Mustafa Ali sees May 19th as a big opportunity if he is selected to be in the match.
Mustafa Ali, now known on WWE programming as just "Ali" burst onto the SmackDown Live roster after transitioning from 205 Live and picked up a win over the then-WWE Champion Daniel Bryan. Ali was headed to the Elimination Chamber pay-per-view to be one of five men challenging for the WWE Title. It was reported exclusively by Fightful's Sean Ross Sapp that Ali had to be pulled from the match due to nagging injuries that he piled up over the weeks and months prior to Elimination Chamber.
Ali's injury opened the door for Kofi Kingston to fill in which eventually lead to Kofi becoming the first African-born WWE Champion in the company's history. Tonight on SmackDown Live, the participants who'll be representing the blue-brand in the men's and women's Money In The Bank Ladder matches will be revealed and Ali is hoping that he is selected and feels that Money In The Bank could be a redemption story for him and he echoed those sentiments during a sit-down interview with ABC 6 in Ohio.
“Money In The Bank would be a redemption story. Unfortunately... earlier this year, I was on a hot track. I came in, I pinned the WWE Champion -- the then-WWE Champion Daniel Bryan and things were looking good for me and then unfortunately, I suffered a pretty serious injury that took me out of competition." Ali said. "Yeah, I’m good, all thumbs up guys. Everything’s good but, I missed out on the Elimination Chamber pay-per-view for a WWE Title opportunity and that what if question has been haunting me. I mean, the good thing out of all this is that Kofi Mania was born and Kofi Kingston is now this awesome champion. But for me to watch that all unfold, and to go, ‘Oh man, what could’ve been? Could that have been me?’ Money In The Bank is my opportunity to put that question to rest.”
If the quote in this article is used, please credit ABC 6 with an H/T to Fightful for the transcription.
Here's an updated look at the Money In The Bank match card and also, head over to the Fightful Pro Wrestling YouTube channel for our review of last night's WWE RAW.
WWE Universal Championship
Seth Rollins (c) vs. AJ StylesRAW Women's Championship
Becky Lynch (c) vs. Lacey EvansMen's Money In The Bank Ladder Match
Braun Strowman vs. Ricochet vs. Baron Corbin vs. Drew McIntyre vs. TBA vs. TBA vs. TBA vs. TBAWomen's Money In The Bank Ladder Match
Alexa Bliss vs. Naomi vs. Natalya vs. Dana Brooke vs. TBA vs. TBA vs. TBA vs. TBARoman Reigns vs. Elias
SmackDown Live Women's Championship
Becky Lynch (c) vs. Charlotte FlairSteel Cage Match
The Miz vs. Shane McMahon
