Mustafa Ali looks back on the initial plans, or rather lack thereof, for Retribution.
While ill-fated, Retribution is still widely remembered for its run of tormenting the WWE locker room during COVID-19 pandemic era. At the forefront of the group was Mustafa Ali, with the likes of Donovan Dijak (T-BAR), Shane Haste (Slapjack), Mason Madden (Mace), Michin (Reckoning), and Mercedes Martinez (Retaliation) backing him. As revealed on a virtual signing with K&S WrestleFest, WWE once considered a female leader for the stable instead.
“I think the original plan was there was no original plan, right?” Ali said. “So, I heard a bunch of things about at one point, there might have been a female leader. I think Sonya Deville’s name came up and this and that.” (H/T to Fightful for the transcription)
At the time of Retribution’s debut, Sonya Deville was entangled in a feud with her former tag team partner, Mandy Rose, which culminated with a No Disqualification Loser Leaves WWE match at SummerSlam 2020. Deville lost and subsequently disappeared from TV for several months.
Retribution eventually disbanded in early 2021 when the non-leader members both walked out and attacked Ali at WWE Fastlane. Afterward, Ali formed a tag team with Mansoor, while Mace and T-Bar continued to work together as a duo. By this time, Deville had transitioned to being an on-screen assistant to WWE authority figure Adam Pearce.
Currently, Deville is a free agent following her February 2025 exit from WWE. Meanwhile, Ali leads another faction, known as Order 4, in TNA.
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