Mustafa Ali continues to stand out with every opportunity sent his way

Putting Mustafa Ali in the Intercontinental Championship picture is the right move for everyone involved. 

In professional sports, there is a term known as the “glue guy” which designates a player that pushes a team over the hump from good to great. The same could be said for professional wrestling, as rosters need performers that can be inserted into angles whenever necessary to elevate their peers while drawing in the attention of viewers and fans. Mustafa Ali is just that individual for the WWE and he continues to prove it each week.

The May 15 edition of WWE Monday Night Raw saw Mustafa Ali pick up a big win that secured an opportunity to face GUNTHER at WWE Night of Champions on May 27. Should fans get their hopes up that Ali will be the one to topple the champion? No, probably not. But this is one of those important chances where he can showcase exactly what he’s capable of in the ring in front of millions of fans watching around the world.

Showcase himself is something that Ali has excelled at doing for years. Remember, this is an individual that was an alternate for the Cruiserweight Classic back in 2016 and used that moment to carve out an important position on the roster. Fans rolled their eyes at his inclusion on the 2023 WWE Draft as a “free agent” but if it serves as a role to keep him active and on camera until more is sent his way, then that is a proper utilization.

Look back at Ali’s work with Buddy Matthews when they battled for the WWE Cruiserweight Championship. Or even the reaction that came when he was revealed as the leader of RETRIBUTION. There’s value in giving Ali consistent shine on television and hopefully, this is the start of WWE making that move more often. Next week, Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn are scheduled to face off against Imperium in a six-man tag match, and they need a third partner. Expect Ali to fill in that role and put on a show heading into the PPV that weekend.

WWE can trust Mustafa Ali to do well with whatever is given to him. It’s clear that fans want to see him at the top of the card, holding and battling for championships. Will that time come? Perhaps, and fans should continue to hold out hope. This feud with GUNTHER for the next PLE is going to be another example of his greatness at this level.