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Ever since being revealed as the leader of Retribution, Mustafa Ali has showcased his promo skills throughout WWE.
Ahead of his United States Championship match on tonight’s Raw, the RETRIBUTION leader discussed his faction and the possibility of winning his first singles title in WWE with Scott Fishman of TVInsider.
Mustafa Ali joined WWE in 2016, competing in the Cruiserweight Classic. Despite being knocked out in the first round, Ali joined Raw’s Cruiserweight division and was later called up to SmackDown in 2018. Ali then moved to Raw, where he is currently the leader of RETRIBUTION.
“My first few years I was portrayed as the good guy. They take one on the chin, get knocked down, and get back up. When the [Retribution] role was introduced, there’s the opportunity to complain. I can bring to light what people might not normally see. When I go to the airport, I have real life issues. I have real issues with people pronouncing my name correctly or telling me my name is much too complicated to pronounce, and I should change it. To me these are normal things and I address them whenever I do a promo or have an interview. I tell people just because it doesn’t happen to you, doesn’t mean it doesn’t happen.”
Ali went on to speak about how difficult it is to get freedom on television, and if there is something missing from RETRIBUTION.
“I can only speak of my experience with [Chairman] Vince McMahon and the creative team, but not really. You can always tell them what you’re capable of doing, or you can show them. The first time I told Vince McMahon I’m a talker, he didn’t believe I was. So I recorded my own promos. I record my own videos. It’s a lot easier to show them what you’re capable of doing than telling them. I’ve got a pretty good range in terms of saying the things I do.”
“The talent is there. The biggest obstacle and challenge the group faces is the “Why.” Who are we? Why are we here? What’s our vendetta against WWE and corporate infrastructure? We have not been able to tell that story. Retribution is still an opportunity to be on TV every week. We’ve done stuff, and everyone is aware who is in the group. But we’re not able to address who we really are. I haven’t explained why I’m the leader and what power I hold over these people. I’d like to do so. The fans have been left to connect the dots, which I never like to do. It’s a three-hour show. Stuffing 5,000 pounds into a five-pound bag isn’t going to work. We have to take our time. We’re doing the best with the time we’re given.”
Last Summer, WWE brought back their post-show shows, Raw Talk and Talking Smack. They have provided a platform for underutilized Superstars or ones not given time on TV time to develop their characters. Mustafa Ali is one of the talents who has featured prominently on Raw Talk.
“It’s the most fun because that is one-hundred percent me. It’s just off-the-top of my head. The last show I didn’t know I was a guest until minutes before and it was probably one of my better appearances. [SmackDown superstar] Sami Zayn told me a true artist is able to work within parameters. It’s not hard to have amazing matches when you have 25 minutes. Now, try to have a super-competitive match in six minutes and 60 seconds to get your point across in a promo. That’s true artistry.”
Mustafa Ali finished by discussing match on tonight’s Raw, which will see him take on Matt Riddle for the United States Championship. Mustafa Ali is yet to pick up a championship in WWE, however this match means much more to him.
“It means more to me than it would to a lot of people. My name is Mustafa Ali. Yes, I’m an American. But I feel people don’t look at me as an American. When I go to the grocery store with my wife she wears a hijab scarf over her head, and I notice the glares she gets. Pre-pandemic when we went out to dinner she would get the same looks. I’m always conscious that it doesn’t feel like home. Why do I feel like a visitor? I was born and raised here. I do love this country and what it can be. Growing up [in Chicago], I didn’t have someone that looked like me that represented as being American. I think it would be wild for a kid named Mohammed or Saʽid or a girl named Sara watching Raw seeing a guy named Mustafa Ali holding the United States championship.”
Thanks to TVInsider for the quotes.