Mustafa Ali explains the order of Order 4.
Following his exit from WWE in late 2023, Mustafa Ali has taken on a persona similar to a political leader, cabinet and all. During a recent interview with WrestleZone Managing Editor Bill Pritchard, Ali opened up about the process of forming his trusted group, known as Order 4, in TNA Wrestling.
In addition to himself, Order 4 currently includes Tasha Steelz, Jason Hotch, and John Skyler. According to Ali, he initially envisioned Steelz as a “cabinet” member after seeing her performance at the 2024 Slammiversary event.
“When some negotiations were being conducted between TNA and myself, I told them about this idea about a cabinet. I don’t want to call it a cabinet but… And I had some people in mind. But it was Tommy [Dreamer]’s actual suggestion. He goes, ‘Why don’t we sit down and go through the actual roster and who pops out at you?’ And I remember being specifically impressed by Tasha back at Slammiversary of last year. It was a pre-show Knockouts something… I am not sure. But she had done something and I was like, ‘Man, she gets it.’ And they were known as ‘The Good Hands’ previously. I’ve always admired their work.
“And what I came to realize is, this isn’t a vent session, like Tasha and the Good Hands deserve better,” he continued. “I’m just saying, as a wrestler, I know what it’s like to be in their position, where you have so much to contribute and you feel like you don’t get. There was just some sort of connection there.”
Ali Meets With His Prospective Allies
After scoping out potential members of his new faction, Ali sat down with Steelz, Hotch, and Skyler, promising them “full-fledged characters” within seven months of working together. Ali later clarified to WrestleZone that he didn’t have months of storyline written out at the time. He did, however, note six or seven months as the typical duration to establish anything in pro wrestling, hence his aforementioned promise.
“They trusted me,” Ali continued. “Yeah, in a way it was Tommy’s suggestion, but I did pick Tasha specifically. I did pick the now-known as the Great Hands specifically for this role. And I was very happy with that decision. I’m glad to hear that you and… I value a lot of people’s feedback. But what I value most is someone that is completely outside the bubble.
“Like, if I talk to Frankie Kazarian or Eric Young or Nic Nemeth, they know the product, they know the show, they know what I am trying to get. You are watching completely from the outside. You didn’t know about it. So, for you to go, ‘Oh, I understand this layer, and this layer, and this layer.’ That means that we are doing something right and that they hit their roles. They knocked it out of the park. So, again, I’m very happy with the development of Order 4. And I think it is just going to get better.”
Over the weekend, the former X-Division Champion defeated Cedric Alexander at the 2025 TNA Slammiversary event, thanks to some interference from his Order 4 cohorts (including Steelz, who took a Lumbar Check moments before Ali secured the winning pinfall).
Watch our full interview with Mustafa Ali below:
