WWE News: Mustafa Ali comments on leaving 205 Live for SmackDown Live

What's the Story?

Mustafa Ali is no longer a member of the 205 Live roster, but still has a great appreciation for the brand that brought him to WWE. Ali responded to a fan's comments about being "too big for 205" and felt those comments were "way off the mark."

In Case You Didn't Know...

After two years wrestling in the Cruiserweight Division, WWE moved Ali to the main roster and had him face WWE Champion Daniel Bryan in a losing effort.

His move to SmackDown Live came just a few weeks after his Cruiserweight Championship match against Buddy Murphy at Survivor Series - one of his last matches as a member of the division.

The Heart of the Matter

Ali's comments on being in 205 Live were sparked by Twitter user Daniel Blake responding to a WWE video of Ali celebrating his victory against The Miz from a WWE Live event this week.

.@MustafaAliWWE celebrated his hometown return with a very special fan at #WWEChicago! pic.twitter.com/wIb1sTFJVi
— WWE (@WWE) December 29, 2018

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Blake said he felt Ali was "too big for 205" and that it was great to see him on the main roster, but Ali responded saying that establishing a new division in WWE was "the biggest challenge in our industry."

Appreciate the support my man but saying "too big for 205" is actually way off the mark. How can anyone be too big to try and establish a new brand with a group of new wrestlers? To me that sounds like the biggest challenge in our industry. https://t.co/AobKmD7hPz
— Mustafa Ali / Adeel Alam (@MustafaAliWWE) December 30, 2018

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Ali was first introduced to the WWE audience in 2016 when he was an alternate for the Cruiserweight Classic.

After the tournament concluded, Ali was signed to Monday Night Raw as a member of the Cruiserweight division before the competitors became exclusive to 205 Live and other WWE Network programming earlier this year.

The Cruiserweight tournament to determine the new champion heading into WrestleMania 34 was when fans took notice of Ali's incredible athleticism and in-ring ability, leading to his amazing matches with Cedric Alexander, Hideo Itami and Murphy.