Shawn Michaels Booked 'Unbelievably Talented' TNA Star To Win NXT Championship Before WWE Release

Mustafa Ali was released by WWE back in September 2023 despite being scheduled to challenge Dominik Mysterio for the NXT North American Championship. His release ended a seven-year spell with the promotion and cancelled his title match at No Mercy, with Dom instead defending the title against Trick Williams and Dragon Lee.

The 39-year-old headed to TNA, where he continued to use a politician gimmick and found success, winning the TNA X Division Championship. But he made his first WWE appearance since his release this past Tuesday when he interrupted NXT North American Champion Ethan Page and recalled the title match he was supposed to have.

Sean Ross Sapp of Fightful Select reports that Ali was scheduled to defeat Mysterio for the NXT North American Championship before his release. He also claimed that North American Title gear was made before he left WWE.

Shawn Michaels, the head booker of NXT, is said to have always been a "big proponent" of Ali in NXT. The initial plans for him to dethrone Dom suggest he was going to be pushed on Tuesday nights.

Ali had appeared on NXT after spending significant time on WWE's main roster, which included fronting the group 'Retribution' during the Thunderdome era. He never held a title during his spell with the promotion and missed out on doing so just days before his title match at No Mercy.

"I Will Miss Him" - Shawn Michaels Was "Surprised" by Mustafa Ali's Release

Mustafa Ali's release came as a shock to Shawn Michaels, who admitted at the time that he wasn't in the know before it transpired. He said (via 411MANIA):

"I found out right before he did. I will say this, I’d be lying to you if I said it didn’t take us by surprise. That’s one thing I’m learning here is that main roster and NXT are totally separate rosters."

Ali and HBK build a strong rapport during the former's time in NXT which he touched on:

"I think the world of Mustafa, had a great working relationship with him in the time that he was here, I will miss him. That’s what we do here in NXT. We adjust. The fire drill is something that is a regular thing here in the WWE and certainly here at NXT. I feel we made a great pivot, we adjusted, and he’s an unbelievably creative and talented young man and no doubt his future looks incredibly bright and he’ll be successful. I’m going to miss him."

Michaels has the opportunity to make amends for Ali's missed title opportunity when he challenges Ethan Page for the NXT North American Championship at NXT vs. TNA Showdown on October 7th next Tuesday. It could be the first time the TNA star wins a WWE title and against a talent who is expected to move up to the main roster soon.