Backstage Update: Mustafa Ali Keeping His Options Open As TNA Contract Nears Expiration
The veteran star could be on the move again in 2026.
As 2025 winds down, one of TNA’s top names may be approaching another major career crossroads. According to Fightful Select, Mustafa Ali’s current TNA contract is set to expire at the end of 2025, and the 39-year-old star is said to be “keeping his options open” as the clock ticks toward free agency.
While there’s no indication Ali has made a decision about his next move, the report notes that he would be “welcome back” in WWE NXT, where Shawn Michaels has long been a strong supporter of his work.
Ali’s connection to NXT runs deep. He was a key member of the roster in 2023 before his unexpected release — just days before he was scheduled to challenge for the North American Championship at No Mercy. That unfinished story was later revisited in his recent NXT vs. TNA Showdown feud with Ethan Page, culminating in a title match that paid homage to his lost opportunity.
In a recent interview with Denise Salcedo, Ali revealed that the emotional promo he delivered ahead of Showdown — reflecting on his 2023 release — was something Shawn Michaels personally encouraged him to cut.
“I thought he was wrong initially,” Ali admitted. “Then I went out there, started cutting the promo, and even I started to feel it. There was this pin-drop silence… I said something like, ‘My dream was on the horizon but that day, Mr. Page, the sun did not rise,’ and you could just feel that everyone knew it was real. When I came back, I looked at Shawn and said, ‘You were right.’”
Ali has been praised throughout his career for his in-ring precision, authenticity, and willingness to reinvent himself — traits that could make him a hot commodity across the wrestling landscape in 2026. Whether he stays with TNA, makes a high-profile return to WWE, or tests the waters in AEW, the veteran has made it clear he’s not short on motivation or opportunity.
Wrestling.news | Backstage Take
Mustafa Ali’s career has always been about resilience and reinvention. His creative revival in TNA showed flashes of what WWE never fully tapped into. The timing of his contract’s expiration — right as multiple promotions ramp up their rosters for major expansion — could make him one of the most sought-after free agents of 2026. Don’t be surprised if Ali’s next move becomes one of the year’s biggest stories.
