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Indian WWE superstar proud of his immigrant heritage

Posted: Sep 1st 2017 By: www.qconline.com

Jinder Mahal cuts a pretty imposing figure when he steps into the World Wrestling Entertainment ring, as he'll do Saturday as WWE Live returns to the iWireless Center.

With a ripped, 6-foot-5, 238-lb. frame, the bearded Mr.Mahal (nicknamed "The Modern-Day Maharaja") enters wearing a turban, and he'll face off Saturday in a "last man standing"match with fellow WWE superstar Randy Orton. Nicknamed "The Viper," Mr. Orton is son of WWE Hall of Famer “Cowboy” Bob
Orton.

"He's an incredible performer, 13 times champion," Mr. Mahal said this week in a phone interview of his adversary, in advance of a wild, no-holds-barred match where chairs and tables can be used in the ring. "Randy is there to ultimately take the WWE championship away from me. It's my duty to ensure I walk out of Moline the WWE champion."


Mr. Mahal beat Mr. Orton this past May for the WWE championship, making him the 50th WWE champion and the firstwrestler of Indian descent to win the title.

"It's a great feeling to be champion, a proud feeling I'm representing India," said the 31-year-old native of Calgary,Alberta (born Yuvraj Singh Dhesi), son of a bus driver and nephew of wrestler Gama Singh, who's considered a legendary villain.

"India is proud to have a WWE champion. It's very popular there, with a large viewership," Mr. Mahal said. "Growing up, my uncle was a huge influence on me, and who I go to advice even still now in my current position."

The last time he wrestled in India was a year and a half ago, not under WWE, but in a battle with the Great Khali,another Indian superstar who used to perform for WWE, Mr.Mahal said. They fought in Delhi, which has a population of19 million.

"It was amazing; we had over 60,000 people," he said. "It was a great reception. ... The fans were very passionate,very proud."

The Indian superstar is "the very definition of a self-made man, having battled his way to the WWE Championship despite suffering trials and tribulations that would have sent a lesser person running for the hills," according to Mr.Mahal's bio at WWE.com.

His parents immigrated from Punjab, India, and settled in Canada. Mr. Mahal earned a business degree in communication sand culture from the University of Calgary.

He made his televised WWE debut on the April 29, 2011episode of SmackDown under the ring name Jinder Mahal,greeting backstage fellow Indian wrestler The Great Khali and his manager Ranjin Singh by speaking in Punjabi,according to Mr. Mahal's bio on Wikipedia.

The next week on SmackDown, Mr. Mahal, "unimpressed by howKhali and Singh have been partaking in childish activities instead of winning matches, confronted Singh about his mismanagement of Khali, establishing himself as a villain,"the bio says.

A recent New York Times article described a Des Moines match against Mr. Orton, where Mr. Mahal shouted — "Randy, you're just like all of these people! You disrespect me because Ilook different. You disrespect me because of your arrogance and your lack of tolerance."

"Basically I am the grand king; in my mindset I believe I'm above everybody," Mr. Mahal said in this week's interview."I just want to inspire the next generation, whatever culture. I want them to believe anything is possible, as the first WWE Indian champion. It takes a lot of hard work."

He had to prove that in the summer of 2014, when he was released by WWE and forced himself through rigorous training to make a triumphant return two years later.

"I wasn't very focused; I regained my focus, regained mydrive, a second chance," Mr. Mahal said. "After coming back,10 months later I became champion."

While his style evolved, "he also underwent a remarkable physical transformation," his WWE.com bio says. "Suddenly,going after the biggest dog in the yard didn’t seem so far-fetched." In just a two-month span, Mr. Mahal finished as runner-up in the Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal this past April, in the WrestleMania 33 kickoff show out of the33 participants (eliminated last by Mojo Rawley).

Among the many performers (including several women) coming to Moline, Mr. Mahal is proud the show is diversifying its wrestling lineup. It includes Shinsuke Nakamura and The Usos— Samoan twin brothers.

"We're definitely expanding. Look at the roster, we havepeople from all over the world," Mr. Mahal said. "We tour all over the world — Japan, China, all over Europe. Japan isone of the main events; what a global phenomenon it hasbecome."

"WWE fans are the most energetic fans," he said of the loud,rocking, riotous arena environment. "I love seeing the crowdinteraction."

"It's nothing but fun, every time I've been with WWE," Mr.Mahal said. "It's great, out there performing. And the womenwrestlers are amazing; they are amazing performers, and puton great matches," he said