Update: Kofi Kingston has been confirmed as Ali’s replacement; he competed in tonight’s gauntlet match and will enter Sunday’s title match.
WWE has confirmed Mustafa Ali is being replaced in the WWE Championship match at Elimination Chamber due to injury.
Ali’s status was announced at the top of tonight’s episode of SmackDown Live. It was also revealed that one member of The New Day will replace Ali in the title match, and that person will compete in tonight’s gauntlet match, with the winner entering Sunday’s match last.
Fightful.com first reported Ali would be removed from the match, citing several injuries as cause for him being replaced. PWInsider.com later reported Ali suffered a concussion during Sunday’s WWE live event in a match against Samoa Joe.
Read More: WWE SmackDown Live Results (2/12/19)
Due to an injury, @MustafaAliWWE will be replaced by a member of #TheNewDay in tonight's #GauntletMatch. #SDLive pic.twitter.com/wOIIjbQXGM
— WWE (@WWE) February 13, 2019
Shortly after the announcement, Ali posted the following video on Twitter, which later aired on the SmackDown broadcast:
Unfortunately, some injuries I picked up over the last few months caught up to me. @WWE will not medically clear me to compete in this Sunday's #EliminationChamber Match. My apologies to anyone I let down. pic.twitter.com/fmT4BrTA5D
— Mustafa Ali / Adeel Alam (@AliWWE) February 13, 2019
