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‘To be a WWE superstar, you’ve to constantly evolve’

‘To be a WWE superstar, you’ve to constantly evolve’

Posted: Jun 25th 2017 By: Pretti Singh

Yuvraj ‘Raj’ Singh Dhesi, an Indo-Canadian professional wrestler, popularly known as Jinder Mahal, is the reigning WWE champion. He speaks to Preeti Singh about succeeding against all odds.

The Indo-Canadian pro wrestler Yuvraj “Raj” Singh Dhesi battled his way right to the top rungs of WWE Championship, despite all the personal trials and tribulations. He performs for the SmackDown brand under the ring name, Jinder Mahal, and is the current WWE Champion in his first reign.

Yuvraj took a sabbatical from WWE and returned in 2016 renewed and restrengthened. With his evolved style of fighting and remarkable physical transformation, Yuvraj finished as the runner-up in the Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal, defeating five of SmackDown LIVE’s finest to become the the top contender for a WWE Championship.

He speaks to Guardian 20 about the challenges he faced as a wrestler and why positivity is important in a fighter’s life.

Q. What were the major challenges initially when you wanted to be a WWE fighter?

A. The basic challenge was to get recognised by the WWE as there are millions of people who want to be a WWE superstar. There are thousands of people who are actually pursuing this dream. And after that, training is very intense. You not only train yourself in wrestling but in your mind too, and intense workout is very, very important. And you have to sacrifice a lot of your personal life because people of my age go on parties and vacations and spend time with their family. But I had to sacrifice a lot.

Q. Could you please tell us about your fitness regime?

A. So, every morning when I wake up, before I eat anything, I drink water or may be black coffee without sugar or any calories. And then for half an hour, I do intense cardio and then I eat. I eat oatmeal, white protein shake and bananas and lift weights. And also, every day since last year, I have been doing yoga, as stretching is very important for recovery and injury prevention. Most of my workouts are athletic-based alongside body-building workouts.

Q. Most WWE fighters have their signature steps. What is yours?

A. I am still discovering myself and still discovering my wrestling potential as I am still 30 years old. So, I am working on my strategies and I must keep it a secret as it mainly depends on with whom I am fighting. I try to find my opponents’ weakness in the ring and then defeat them.

Q. Whom do you see as your biggest competitor in the WWE?

A. Right now, I am focusing on my match with Randy Orton as I want to retain my title. But I think John Cena is my biggest competitor because for a long time, John Cena has been the face of the WWE and he won’t give up this title anytime soon. So, it would be challenging.

Q. For more than a decade, Khali was known as India’s representative in the WWE. How do you feel about representing India after him?

A. I feel proud to represent India and first of all, Khali is like my big brother and a good friend. He represented India so well and I want to do the same thing. I want to show that India has world-class athletes who are the best. I surely feel the pressure and I feel this pressure only drives, it will enable me to retain my title.

Q. Could you also talk about your techniques and fighting styles which you use to defeat your opponents?

A.I watch rivals similar to some opponent’s size and also study tapes of his previous matches as well as those of his opponents. To be a WWE Superstar, you’ve to constantly be evolving and improving. I study a lot of tapes, I watch a lot of old wrestling matches and see moves that work and moves that don’t work. I watch guys that are similar to my size, frame and body shape and the moves they do.

Q. Tell us about your association with your trainer, Bad News Brown.

A. The greatest influence on my life, I would say would be my original trainer, Bad News Brown. He taught me so much, not only in wrestling but taught me so much in real life—what it is to be a man, taking care of your family, and that life outside the ring is also very important. He taught me that.

Q. What would be your advice to budding wrestlers?

A. My advice would be, stay motivated and work hard and don’t give up. Because miracles could happen and that big break could be right there in the corner. Stay focused and driven. Take care of your body and stay away from drugs and stuff like that. Respect your body and your coach. And keep working hard and nothing is impossible as long as you are ready to work hard for that.

 

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Spotlight in History

  • 1970 Fritz Von Erich def. Boris Malenko for the WCCW American Heavyweight Champion
  • 1982 Fritz Von Erich def. King Kong Bundy for the WCCW American Heavyweight Champion
  • 2004 Team Shenanigans (Tyler Bateman & Kenny Campbell) def. Li'l Joe & Al Farat for the ACW Tag Team Champions
  • 2008 Kenny Campbell became the IZW Impact Division Champion
  • 2008 Nathan Sensation & Striker def. The New Age Syndicate (Shawn Sanders & Scott Sanders) for the IZW Tag Team Champions
  • 2008 Anarchy [2nd] def. The Enforcer for the SECW Tri-State Champion
  • 2008 Dane Griffin def. Mo'Body Gillespie for the 3DW Violent Division Champion
  • 2009 El Super Colibri became the TAP Adrenaline Champion
  • 2009 Reckless def. The Canadian Red Devil for the TAP Heavyweight Champion
  • 2009 Shane Morbid def. Jon Cross for the TAP Oklahoma Heritage Champion
  • 2013 Clint Cox became the BPPW Heavyweight Champion
  • 2014 The Rising (Justin Riker & Abel) def. Psycho Sawyer & Diamond for the SRPW Tag Team Champions
  • 2014 Omega X (Brett Stopp & X-Static) def. The K. C. Wolves (Graham Bell & Luke Langley) for the UWE Tag Team Champions

Week of Sun 06-09 to Sat: 06-15

  • 06-09 1959 The Golden Giant became the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Champion
  • 06-09 1966 Johnny Valentine def. Fritz Von Erich for the WCCW American Heavyweight Champion
  • 06-09 1980 The Fabulous Freebirds (Terry Gordy & Buddy Roberts) def. Junkyard Dog & Buck Robley for the MSW Mid-South Tag Team Champion
  • 06-09 1989 Jeff Jarrett & Mil Mascaras def. Super Zodiac & Cactus Jack for the WCCW World Tag Team Champion
  • 06-09 2017 The Rising (Matt Durden & Riker) def. Team Dean Machine (Christopher Dean & Jerry Dean) for the BPPW Oklahoma Tag Team Champion
  • 06-09 2023 Koko became the CPW Heavyweight Champion
  • 06-09 2023 The Regime (Derek James & Logan Knight & Merc & Skylar Slice/Sgt. Slice) def. The Roll Modelz (Malik Mayfield & Olivier Vegos) for the CPW Tag Team Champions
  • 06-09 2023 Mr. Nasty def. Mascara Purpura for the CPW 918 Champion
  • 06-09 2023 Red James def. Mr. Nasty for the CPW 918 Champion
  • 06-10 1979 Bruiser Brody def. Mark Lewin for the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Champion
  • 06-10 1985 Tim Brooks def. Scott Casey for the WCCW Television Champion
  • 06-10 2006 Dexter Hardaway became the AACW Mid-American Light Heavyweight Champion
  • 06-10 2023 MLP became the XDWF New GenX Champion
  • 06-11 1984 Chris Adams became the WCCW Television Champion
  • 06-11 2009 Sage became the SWCW Art of War Champion
  • 06-11 2011 Jake O'Brien def. Robbie Awesome for the MERC Patriot Champion
  • 06-11 2011 The Ring Intruders (Jon Cross & Fuel) became the SRPW Tag Team Champions
  • 06-11 2011 Jake O'Brien became the SRPW Patriot Champion
  • 06-11 2011 Kareem Sadat def. Rick Russo for the SWCW Hardcore Champion
  • 06-11 2011 Tim Storm def. Michael Faith for the NWA-OK Oklahoma Heavyweight Champion
  • 06-11 2022 Pastor Brent & Andrew Fenix def. The Rejecs LM (Elijah Sparks & Dr. Corvus) for the WAH Tag Team Champions
  • 06-11 2022 Connor Smith def. Romeo Reese for the WAH Spotlight Champion
  • 06-11 2022 Umbra def. Koko for the WAH Living Hope Champion
  • 06-11 2022 Dan Webber def. Paul Puertorico for the WAH Heavyweight Champion
  • 06-12 1982 The Spoiler def. Frank Dusek for the WCCW Television Champion
  • 06-12 2009 El Latino became the NWA-OK Oklahoma Light Heavyweight Champion
  • 06-12 2021 Brawler Morrison def. Blade [2nd] for the UWO Heavyweight Champion
  • 06-13 1960 Tony Borne def. Bull Curry for the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Champion
  • 06-13 1969 Chuck Karbo became the TSW North American Champion
  • 06-13 1978 Karl Krupp became the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Champion
  • 06-13 1998 The Bad Boys (Splash Jackson & Bull Schmitt) def. The Texas Outlaws (Dan Wilder & Bernard Funk) for the OPW Oklahoma Tag Team Champion
  • 06-13 2008 Brent Albright def. Slam Shady for the NWA-OK Oklahoma Heavyweight Champion
  • 06-13 2008 High Society (Al Farat & Thomas Trump) became the NWA-OK Oklahoma Tag Team Champion
  • 06-13 2008 Josh Michaels became the ACW Heavyweight Champion
  • 06-13 2009 The Canadian Red Devil became the ComPro Showtime Champion
  • 06-13 2015 Seth Angel & Adrian Dell def. Nemesis (Bobby Starr & Damien Morte) for the ComPro Tag Team Champions
  • 06-13 2015 Killista def. Paul Puertorico for the ComPro Oklahoma X Division Champion
  • 06-13 2015 Rolling Thunder def. Michael Duplanti for the NAW Heavyweight Champion
  • 06-13 2015 Paige Turner def. Erica for the IZW Queens Champion
  • 06-13 2015 Michael Wolf def. Jake O'Brien for the ComPro Heavyweight Champion
  • 06-13 2015 Jake O'Brien def. Michael Wolf for the ComPro Heavyweight Champion
  • 06-14 1970 Fritz Von Erich def. Boris Malenko for the WCCW American Heavyweight Champion
  • 06-14 1982 Fritz Von Erich def. King Kong Bundy for the WCCW American Heavyweight Champion
  • 06-14 2004 Team Shenanigans (Tyler Bateman & Kenny Campbell) def. Li'l Joe & Al Farat for the ACW Tag Team Champions
  • 06-14 2008 Kenny Campbell became the IZW Impact Division Champion
  • 06-14 2008 Nathan Sensation & Striker def. The New Age Syndicate (Shawn Sanders & Scott Sanders) for the IZW Tag Team Champions
  • 06-14 2008 Anarchy [2nd] def. The Enforcer for the SECW Tri-State Champion
  • 06-14 2008 Dane Griffin def. Mo'Body Gillespie for the 3DW Violent Division Champion
  • 06-14 2009 El Super Colibri became the TAP Adrenaline Champion
  • 06-14 2009 Reckless def. The Canadian Red Devil for the TAP Heavyweight Champion
  • 06-14 2009 Shane Morbid def. Jon Cross for the TAP Oklahoma Heritage Champion
  • 06-14 2013 Clint Cox became the BPPW Heavyweight Champion
  • 06-14 2014 The Rising (Justin Riker & Abel) def. Psycho Sawyer & Diamond for the SRPW Tag Team Champions
  • 06-14 2014 Omega X (Brett Stopp & X-Static) def. The K. C. Wolves (Graham Bell & Luke Langley) for the UWE Tag Team Champions
  • 06-15 1982 King Kong Bundy became the WCCW American Heavyweight Champion
  • 06-15 2003 Tyler Bateman def. Jef Tiger for the ACW Hardcore Champion
  • 06-15 2003 John O'Malley def. Tyler Bateman for the ACW Hardcore Champion
  • 06-15 2008 El Culo Intruso def. Dane Griffin for the 3DW Violent Division Champion
  • 06-15 2018 Sam Stackhouse def. Abyss for the BCW Buzzsaw Champion
  • 06-15 2019 Double D became the WFC Heavyweight Champion
  • 06-15 2019 Prince Mahalli def. Damon Windsor for the WCR Revolutionary Champion
06-14
  • Buzz Sawyer Jun 14th Today!
  • Sean Ryan Jun 15th
  • Lilith Grimm Jun 15th
  • Paul Linam Jun 15th
  • Trey the Bae Jun 15th
  • Jaxon Stone Jun 15th
  • Brad Armstrong Jun 15th
  • Ted Arcidi Jun 16th
  • Brock Landers Jun 16th
  • Shawn Matthews III Jun 16th
  • Jef Tiger Jun 16th
  • Paul Jones Jun 16th
  • Ultimate Warrior Jun 16th
  • Chuck Hinds Jun 16th
  • Ray Martinez Jun 17th
  • Talos Jun 17th
  • Rob Justice Jun 17th
  • Mario Galento Jun 17th
  • Cam the CODA Jun 18th
  • Bad Boy Jun 18th
  • Johnny Angel Jun 18th
  • Andy Dalton Jun 18th
  • Bruiser Brody Jun 18th
  • Sashimi Deluxe Jun 18th
  • Abe Jacobs Jun 18th
  • Canadian Red Devil Jun 19th
  • Wahoo McDaniel Jun 19th
  • Mike Two Jun 19th
  • Miguel Padilla Jun 19th
  • Top Dollar Bill Jun 19th
  • Kodi Ocean Jun 19th
  • Billy the Kid Jun 19th
  • David Kyzer Jun 20th
  • Koko B. Ware Jun 20th
  • Professor Ito Jun 20th
  • Jon Cross Jun 20th
  • Rick Russo Jun 21st
  • Milton Winkelman Jun 21st
  • Jeff the Ref Jun 21st
  • Super Star Jun 21st
  • Athena Jun 23rd
  • Juan Sebastian Jun 24th
  • Gabe Wilder Jun 24th
  • Don Kent Jun 24th
  • Kody Lane Jun 25th
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  • Paul Puertorico Jun 26th
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  • Ignition Jun 27th
  • Jason Kirby Jun 27th
  • Dan Barnhart Jun 27th
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