In an interview with The Express Tribune, Mustafa Ali spoke about getting a terrorist gimmick in the independent circuit, his first WWE tryout and more. Here are highlights:
On his first WWE tryout back in 2013: “I was told that I wrestle well, but I don’t look like what they needed at that moment.”
On being given a terrorist gimmick as part of “Team Taliban” on the independent circuit: “That was actually the idea of a promoter who wanted me to play a terrorist type of a character. I was never really a fan of portraying that, so I portrayed a character that could not escape racial discrimination in America. I’m a proud Muslim. I’m proud to have a Pakistani origin. And I want this country to accept me. I want to bring to light the fact that we are all the same.”
On being the first Pakistani wrestler in WWE: “I think being the only Pakistani wrestler in WWE will bring some attention from the country as well. I’ll do my best to do Pakistan proud and give them something to cheer about.”
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