Ethan Page and Mustafa Ali stole the show at WWE NXT Showdown on October 7. This was a big match, not only because it was for the NXT North American Championship, but because it was a moment that Ali deserved, but had avoided him for years. With this match, Mustafa Ali reminded much of the mainstream wrestling world just how great he truly is in the ring and as a sports entertainer.
For 14 minutes, Ethan Page and Mustafa Ali put on a clinic that is rarely seen in a WWE ring. This match had the right mix of professional wrestling and sports entertainment to keep both the hardcore fans and casual WWE viewers locked in.
What made this match so interesting was the simple story that Ali didn’t get the shot that he earned years ago. Not only did he not get the shot, but he was also suddenly released from the company. How’d he respond, by going on a world tour that saw him become one of the hottest free agents in 2024.
Predictably so, NXT dominated much of the battle against TNA Wrestling. But there was a strong push to see Ali be one of the TNA stars to walk away with an NXT championship. Pun intended, he’d be the perfect candidate for the role.
This match was about all of that, but also a moment to remind the wrestling world that Mustafa Ali deserves much more praise than he’s received. There are so many points throughout his career that Ali let the WWE Universe know he should be a bigger deal, but the company didn’t have the interest to build him into that larger star.
He was an alternate who found his way into the CWC thanks to another performer having visa issues. He was supposed to win The Money in the Bank, but that went to a last-minute Brock Lesnar return. KofiMania happened because Ali suffered a serious injury. Retribution was a horrible idea for a faction, but when Ali was tied to it, fan interest immediately sparked. So many missed moments that could have pushed Ali to higher heights went without follow-up or even implementation. WWE truly missed the boat with Mustafa Ali, and this return to WWE NXT is a reminder of that.
WWE has had a lot of strong talent on the roster throughout the years. The company didn’t “miss” on all of them, but there have been some stars who could have seen bigger opportunities come their way. Mustafa Ali is one of them, and his WWE NXT return was a strong reminder of that fact.