Mustafa Ali vs. Hiromu Takahashi set for NJPW Windy City Riot

Former WWE star Mustafa Ali is set to make his NJPW debut after issuing a challenge to Hiromu Takahashi. 

Ali threw down the gauntlet to Takahashi in a video airing during Saturday’s Battle in the Valley pay-per-view, challenging the former IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion to a match at NJPW Windy City Riot in Chicago on Friday, April 12. NJPW confirmed that the match is official in a social media post. 

The video featured Ali delivering a promo from behind a podium in his politician character as he announced that he was bringing his “campaign” to NJPW and calling out Takahashi specifically for Chicago. Ali is an Illinois native and a former police officer in a Chicago suburb. 

Ali announced his departure from WWE in September 2023 after a tumultuous seven-year run with the company that included him publicly requesting his release in 2022. 

In December 2023, Ali announced his “world tour campaign” in a video where he established his crusading politician character. 

Ali had his first post-WWE match in France last Saturday, then made his GCW debut on Friday’s No Compadre event with a win over Gringo Loco.

The video featuring Ali’s challenge to Takahashi is embedded below.

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Ethan Renner
Ethan Renner

An F4WOnline Editor since 2019, Ethan has been covering wrestling and MMA since 2011. He has hosted The Wrestling Life Podcast since 2014, and is a former Baltimore Sun TV/Tribune Media contributor. He is also a Baltimore Ravens and Baltimore Orioles fan.