Mustafa Ali, born on March 28, 1986, in Bolingbrook, Illinois, is an American wrestler of Pakistani origin who has made a significant impact on the sport. Growing up in Chicago, Illinois, Ali always had a passion for wrestling, saying, “I knew I wanted to be a wrestler ever since I was young.”

Ali began his professional wrestling career on the Independent circuit from 2003 to 2016, working with various promotions such as All American Wrestling, WA Mid-South, Jersey All Pro Wrestling, and National Wrestling Alliance. To avoid potential discrimination, Mustafa initially wore a mask to hide his identity.

On June 25, 2016, Ali became the first muscleman of Pakistani origin to compete in a World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) ring. A few months later, he made history as the first Pakistani to sign with WWE, the world’s biggest pro wrestling promotion.

From 2016 to 2018, Ali was a standout on WWE 205 LIVE in the cruiserweight division. In 2018, he began competing on SmackDown, showcasing his incredible athleticism with his signature move, the 054—a reverse 450 splash, an imploding somersault with an over-rotation landing on his front.

Reflecting on his career, Ali shared, “To wrestle for WWE is such a huge deal to me. It’s what I grew up on. It’s what I’ve broken bones for. To be able to live that moment of standing in a WWE ring is … I don’t know how to describe it.”

While Mustafa Ali is at the back end of his career, he remains a strong and entertaining wrestler, continuing to inspire fans worldwide.