This former WWE Superstar explains why he re-signed with TNA.
During a recent appearance on Rewind Recap Relive, former X Division Champion Mustafa Ali addressed his decision to remain in the iMPACT Zone.
“TNA and me specifically is just this synergy, it’s this fit. I get along really really well with Carlos (Silva) and the creative department. I’m a very hands on, opinionated person,” Ali said.
“I still think I’m a good soldier, I might question the order before I go do it, but at the end of the day, you know, if my sergeant or the person above me gives me an order I follow through on that. So, I’ll never knock myself for that, I definitely am a team player, but man, am I opinionated, and that’s welcomed with the creative team at TNA and with Carlos.”
“I have ideas, I have visions and I would say like nine times out of 10 they kind of see the vision with me. And it’s not a knock on other places, it’s just that I’ve been able to develop that relationship. That was a big key component for me.
“I’m very very blessed to be able to do this for such a long time where I’m able to provide for my family financially. Selfishly I was looking to be creatively fulfilled and I feel like the best chance I had at doing that is with TNA, and I’m so happy,” Mustafa Ali said.
Mustafa Ali resigned with TNA before AMC debut
Ali was among several stars TNA announced had re-signed a week before the company’s big debut on AMC, which he described as the “cherry on top” for him.
“I was actually negotiating this deal before I even knew about the network deal being finalized. “You always hear about deals… in wrestling it’s like I’ll believe it till I see it. I’m not saying I didn’t believe it but I definitely was like, ‘We’ll see.’
“So I still kind of decided to stay here with TNA despite not knowing that the network deal was on the horizon, so it was kind of like I re-signed and then a couple weeks later, ‘Oh, we’re on TV as well with AMC, awesome.’ So it was like a nice little cherry on top.
“But very grateful and appreciative for the opportunity they have here at TNA and I’m sure they’re very grateful and appreciative for having Mustafa Ali on the roster,” he said. [H/T WrestleTalk]
Mustafa Ali was released from his WWE contract just nine days before his scheduled match against Dominik Mysterio for the NXT North American Championship at No Mercy 2023. He went on to work for New Japan Pro Wrestling and the independent circuit before making his TNA in-ring debut at No Surrender 2024. The rest, as they say, is history.
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