than he did last time.
“Business is so good for them, and I do think there’s a pathway back. Even my release was handled respectfully, with a lot of kind messages exchanged. Ultimately, it’s about building something profitable and aligning with their needs. Wrestling is all about the right place and right time,” he explained.
While Ali is focused on carving his own path, his openness to a WWE return and his forward-thinking perspective highlight his understanding of the wrestling industry’s evolving landscape.
Mustafa Ali has opened up about his injury that led to Kofi Kingston becoming WWE Champion.
The former 205 Live star was set to compete in the 2019 Elimination Chamber match for WWE Championship. Kingston however, replaced Ali in the match due to an injury. While Kofi did not win the bout, his performance in the match led to fans rallying behind him for another opportunity at the title. This eventually led to him winning the first World Championship of his career at WrestleMania 35.
Ali talked about the missed opportunity during a new interview with Chris Van Vliet. He first discussed how Kofi is a really nice guy behind the scenes and noted that the two became really good friends after this series of events. Mustafa Ali called KofiMania a ‘beautiful gift’ but admitted that he felt a little jealous at not being able to compete in the bout:
“Now, no way am I comparing, but as a competitor, of course, there’s some jealousy, right? I’m watching. I’m like, man, could you imagine what a healthy Ali could do in the Elimination Chamber? But then I go and look and I’m so mad at myself. I’m like, if only I didn’t take that bump at the live event. I’m sitting there kind of like, I could have, I would have been fine.”
The former WWE star noted how his wife reminded him about the importance of his health and at the end of the day, he’s happy that he wasn’t allowed to compete with his injury:
“At the end of the day, I’m healthy, I’m happy. Everything works. I’m good. My brain isn’t mush. WWE did the right thing. They protected me for the day. You gotta protect these athletes from themselves, because we have that thing. We get hit, we get up. The instinct is, I’m good.”
Apart from this Ali also talked about being part of the Money In the Bank ladder match which was won by Brock Lesnar, being eliminated from Royal Rumble by Nia Jax and more.
Mustafa Ali recently revealed that when WWE released him in September last year, his wife was set to undergo neck surgery.
Ali dropped a snippet of Immersed: Ali vs. Bailey, a documentary that depicts the build-up and aftermath of Ali’s match against Bailey at last month’s TNA Slammiversary 2024. The former WWE wrestler recalled that on the day he was released, he also was informed that his wife required neck surgery. He said:
“People don’t know that the day I got released, I went upstairs and told my wife the news. Two [or] three minutes later, her doctor called her and she was like, ‘You have a broken neck. You need neck surgery.'”
Ali felt that he managed to shut up a lot of critics following his match against Bailey. It’s been almost a year since his wife received the call about the surgery and Ali provided a positive update on his family. He said:
“My wife’s healthy, my babies are healthy. I’m probably not as healthy after wrestling Mike Bailey, but I think tonight I finally shut up a lot of those critics that thought I couldn’t deliver.”
I received a phone call from WWE that I was being let out of my contract. Minutes later, my family got another phone call.
At Slammiversary, Ali dropped the TNA X-Division Championship to Bailey. He also failed to dethrone Nic Nemeth for the TNA World Championship. Soon, reports emerged which stated that Ali had wrapped up his time with TNA.
Recently, House of Glory Wrestling announced that Mustafa Ali is scheduled to challenge Zilla Fatu for the HOG Crown Jewel Championship at HOG Chicago on September 5 at the Logan Square Auditorium.
This will mark the former WWE star’s third appearance in the promotion. In his previous appearances, he defeated Amazing Red and Alex Shelley. Ali is now aiming a triumphant return to the promotion and end Zilla’s title run.
Mustafa Ali is finishing up with TNA Wrestling and released the following ‘political statement’ addressing his run with the company.
Ali debuted for TNA in the main event of No Surrender, where he challenged and defeated Chris Sabin for the TNA X-Division Championship. He is ‘stepping down’ to focus on independent bookings.
MUSTAFA ALI
August 1, 2024
My Fellow Citizens of TNA,
Over the past six months, we have made great progress as a company.
Today, TNA has the strongest fanbase in the world. We’ve made historic investments in rebuilding our X-Division, in lowering the number of senior citizens on our roster, and in expanding affordable tickets to a record number of fans worldwide. We’ve provided critically needed entertainment to millions. Passed the first “limits” rule for the X-Division in 22 years. Featured the X-Division Championship on the cover of Pro Wrestling Illustrated for the first time since 2006. Appointed the first Pakistani-Indian American as champion. Main evented recording breaking attendance shows. TNA has never been better positioned to lead than we are today.
I know none of this could have been done without you, the citizens of TNA. Together, we overcame unfit and unfair leaders. We’ve protected and preserved our X-Division. And we’ve revitalized and strengthened our alliances with promotions all around the world.
It has been the greatest honor of my life to serve as your X-Division Champion. And while it has been my intention to seek reelection, I believe it is in the best interest of my party and the X-Division for me to stand down and focus solely on fulfilling my independent obligations for the remainder of my term.
I will not speak to the Nation later this week in more detail about my decision.
For now, let me express my deepest gratitude to all those who have worked so hard to see me reelected. I want to thank Campaign Singh for being an extraordinary campaign manager in all this work. And let me express my heartfelt appreciation to the Citizens of TNA for the faith and trust you have placed in me.
I believe today what I always have: that there is nothing that TNA can’t do-when we do it together. We just have to remember we are TNA.
Jordynne Grace is set to compete for WWE NXT very soon but she may not be the only example of a wrestler working in another company.
The reigning TNA Knockouts World Champion made an ‘impact’ during the May 28, episode of WWE NXT. Grace was revealed as the challenger for WWE NXT Women’s Champion Roxanne Perez for the upcoming NXT Battleground event in June. Grace will also be in action on next week’s WWE NXT when she faces off against Stevie Turner.
With Grace set to compete for the WWE NXT Women’s Championship, more wrestlers are hoping to test their skills in the other promotion. On Twitter, WWE’s Cedric Alexander was curious if Grace’s arrival means he will soon have a chance to compete for the TNA X-Division Championship.
This tease caught the attention of TNA X-Division Champion Mustafa Ali who was open to the match and reflected on a previous encounter between the two.
‘Dashing’ Chris Bey of TNA tag team ABC was also open to competing in NXT as a TNA representative if WWE’s gold brand wants “one of the best tag teams in the world.”
Alexander will seemingly get his wish as NXT stars are expected to make appearances for TNA Wrestling. Audiences will no doubt be excited to see more from NXT and TNA as both brands prepare to do much more together to deliver high-quality wrestling and entertainment.
Mustafa Ali was released from WWE back in September 2023, and when he became an official free agent, he released a global campaign tour video. The video highlighted his upcoming appearances at other promotions, as well as his dream opponents.
Ali talked about his campaign video and the inspiration behind it while speaking on the Straight Talk Wrestling podcast. The former WWE star revealed that it was Cody Rhodes’ infamous list that inspired him for the campaign video.
Ali started off by saying that he is surprised by how quickly he was able to see the successful results of such a risky move. While something like this would usually take a lot of time, Ali revealed he was contacted by multiple promotors telling him that “they haven’t had someone move tickets and have these sell-out crowds since a Cody Rhodes.”
“So to have that comparison and look where he’s at. Literally the top of the business, heading into WrestleMania, the talk of the industry and deservingly so and Cody was a guy that I take a lot of inspiration from and what I mean by that is what set this all up was the launch of my campaign video which was released on December 21.”
Ali revealed that the reaction to Cody Rhodes’ list when he left WWE left people asking where they could see all these dream matches that Rhodes mentioned. The former Retribution member took inspiration from that, and ran with it for his video. Fortunately for him, he got a similar reaction from fans.
“The concept behind it was who was the last guy that really made that impact of like, what’s gonna happen? And this is when Cody Rhodes released the list and I remember everyone was like, ‘Oh my God, these dream matches, but where? And how? How are we gonna see them?’ And I go, ‘What’s the 2024 Mustafa Ali version of the list?’
So the campaign video came about, calling out guys like Will Ospreay and ‘Speedball’ Mike Bailey and (El Hijo del) Vikingo and (Matt) Cardona and all these notable names. And what happened is it became a frenzy of people wondering how is this gonna go and where is he gonna go? Where is this gonna happen? And it’s happening, it’s happening so a marketing campaign well done.”
Since his release, Mustafa Ali has made appearances for promotions such as New Japan Pro Wrestling, and has drawn interest from top promotions.
Ali is also the current X-Division Champion in TNA Wrestling, and his career is on a high. However, despite being a title holder, he is reportedly not under a contract for the promotion. You can read more about that here.
Mustafa Ali may be on quite the roll in TNA Wrestling as the X-Division Champion, but he has yet to be locked into a contract with the promotion.
The former WWE Superstar made his debut for TNA in January of this year quickly after his non-compete clause with WWE had expired. At TNA No Surrender the following month, Ali won the X-Division Championship, marking his first taste of gold in a major wrestling promotion.
Mustafa Ali Working Without A Contract
Mustafa Ali is yet to ink a contract with TNA Wrestling, despite his ongoing reign as X-Division Champion, Fightful Select reports. Instead, he is working on a ‘per appearance’ basis despite being one of the most prominently featured stars in TNA today.
Mustafa Ali Outside TNA
In addition to his role with TNA, Ali has appeared for New Japan Pro Wrestling as well as a series of independent promotions. Fightful adds that other televised wrestling companies have maintained interest in possibly working with Mustafa.
Killer Kelly was believed to have finished up her time with TNA at the recent TNA Sacrifice tapings. It was later clarified that she is still under contract with TNA but is instead taking a break from wrestling for the time being. Her deal will not expire until 2025.
What’s to Come?
Ali will defend his title at TNA Rebellion against Jake Something. The latter earned the match by winning a ‘Rebellion Referendum’ six-way match on the March 21, episode of TNA Impact!
The show will take place on April 20, from the Palms Casino Resort in Paradise, Nevada. It’ll be the sixth Rebellion event for TNA and will be headlined by TNA World Champion Moose defending his title against Nic Nemeth.
Mace and Mansoor, collectively known as the Maximum Male Models, were among the names cut from WWE in September of last year. Now the pair have captured championship gold. At an event for Beyond Wrestling, the pair won the promotion’s tag titles. WWE NXT Superstar DIJAK was in attendance at the show to commemorate the win for the models.
In WWE, neither Mace nor Mansoor won championship gold. Mace’s only title opportunity in WWE came at a 2020 WWE NXT live event where he unsuccessfully challenged NXT Champion Adam Cole. Mansoor would never even get an opportunity at a title in WWE, with his biggest win being the 51-Man battle royal victory at WWE Super Showdown 2019.
Championship Releases
Notable names cut at the time included Matt Riddle and Nic Nemeth, both of whom have gone on to capture championship gold in New Japan Pro Wrestling. Nemeth is the current, and second-ever IWGP Global Champion while Riddle is currently the NJPW World Television Champion.
Mustafa Ali has gone on to join TNA Wrestling and is the reigning TNA X-Division Champion. The Retribution leader captured the title, his first championship in a major wrestling promotion, in the main event of TNA No Surrender.
Free agent Mustafa Ali’s year is off to an incredible start after leaving WWE in 2023. He recently became the TNA X-Division Champion by defeating Chris Sabin at TNA No Surrender on February 23. The new title holder has revealed on Twitter that he’ll have his official inauguration to start his reign on this week’s episode of TNA Impact.
“…Citizens of
@ThisIsTNA! It’s happening! With great pride, I invite you all to attend the X-Division Title Inauguration Ceremony, this Thursday 8/7c on AXIS TV,” wrote Ali.
It’s unclear what exactly Ali has planned for his reign, but he wants it to feel important. The free agent has made himself into a superstar on the independent wrestling scene and has fans looking to see what he does next. He also has fans questioning WWE’s decision to release him.
The company let go of Ali last September, as well as other superstars. Although some former WWE talent are still trying to find their way outside the company, Ali thrives on the independent wrestling scene.
Ali has started the year competing for different promotions in his quest to prove he’s one of the best in the world. He has competed and earned wins for popular independent organizations like Game Changer Wrestling, Prestige Wrestling, and Revolution Pro Wrestling. However, his big win to date happened for TNA, defeating Sabin to become the TNA X-Division Champion.
As of now, it is unclear if Sabin will get a rematch for the title. However, he seems to continue in TNA as a ‘heel.’
What’s Next For Mustafa Ali (Spoiler)
TNA had tapings for the next few episodes of TNA Impact last weekend. PWInsider’s Billy Krotchsen shared the results from the taping and Ali’s first opponent as champion.
It was revealed that Ali would be aligned with The Good Hands (Jason Hotch & John Skyler) for his inauguration as X-Division Champion. He also won a match during the tapings against Kevin Knight. Interestingly, it’s reported that Ali and The Good Hands got into an altercation against Alex Shelley, KUSHIDA, and Sabin after the match.
It seems the issues between Ali and Sabin aren’t over. However, TNA may also have a Six-Man Tag Team match between the two groups.
The free agent’s announcement and spoilers for the upcoming TNA Impact episode are significant for Ali fans, as TNA seemingly has exciting plans for him and his reign.
What a way to kick off his run in TNA Wrestling! Mustafa Ali made his in-ring debut for the promotion and immediately made a major impact. Mustafa Ali has bagged the X-Division title at TNA No Surrender in New Orleans.
Ali was released from WWE in September 2023 after the launch of TKO Group Holdings. After the 90-day non-compete clause expireed, Ali announced that he had a stacked lineup of bookings in the indies and turned his sights on the rebranded TNA Wrestling.
Ali has been busy competing both domestically and abroad, making appearances for GCW, Defy, RevPro, PROGRESS and others. He is also set to make his NJPW debut in April in a match against Hiroshi Takahashi.
Mustafa Ali defeats Chris Sabin
In a highly-anticipated match, Ali prevailed over Chris Sabin in the main event of No Surrender and it marked the first time an X-Division match headlining one of their specials since 2005’s Unbreakable.
In the final moments of the highly competitive match, Ali evaded an avalanche Cradle Shock attempt and counted by hitting a sunset bomb followed by his finisher 450 splash to pick up the win.
It’s worth noting that this title win marks Ali’s first singles title in a major promotion. With the win, Ali put an end to Sabin’s 10th run with the championship that started at last September’s Impact 1000. During his title reign, he successfully defended his title three times.
Following the show, TNA posted a clip on social media in which Mustafa Ali addressed the crowd. Here is what he said:
“This is my first major championship in 20 years. I mean this, whether you love me or hate me, whether you support the campaign or wish for my demise, it has been a pleasure and an honor to compete inside a TNA ring. I have been all over the world. I have wrestled the very best, the very best wrestlers in the world, and by far, that locker room right there, that show tonight in front of all of you, is by far the best locker room I have ever seen. Thank you, good night, and remember, that in Ali, we trust,” Ali said.
Well, it seems that Mustafa Ali is scheduled with TNA through late-March as part of five additional dates that include March’s Sacrifice streaming special and several TV tapings. It has come to light that he will take on Kevin Knight during Saturday’s TV taping in New Orleans.
We will have to wait and see how his title run pans out.
Mustafa Ali’s hopes to pick up championship gold when his ‘world tour’ rolls through TNA Wrestling later this month.
On January 25, Mustafa Ali appeared in a video package on TNA Wrestling television, stating that the company has undergone several changes recently. As a part of his political campaign though, Ali vowed to bring a “different kind of change” to TNA Wrestling — one that will seemingly impact TNA’s X-Division.
Following his original message, Ali then interrupted a backstage segment involving X-Division Champion Chris Sabin. In this vignette, Ali noted that can change is necessary, and only achieved when one faces their fears head-on. Ali also declared that the “fearful” need leadership to guide them, implying that he may soon assume that responsibility.
With Ali’s eyes now directed at Sabin, TNA Wrestling has confirmed the two will square off at the No Surrender event in New Orleans on February 23. There, Ali will challenge Sabin for the X-Division Championship, while simultaneously marking his official TNA in-ring debut.
BREAKING: @SuperChrisSabin will defend the X Division Championship against @MustafaAli_X on February 23rd at #NoSurrender LIVE on TNA+ and YouTube for IMPACT Ultimate Insiders!
Ali was released from WWE in September 2023 in the days following the launch of TKO Group Holdings. Upon the completion of his 90-day non-compete clause, Ali revealed that he had a stacked lineup of bookings on the independent circuit. Now, he looks forward to making his debut for TNA Wrestling as well.
As of now, TNA has announced two other matchups for No Surrender, one of which is a rematch that will see Moose defend the TNA World Championship against the previous titleholder, Alex Shelley. Elsewhere, Gisele Shaw will cash in her title shot against Knockouts Champion Jordynne Grace after winning the Knockouts Ultimate X match at Hard To Kill last month.
Sometimes, you just got to “let it go” and that’s what one AEW star decided to do with his hairdo.
Ariya Daivari decided to part ways with his hairline this week and decided to share his shave-off on social media. Davairi showed it all go down on Instagram through a time-lapse video to the music of “Let It Go” from Frozen, but did provide a little caveat to the song choice.
“Welp…BTW, I’ve never seen Frozen. ‘Let It Go’ was the only lyric I knew. This wasn’t meant to be some empowering post lol. S***’s not that big of deal.”
Ariya follows in the footsteps of his older brother Shawn Daivari who too once had a full head of hair before going the “Stone Cold” route. Ariya got a fair share of responses from his pro wrestling comrades with Matt Cardona simply calling him a “quitter” while others like Savio Vega and Brian Cage were a little more supportive.
However, Daivari may have inspired further change as it got recent TNA debutee and fellow 205 Live alum, Mustafa Ali considering the clippers himself responding in the replies with a simple statement.
“Might do the same soon.”
Drew Gulak actually wanted Ariya to go the extra mile and pull a Sean Waltman rib on himself telling him to “Now do the eyebrows.”
Davairi has been with AEW for over two years now and now works as a wrestler, producer and coach for the company. Meanwhile, his brother Shawn serves as a producer for WWE.
The head shaving hasn’t just been solely on the men in pro wrestling. Months ago before getting married, Shotzi also happened to shave her head as well.
In a vignette aired during this week’s episode of iMPACT! a voiceover speaks about the changes TNA has experienced in recent weeks. The voice adds that it’s now time for a different kind of change, to images of a politician being escorted and prepared by secret service officers. Ali then appears on camera, and true to his political campaign, says that he approves of this message.
Mustafa Ali has been making waves after his departure from WWE. There are numerous opportunities for him in the pro wrestling scene, and it’s evident that he is drawing attention and generating ticket sales.
Mustafa Ali Doing Well After WWE Release
Sean Ross Sapp shared a note on Fightful Select about Mustafa Ali’s time after WWE, and just how profitable of a venture it is.
Ali has been successful in selling tickets for indie companies, and promoters have reportedly seen a positive response when booking him for their shows, capitalizing on Ali’s recognition as a former WWE Superstar.
We’ve heard from indie promoters that Mustafa Ali’s impact on ticket sales for some of his first events are the most they’ve seen for a WWE departure in years.
Despite a promising run in NXT and being in contention for an NXT North American title match, Ali saw an unexpected release. Now, as he is navigating his own path, fans are definitely responding.
On January 19th, Ali is set to journey to Ottawa, Canada, for a wrestling appearance with C4 Wrestling. Following this, he will mark his debut on the UK independent wrestling scene at PROGRESS Wrestling’s Light of the Dragon event on January 28th. The former leader of Retribution is scheduled to participate in an event with DEFY on February 9th in Seattle, Washington.
WWE’s September 2023 Superstar Releases
On September 21, 2023, WWE underwent a series of releases, parting ways with several members of their roster in the midst of television rights talks after the TKO Group Holdings merger.
The list of released individuals included Mustafa Ali, Rick Boogs, Aliyah, Top Dolla of Hit Row, Tegan Nox, Emma, Riddick Moss, Elias, Shelton Benjamin, Dolph Ziggler, Dana Brooke, Mansoor, Mace, Quincy Elliot, Dabba-Kato, and Yulisa Leon. The departure of these talents signaled a significant shift within the WWE landscape, prompting attention and discussions within the wrestling community.
WWE released several roster members in September, and now these individuals are re-emerging in the world of professional wrestling. It seems that some of them are proving to be profitable for promoters who choose to book them.
After waiting out his 90-day non-compete clause, Ali made his return to action this weekend as part of an event at the APC 20th Anniversary event in Nanterre, France. Speaking to the fans after the match, Ali addressed what he’s been told in the past and made clear he’s ready to prove his doubters wrong.
“For more than the past 90 days [I’ve thought], what’s the first thing I want to say? And it’s as simple as this and if I tear up I apologize from the bottom of my heart. Every upper management that I have ever worked for in this industry has told me to my face that no one will ever cheer for someone named Mustafa Ali. [Fans boo, one says “f**k them!”] No, even better than f**k them, show them!
“And if those people are watching, right now I’m in a sold-out house in APC. And every single person in this building is chanting Mustafa Ali! I’m going to leave the ring with one more point. This is what I want in the industry. I want change in the industry. I want guys that are a certain level to reach down and pull people up.
“The young man, the young man that I just shared the ring with, let me tell you something. I have shared the ring with Rey Mysterio! I have been in the ring with AJ Styles! Name them, I’ve been in the ring with them and you my good man are just as good as them. It was an absolute honor to perform here. I landed this morning and I have not slept and I don’t give a s**t because this gives me life! Thank you all, good night, I love you.”
Mustafa Ali’s inclusion on September’s list of WWE releases was both a surprise and not so much. Many knew he requested his WWE release in January 2022; but in September 2023, he was in NXT and having a great series of matches with an NXT North American Title match on the horizon. Now that he’s a free agent, Mustafa Ali plans to continue that momentum.
Mustafa Ali has completed his non-compete clause period with WWE and is gearing up for a global wrestling tour. It appears that he has been using the last 90 days to get jacked.
The former Retribution leader posed for the camera, and it looks like he’s been lifting some heavy weights. With a look of determination in his eyes, Mustafa Ali simply stated that he’s preparing for his World Tour.
Recently, Mustafa Ali took to Twitter to unveil a campaign-inspired video, signaling the commencement of his World Tour. This announcement stirred up excitement, because many pro wrestling fans still believe that Mustafa Ali has a truckload of untapped potential.
Mustafa Ali’s schedule will likely fill us fast. He will be a part of GCW’s No Compadre event scheduled for January 12th, where he is set to face Gringo Loco.
On January 19th, Ali is set to journey to Ottawa, Canada, for a wrestling appearance with C4 Wrestling. Following this, he will mark his debut on the UK independent wrestling scene at PROGRESS Wrestling’s Light of the Dragon event on January 28th. The leader of Retribution is scheduled to participate in an event with DEFY on February 9th in Seattle, Washington.
2024 will be as busy as Mustafa Ali wants to make it as he calls his own shots in the global wrestling landscape.
Mustafa Ali is no longer bound by his non-compete clause with WWE, and the former Superstar is ready to embark on a world wrestling tour.
Ali was one of several Superstars released from WWE in September of this year. These cuts marked the first releases of talent following the launch of TKO Group Holdings. Before his release, there were plans for Ali to win the NXT North American Championship and his exit was a surprise to NXT head Shawn Michaels.
The Mustafa Ali World Tour
Earlier this week, Ali teased big plans for his free agency and the former Superstar is certainly living up to the hype. Taking to Twitter, Ali shared a political campaign-inspired video, announcing that his ‘World Tour’ has begun.
Following Ali’s campaign video, announcements flooded social media about the ex-Superstar’s future plans. Ali will be part of GCW’s No Compadre event on January 12, where he will face Gringo Loco.
*BREAKING*
MUSTAFA ALI returns to CHICAGO on January 12th and faces off with GRINGO LOCO in a battle for the Windy City at Thalia Hall!
As the name suggests, Mustafa Ali’s World Tour won’t be confined to solely the United States. Ali will travel to Ottawa, Canada, on January 19, to compete for C4 Wrestling.
Fans wanting to see Mustafa Ali in the United Kingdom won’t have to wait long at all. Ali will make his UK independent debut at PROGRESS Wrestling’s Light of the Dragon event on January 28.
🚨 BREAKING NEWS!
🐉 MUSTAFA ALI MAKES HIS UK INDEPENDENT DEBUT AT PROGRESS WRESTLING's LIGHT OF THE DRAGON!
Ali will also be stopping at DEFY Wrestling on his campaign trail. The Retribution leader will be part of an event with DEFY on February 9, in Seattle, Washington.
[ BREAKING ]
MUSTAFA ALI comes to DEFY and Historic Washington Hall for our 7th-anniversary show!
Just one day after his appearance for DEFY, Ali will be a part of DREAMWAVE Wrestling’s ‘Run This Town’ event. Ali will challenge for the Dreamwave Alternative Title in a 4 Man Scramble that will include Penta El Zero Miedo, Gringo Loco, and champion El Hijo Del Vikingo.
He’s back.
Official for #DWRun on 2/10 at the Knights of Columbus in LaSalle, IL:
Mustafa Ali will also be part of Prestige Wrestling’s event on February 25. He will face ‘Speedball’ Mike Bailey at the event that will include Tiger Mask, Jordynne Grace, and Mascara Dorada on the card.
So, what’s next for these former WWE Superstars? Here’s a list of what we know so far:
Dolph Ziggler:
Ziggler had been with the company for nearly two decades and competed in 1.554 matches. He (Nic Nemeth) has been doing comedy shows with his brother, Ryan Nemeth.
At midnight on December 21, his new single dropped. He performed the song at Busted Open’s holiday party. He is also scheduled to wrestle on January 6 for Coastal Championship Wrestling. On January 26, he’s set to make his GCW return at “Look At Me”.
Mansoor and the former Mace, now known as Mason Madden, are hitting the indies as MxM. They’ve been announced for EFFY’s Big Gay Brunch and GCW in January. On December 10, they showed up at Deadlock Pro Wrestling’s 2nd Anniversary Show to say they were there “until the wheels fall off.” Their first match will be against West Coast Wrecking Crew on January 20. They are also lining up singles matches.
Tenille Dashwood posted a video of herself and fiancé Riddick Moss with the caption “Day 89 mood. See y’all tomorrow!” Moss yells “freedom!” at the end of the video.
The couple also has a travel show launching on YouTube on Friday.
We’re just ONE WEEK away from the launch of our new show, and we picked a name! We can’t wait to share our crazy travel adventures with all of you, so make sure you subscribe to the YouTube channel (link in bio) and look for the first episode on December 21! The only question… pic.twitter.com/VZJvBqiqHb
WWE has many ideas floating around, but not every concept comes to fruition within the company. One such discarded idea involved a faction inspired by Antifa, which WWE swiftly abandoned.
Mace joined WWE in 2016 and marked his main roster debut in 2020 as part of the Retribution faction. Unfortunately, the plans for this group, led by Mustafa Ali, were inadequately conceived.
During a conversation with Denise Salcedo on Instinct Culture, Mace shed light on the initial concept behind Retribution. He disclosed that WWE initially envisioned the group resembling Antifa but decided against it due to the potential controversy that would have ensued.
“[Where did the pitch come about? When did you think of it? How did you feel being part of Retribution?] There was no pitch. If you remember correctly, the initial appearance of Retribution was a bunch of extras because there were a bunch of like really small guys at the time. That’s why, that’s actually how I ended up being in it. There were a bunch of little small guys that were extras. They had no idea who they wanted them to be from what I understand. And I think they were trying to do an Antifa thing. I think that was the idea.“
“But at the same time, it’s a very big company. There’s not really much room for controversy anymore. So, at some point they were like, ‘Yeah, maybe we shouldn’t. But we already did this big angle and we need to kind of finish it in some capacity.”
What Is Antifa?
Antifa is short for “anti-fascist.” The group emerged with roots in various political ideologies, united by a shared opposition to fascist and far-right ideologies. Operating primarily in response to perceived threats of fascism and white supremacy, Antifa often employs direct action methods to counter such ideologies.
Members of Antifa groups emphasize decentralized, grassroots organization, with no formal leadership structure. The movement’s tactics include protest, direct action, and, at times, confrontations with those they perceive as promoting fascist ideologies.
WWE may have considered making Retribution fall in line with this idea, but they went in a different direction.
WWE’s Wild Booking Of Retribution Stable
WWE didn’t make Retribution a politically-charged angle on television, but that doesn’t mean they had a plan in mind.
WWE started that Retribution angle during the pandemic, with no live crowds or pay-out planned. This stable was a Vince McMahon vision from the beginning, and it did create interest during their early stages.
I was told at the time that Vince McMahon was mostly writing the angle on a week-to-week basis. This is why things changed so much about the faction, how many members there were, and who were even under the masks, until the big reveal.
Notable members included current AEW talent Mercedes Martinez, NXT standout Dijak, former NJPW star Shane Haste, and SmackDown’s Michin. Despite their introduction in August 2020, the faction disbanded seven months later with very little fanfare, and without giving Mustafa Ali much of a chance to really lead the stable.
Mustafa Ali has to be itching to get back into the wrestling ring. Ali (real name Adeel Alam) was one of the many WWE talents to be released back in September and an indication of his eagerness was displayed on Monday. Ali took to social media to make a post of a video with a countdown, likely teasing the day he becomes a free agent or he will reveal something regarding his pro wrestling future.
Ali is likely going to be a hot commodity in the world of wrestling considering his resume and tenure in WWE. Mustafa Ali dealt with his fair share of frustration while working with WWE as he constantly had acts that were started and stopped, most notably may be the failed Retribution faction during the global pandemic. Ali was revealed to be the leader of the short-lived group, but following its dispersement, he floated on and off television.
However, Ali saw a resurgence when he began working with Shawn Michaels and NXT, and Michaels expressed how big of a fan he was of Ali personality and work ethic.
A great landing spot for Ali could be the returning TNA. His athleticism fits the brand and the stars are aligning for the company to announce some significant names as the company looks forward to its Hard To Kill PPV on January 13.
Fellow former WWE Cruiserweight Champion KUSHIDA has been announced to sign with TNA, and Ali could likely become a major player within the promotion considering both his skillset and his promo ability.
In September, WWE released several talents, and that came as a big surprise. WWE fired over 100 people from their corporate headquarters, right after the TKO Group Holdings deal closed, and then they axed several members of their roster.
The NXT Superstars who were fired during that list of releases has already seen their non-compete clauses run out. NXT Superstars only have a 30-day wait, but main roster talent must wait even longer.
Although WWE released all of those Superstars at once, they saved Matt Riddle on his own the next day. He had a laundry list of infractions, personal drama, and other backstage controversies with WWE; so, he burned his last bridges and nobody could protect him from a release this time around. The Original Bro will be among those names that will enter the free agent market this week.
As of next week, around December 21st, those released WWE Superstars will be officially free agents. Their 90-day non-compete clauses are going to expire, leaving a lot of possibilities in the pro wrestling world.
Those former WWE Superstars will officially become free agents, granting them the freedom to work with any organization. The list of wrestlers includes Mustafa Ali, Aliyah, Shelton Benjamin, Rick Boogs, Emma, Dana Brooke, Dabbo-Kato, Elias, Quincy Elliot, Mace, Mansoor, Riddick Moss, Matt Riddle, Shanky, Top Dolla, and Dolph Ziggler.
AEW is also always a part of the conversation whenever non-compete clauses start to expire. It stands to reason that Bryan Danielson would pull to have Tony Khan sign Mustafa Ali, someone he also pulled to work with during his final run in WWE.
We will have to see where all of those former WWE Superstars appear next. It could result in some big headlines in the not too distant future.
Mustafa Ali crashed a VIP autograph signing for Dolph Ziggler over the weekend at a non-televised live event from Trenton, New Jersey.
The former Retribution leader has adopted a new character. He’s keeping a positive mindset, but seems unstable and is borderline delusional.
Ali’s new angle with Ziggler began a few weeks ago, when he scored a surprising win over Ziggler on Raw in less than five minutes. As seen below, he filmed a video of himself ambushing Ziggler with more of his off-putting ‘positivity.’ Ziggler wasn’t having it and had security escort Ali out of the event, which got the guests all riled up.
Meanwhile, Mustafa Ali has also planned a surprise for Dolph Ziggler on the upcoming episode of RAW. Ali has accused ‘The Showoff’ of getting more opportunities because he looked different and smiled more.
However, ahead of Monday Night RAW next week, the 36-year-old star took to Twitter to announce that he was a surprise for Dolph Ziggler. Ali also asked WWE fans to guess his surprise for The Showoff.
“HUGE!!!HUGE!!!HUGE!!!! SURPRISE for my man Deez @HEELZiggler NEXT WEEK on #WWERaw. Comment below; what do you think the SURPRISE is?!?” Mustafa Ali wrote.
HUGE!!!HUGE!!!HUGE!!!! SURPRISE for my man Deez @HEELZiggler NEXT WEEK on #WWERaw
WWE superstar Mustafa Ali has a nice response to a critical fan who called him worthless.
Ali has had an interesting career in WWE. He’s worked for the company for almost six years after making his debut participating in the Cruiserweight Classic. In his time with WWE, he has yet to win a championship, despite competing for the Cruiserweight, United States, and Intercontinental Championships.
However, it hasn’t stopped some wrestling fans from criticizing his WWE career. After his win over Ziggler, a fan tweeted, “Like a bad penny. Just can’t get rid of this fucking guy. Only a penny has a small amount of value. Ali is still worthless.”
It’s unclear if WWE is allowing for Ali to have more opportunities to shine on the main roster. The win against Ziggler was his first on TV since he defeated The Miz on a Monday Night Raw episode on Oct. 31, 2022. During that time, he was working his way to challenging for the United States Championship.
It doesn’t seem like Ali will be chasing a WWE title anytime soon. The company is preparing for WrestleMania 39, with some men’s title matches, like the United States Championship, already reportedly decided on. Ali may miss out on WrestleMania this year, but WWE could still give him opportunities to build to be a contender for a title after the event.