WWE: 5 Biggest Winners from McMahon’s Fresh Start
Photo Credit: WWE.com
1. Mustafa Ali
We’re only two days into this new fresh start announced by the McMahon family on Raw, but there’s a clear choice for who has benefitted the most so far. Let’s travel back a few weeks, and Mustafa Ali’s biggest claim to fame was being “The Heart and Soul of 205 Live.” It’s not a bad accolade, but it’s dwarfed in comparison to his success since then.
While Ali was doing spectacularly on 205 Live, there’s no denying the difference in that as a platform and being a part of SmackDown Live. Last week, he appeared on SmackDown Live and tore the house down against WWE Champion Daniel Bryan. It was a huge moment for Ali, and just as big for 205 Live as a whole.
While 205 Live tends to fall under the radar, anyone who has tuned in to an episode knows just how spectacular many of the cruiserweights are in the ring. Mustafa Ali is no exception, moving seamlessly in the ring with a fluid athleticism accented by innovative offense like his reverse 450 Splash known as the 054. Ali earned the moniker of “The Heart and Soul of 205 Live” because he put his all into every single match, and that dedication and in-ring ability is what endeared him to fans.
Skip ahead one week from Ali’s showcase against Bryan, and the first WWE superstar of Pakistani descent is officially a part of the SmackDown Live roster. Ali had unfinished business after a hard-fought loss to Bryan, and teamed with AJ Styles this week to take on Daniel Bryan and Andrade “Cien” Almas. Earlier in the night, one remark from Corey Graves on commentary confirmed Mustafa Ali’s place on the active roster.
Next. Can we get Ali vs. Bryan at the Royal Rumble?. dark
By competing against the WWE Champion, teaming with AJ Styles, and getting moved from 205 Live to SmackDown Live, Mustafa Ali was already the clear biggest winner of this fresh start. With all of that behind him, Ali went into the main event of SmackDown Live, hit the 054 with deadly impact, and pinned the WWE Champion. It’s easily the biggest win of Ali’s WWE career, and this fresh start has him on the path to a future WWE Championship opportunity.