by Mustafa Ali was released from WWE in September 2023, due to WWE’ cost-cutting measures after its merger with Endeavor. Mustafa Ali wrestled his first match since his release in a France promotion called APC (Association les Professionnels du Catch).
Mustafa Ali after the match gave an emotional speech. He says every upper management person he has worked with told him that no one would ever cheer for someone named Mustafa Ali. Ali’s speech video was captured by Lucas Charpiot.
“I’ve been thinking for more than the past 90 days, what’s the first thing I wanna say? And it’s as simple as this and if I screw up, I apologize because I mean this from the bottom of my heart. Every upper management person that I have ever worked for in this industry has told me to my face, ‘No one will ever cheer for someone named Mustafa Ali.’ No, no. Even better than, ‘F*ck them,’ show them, and to those people watching, right now I’m in a sold-out house at A.P.C. and every single person in this building is chanting ‘Mustafa Ali’.
I’m gonna leave the ring tonight with one more note and this is what I want in the industry: I want change in the industry. I want guys that are a certain level to reach down and pull people up. The young man, the young man that I just shared the ring with (Aigle Blanc), let me tell you something, I have been in the ring with Rey Mysterio, I have been in the ring with A.J. Styles, Randy Orton, you name ‘em. I’ve been in the ring with them and you, my good man, are just as good as them. It was an absolute honor. This was for me more than you, trust me. It was an absolute honor to perform here. I landed this morning and I have not slept, and I don’t give a sh*t because this gives me life. Thank you all, good night, I love you.” (H/T: Post Wrestling)
@MustafaAli_X just gave a beautiful and powerful post-match speech to the APC audience here in Paris, France, 🇫🇷
— Lucas Charpiot (@LucasCharpiot) January 6, 2024
Ali won his first post-WWE match against Aigle Blanc in a wonderful match that had the crowd hanging on the edge of the seat from start to finish. @APCcatch pic.twitter.com/I8B8HLlSSi
