Released WWE Star Proving MAJOR Difference Maker

Ex-WWE man making BIG difference on ticket sales around the indie scene.

by Andy H Murray
Mustafa Ali
WWE

Mustafa Ali has only been legally free from his WWE contract for around four weeks, but the former RETRIBUTION leader is already proving a significant difference-maker for independent promotions.

Fightful Select reports that indie promoters have told the outlet that Ali's impact on ticket sales for several of his first events has been "the most they've seen for a WWE departure in years."

Ali was released from WWE alongside the likes of Dana Brooke, Shelton Benjamin, and Nic Nemeth in September. Serving a standard 90-day non-compete period, he became free to work for other promotions from late December, then wrestled his first post-WWE match on 6 January - appearing for France's APC group.

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12 January saw Ali wrestle Gringo Loco for market-leading US indie group Game Changer Wrestling. Currently, the excellent self-promoter has dates for NJPW STRONG, England's PROGRESS, and several other groups on his calendar.

New Japan announced during last weekend's Battle in the Valley event that Ali would face Junior Heavyweight kingpin Hiromu Takahashi at Windy City Riot on 12 April. Currently, this stands as Ali's highest-profile match lined up for 2024.

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Channel Manager
Channel Manager

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.