Saturday’s Battle in the Valley 2024 event for New Japan Pro Wrestling in San Jose, California featured former WWE talent Mustafa Ali making a surprise appearance and official debut for NJPW.
Following the NJPW Strong Women’s Championship match between Giulia and Trish Adora on the show, a video aired on the big screen featuring Mustafa Ali making his official debut appearance for NJPW.
In the video, Ali was seen talking on a podium and delivering a speech similar in style of a presidential candidate with Ali campaign banners in the background. Ali stated that he was bringing his campaign to NJPW and called out Hiromu Takahashi. Ali proceeded to insult Takahashi calling him mentally unstable because he would rather battle with a stuffed animal on his arm, which was a dig directed towards Takahashi’s cat plushie Daryl. Ali also claimed that Takahashi was unfit to be a leader and will show him why he’s a great ambassador for wrestling and has issued an executive order for a match between them at NJPW’s Windy City Riot 2024 event on April 12th in Chicago, Illinois.
MUSTAFA ALI HAS CHALLENGED HIROMU TAKAHASHI!
— NJPW Global (@njpwglobal) January 14, 2024
Windy City Riot April 12:https://t.co/UuTuvLOJmn
LIVE on @fitetv!https://t.co/yevfxDp7nw#njpw #njbitv #njriot pic.twitter.com/waEUa7Vorl
Following Ali’s appearance, Takahashi responded on Twitter accepting Ali’s match challenge for NJPW Windy City Riot 2024 event.
Us?
— 高橋ヒロム / Hiromu Takahashi (@TIMEBOMB1105) January 14, 2024
Ohhhhhhhhh!Yeaaaahhhhhhhhh!
Mustafa Ali 🐈
#njbitv https://t.co/0aJq6bPo4o pic.twitter.com/savSLC2NfB