EXCLUSIVE: Why Mustafa Ali Wasn’t Booked For NJPW Best of the Super Juniors
Mustafa Ali’s exclusion from NJPW’s Best of the Super Juniors tournament has raised eyebrows and led to significant backstage drama.
Sources close to the situation revealed that Ali expressed dissatisfaction about his role in the tournament. He refused to do a job and that’s why they took him off the list, and then he did shoot promo in Chicago.
He got on the mic and cut a shoot promo that rubbed people the wrong way.
“Here we are, Mustafa Ali finally debuts for New Japan Pro-Wrestling. What does he do? He puts down Hiromu. You’d think I would be happy, you’d think I would have some sense of adulation, but I don’t. I don’t. In fact, I’m quite annoyed. I’m annoyed at the industry, I’m annoyed at New Japan Pro-Wrestling, I’m annoyed at so many things. So I’m just gonna go ahead and list them off. I’m annoyed that this industry, we praise and we idolize these cowards, these cowards that hide behind contracts and cash, and yet they won’t say a peep about a genocide. You want controversy? We got guys fighting over broken glass, and that’s the talk of the industry for weeks. That. But we don’t want to talk about Mustafa Ali breaking records. 28, 29, you guys know how many wins I’ve had? 30-0 now? Cover of PWI, the first TNA X-Division Champion to do AJ since 2005. Won the X-Division Championship in my debut match for the fucking company. But let’s talk about the guys with broken glass issues. Let’s talk about white girls with fat asses that hang out of their gear. That should get you all talking. I am the industry. I am the man right now. You’re not giving me the respect that I deserve. Now, New Japan Pro-Wrestling has the audacity to have a tournament called the Best of the Super Juniors. News flash, ladies and gentleman. The best Super Junior heavyweight in the fucking world is not in the tournament. How the fuck can you have Best of the Super Juniors when the best super junior in the world is not in it? New Japan, better get your act together. Better change the name of that tournament to like Somewhat Adequate Super Juniors or some shit, I don’t know. I know my press secretary’s gonna call me, have a nightmare about this tantrum that I’m throwing, but I’m sick and tired of it. So this is my plea to the world. This is my plea to the industry, this is my plea to every single wrestler across the world. I have been a a free agent. I have been the man this entire year. Four months now, and not a single person, not one single person that I’ve stepped in the ring with has made me doubt myself. Not one. Not the Amazing Red. Not Alex Shelley. Not Chris Sabin. Not Hiromu. There was never a point in that match where I felt like I couldn’t win. Yeah, I might have a little dent in my armor, a scratch on my face. That’s alright. There’s not a soul in this world that has made me question myself. Here’s a challenge to the industry, to the world, to every single wrestler that I pissed every off right now. Please, for once in my life, make me doubt myself. Make me believe that you’re the better man. It hasn’t happened yet. So to everyone that I’ve pissed off, hello. To all those that support me, I thank you. Good night, and remember, in Ali we trust,” Ali said.
Although NJPW had plans to include him, Ali’s insistence on maintaining an undefeated streak became a point of contention. He stated that he would only participate if he could go through the tournament without a single loss—a condition that conflicted with the booking strategies of NJPW.
Despite his undefeated record since departing WWE, NJPW had intended for Ali to advance deep into the tournament.
His outspoken approach and refusal to job to other wrestlers ultimately led to his removal from the tournament lineup.
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