Mustafa Ali is set to return to TNA programming after being sidelined for several weeks with a serious injury suffered at Lockdown.
Ali posted a video on X looking back at the injury and confirming his return for the September 24 episode of iMPACT, live from the Boeing Center at Tech Port in San Antonio, Texas. He captioned the post, “I almost died. @ThisIsTNA 🎥 @iamslpwlkr”
He suffered fractured ribs and a punctured lung during his steel cage match against Jason Hotch at TNA Lockdown on August 23. Even with the injury, Ali finished the match and regained the TNA International Championship, starting his second reign.
According to Bryan Alvarez of the Wrestling Observer, the injury didn’t happen on the spot where Hotch dove off the top of the cage and both went through a table. It reportedly happened earlier in the match.
The injury forced Ali to cancel September appearances for Australian Championship Wrestling in Melbourne and Community Pro Wrestling in Glasgow. At the time, there was no timetable for his return.
While Ali was out, TNA tried to find his next challenger. Jason Hotch and Trey Miguel faced each other on the September 3 iMPACT for a shot at the International Championship. The match ended in a no contest, leaving the title picture unresolved.