Mustafa Ali WWE Status Update After SmackDown Jump

What next for Raw's Mustafa Ali after being announced for WWE's World Cup on SmackDown?

by Andy H Murray
Mustafa Ali wins
WWE.com

Mustafa Ali was announced as a fresh participant in WWE's World Cup tournament last week, with the announcement coming on SmackDown rather than the former 205 Live man's home brand, Raw.

This led to understandable speculation on Ali's roster status. Mustafa was replacing the SmackDown-assigned Rey Mysterio in the tournament, so it would perhaps have made more sense to switch the lucha legend with another Friday night wrestler.

Fightful Select reports that this is not a full-time move for Ali. Although Mustafa is seemingly simultaneously feuding with Seth Rollins on Raw and competing in the World Cup for SmackDown, he is still a red-brand wrestler.

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WWE plans on having Mustafa work on both Raw and SmackDown during the World Cup tournament. There is no word as to why he was used rather than a regular SmackDown wrestler.

PWInsider had reported Mysterio as a World Cup participant prior to Friday's SmackDown. It was therefore surprising to see Ali involved in the tournament, though he'll now face Ricochet in a first-round match next week.

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Ali, who was born to a Pakistani father and an Indian mother, has not received a shot at Rollin's United States Title despite their recent issues.

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Andy has been with WhatCulture for six years and is currently WhatCulture's Senior Wrestling Reporter. A writer, presenter, and editor with 10+ years of experience in online media, he has been a sponge for all wrestling knowledge since playing an old Royal Rumble 1992 VHS to ruin in his childhood. Having previously worked for Bleacher Report, Andy specialises in short and long-form writing, video presenting, voiceover acting, and editing, all characterised by expert wrestling knowledge and commentary. Andy is as much a fan of 1985 Jim Crockett Promotions as he is present-day AEW and WWE - just don't make him choose between the two.