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Jinder Mahal Provides Major Update On WWE Return

Jinder Mahal Provides Major Update On WWE Return

Posted: Oct 29th 2019 By: Chris Featherstone

At the WWE Draft, former WWE Champion Jinder Mahal was chosen in round four to become exclusive to the Raw brand. Along with Mahal, former Cruiserweight Champion Buddy Murphy and 24/7 Champion R-Truth were also chosen in this round to be exclusive to the flagship brand. Interestingly, despite being injured, Mahal was drafted during the main show, above several active wrestlers who became free agents as a result of not being drafted to either brand.

Mahal has been inactive from in-ring competition since June of this year, lastly competing against Ali at a WWE live event. For several weeks before being forced to step away, Mahal was heavily involved in the 24/7 Championship picture, winning the title on two occasions. He was also a part of the 50-man Battle Royal at the Super Showdown WWE Network special in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

“The Modern Day Maharaja” has been away from the ring due to injuring his knee. Mahal had to undergo surgery and is currently recovering. After reaching out to Mahal for a return timeline, he informed me that he will be returning “not until the new year at earliest.”

A reasonable goal for Mahal’s return would be the Royal Rumble, which is scheduled for January 26. If he is still recovering at this time and unable to return, returning before WrestleMania would certainly be something to shoot for.

After being released in 2014 while he was a part of the 3MB faction with Drew McIntyre and Heath Slater, Jinder returned in 2016 on an episode of WWE Raw, defeating his old stablemate Heath Slater. Even with this quick victory, Mahal’s momentum slowed down with consecutive losses against numerous superstars including Jack Swagger, Sin Cara, Neville, Sami Zayn, Darren Young, and Curtis Axel. In short fashion, Mahal was used more as an enhancement talent upon his return.

At WrestleMania 33, Mahal did receive some buzz after his involvement in the Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal, getting into an encounter with Rob Gronkowski, who assisted Mojo Rawley in winning the match. Mahal moved to the WWE SmackDown brand during the Superstar Shakeup, after losing his last Raw bout to Finn Balor. This moved turned out to be very beneficial for Mahal, as he picked up quality wins against AJ Styles and Sami Zayn, as well as winning the number one contender Six Pack Challenge against Luke Harper, Erick Rowan, Dolph Ziggler, Mojo Rawley, and Sami Zayn.

Within six weeks of being drafted to SmackDown, Mahal won the WWE Championship by defeating Randy Orton in the main event at Backlash, with help from the Singh Brothers. At SummerSlam, Mahal retained the title against Shinsuke Nakamura, even after competing in a marquee main event match on the previous SmackDown against John Cena.

Mahal retained the WWE title for nearly six months, losing to AJ Styles on the November 7 episode of SmackDown in Manchester, UK. As a result of Mahal’s loss, he was unable to face Brock Lesnar at the Survivor Series pay-per-view, which was the match he was preparing for.
Jinder Mahal Continues Roller-Coaster Ride in WWE

A few months later, Mahal reached the finals of the United States Championship tournament, defeating Tye Dillinger and Xavier Woods before losing to Bobby Roode in the finals. However, at WrestleMania 34, Mahal won the US Title by defeating Randy Orton, Rusev, and Bobby Roode in a four-way match. Hey only retained the title for eight days, however, before losing it to Jeff Hardy on SmackDown Live. Since losing the U.S. Championship, Mahal had unsuccessful feuds against Bobby Lashley, Braun Strowman, as well as a loss against Roman Reigns at the 2018 Money in the Bank PPV.

Although the WWE superstar is currently shelved until the beginning of the year, the former champion is hoping to work his way back up to the main event scene, in hopes of another title match. Since he is on the Raw brand, the top names in the title picture include current Universal Champion Seth Rollins, and his upcoming challenger at Crown Jewel, “The Fiend” Bray Wyatt. As we have seen, pro wrestling has presented many surprises in the past, and Vince McMahon can decide again to give Mahal another title reign.

From debuting on SmackDown from WWE NXT in 2011 to commencing an angle with The Great Khali, and eventually becoming a member of 3MB, being released, returning to win the WWE Championship, losing the title and winning the United States Championship, and losing the title to experience a bit of a downturn, Jinder Mahal has been on quite the roller coaster ride during his WWE career. However, Mahal can say that he is in an elite class of being a former WWE Champion, as well as other milestone moments such as competing against Triple H in New Delhi, India.

 

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Spotlight in History

  • 1954 Red Berry def. Whitey Whittler for the TSW Tri-State Title
  • 1976 Ted DiBiase & Dick Murdoch def. Buck Robley & Bob Slaughter for the TSW United States Tag Team Titles
  • 1980 Kevin Von Erich def. Toru Tanaka for the WCCW American Heavyweight Title
  • 1989 The Simpson Brothers (Steve Simpson & Shaun Simpson) def. Beauty & The Beast (Terrance M. Garvin & The Beast [2nd]) for the WCCW Texas Tag Team Titles
  • 2000 Heather Savage def. Jenna Love for the OPW Oklahoma Womens Title
  • 2002 Summer Rain became the OCW Oklahoma Womens Champion
  • 2007 Eric Rose def. Jersey Devil for the UWF06 Light Heavyweight Title
  • 2007 Joe Herell became the UWF06 Violent Division Champion
  • 2017 Brandon Groom def. Sam Stackhouse for the BPPW Oklahoma Title
  • 2018 Dusty Gold def. Wesley Crane for the UWE United States Title

Week of Sun 04-26 to Sat: 05-02

  • 04-26 2008 Jerry Bostic def. Joshua Smith for the 3DW Violent Division Title
  • 04-26 2008 Shane Rawls def. Ky-Ote for the 3DW Heavyweight Title
  • 04-26 2014 Buster Cherry def. Bud Barnes for the SWCW All-American Title
  • 04-26 2014 Chaz Sharpe def. Kevin James Sanchez for the SWCW Heavyweight Title
  • 04-26 2014 Sam Stackhouse def. Warhammer for the SRPW Heavyweight Title
  • 04-26 2024 Miranda Gordy def. Sgt. Slice for the CPW Women’s Title
  • 04-26 2025 Deacon Hendrix became the RWE Heavyweight Champion
  • 04-26 2025 Family Affiliated (Athan Sorrow & Rika Wildlee) became the RWE Tag Team Champions
  • 04-26 2025 Gluttony became the RWE United States Champion
  • 04-26 2025 Bishop Simon became the RWE Light Heavyweight Champion
  • 04-26 2025 For God And Country (Pastor Brent & Corporal Punishment) def. The Main Characters (Sean Ryan & Daniel Aaron Michalles) for the WAH Tag Team Titles
  • 04-27 1978 The Assassin became the TSW Louisiana Champion
  • 04-27 1981 Junkyard Dog & Dick Murdoch def. The Grappler & The Super Destroyer for the MSW Mid-South Tag Team Titles
  • 04-27 2003 The Sharpe Brothers (Chaz Sharpe & Rich Sharpe) def. John O'Malley & All-American Aaron for the ACW Tag Team Titles
  • 04-27 2003 Se7en def. Aaron Neil for the ACW Hardcore Title
  • 04-27 2008 Tyrone def. Jerry Bostic for the 3DW Violent Division Title
  • 04-27 2019 Brandon Groom def. Brian Dixon for the BPW Lion Heart Title
  • 04-27 2019 Doc Black became the BCW Heritage Rivalry Champion
  • 04-28 1954 Red Berry def. Whitey Whittler for the TSW Tri-State Title
  • 04-28 1976 Ted DiBiase & Dick Murdoch def. Buck Robley & Bob Slaughter for the TSW United States Tag Team Titles
  • 04-28 1980 Kevin Von Erich def. Toru Tanaka for the WCCW American Heavyweight Title
  • 04-28 1989 The Simpson Brothers (Steve Simpson & Shaun Simpson) def. Beauty & The Beast (Terrance M. Garvin & The Beast [2nd]) for the WCCW Texas Tag Team Titles
  • 04-28 2000 Heather Savage def. Jenna Love for the OPW Oklahoma Womens Title
  • 04-28 2002 Summer Rain became the OCW Oklahoma Womens Champion
  • 04-28 2007 Eric Rose def. Jersey Devil for the UWF06 Light Heavyweight Title
  • 04-28 2007 Joe Herell became the UWF06 Violent Division Champion
  • 04-28 2017 Brandon Groom def. Sam Stackhouse for the BPPW Oklahoma Title
  • 04-28 2018 Dusty Gold def. Wesley Crane for the UWE United States Title
  • 04-29 2006 AWOL def. Michael York for the TPW Heavyweight Title
  • 04-29 2006 Natural Born Sinners (Appolyon & El Lotus) def. Pretty Young Things (Cade Sydal & Mitch Carter) for the ACW Tag Team Titles
  • 04-29 2006 Rexx Reed def. Carnage for the ACW Hardcore Title
  • 04-29 2006 Carnage def. Rexx Reed for the ACW Hardcore Title
  • 04-29 2007 Aaron Neil def. Tyler Bateman for the MSWA Oklahoma Title
  • 04-29 2007 Brad Michaels def. Ryan Davidson for the MSWA Mid-South Heavyweight Title
  • 04-29 2007 Bad Boy & Outlaw became the MSWA Mid-South Tag Team Champions
  • 04-29 2011 The Unknown & Johnny USA def. Michael H & Mr. Big for the NCW Tag Team Titles
  • 04-29 2011 Mr. Big became the NCW Heavyweight Champion
  • 04-29 2012 Sam Stackhouse def. Prophet for the BYEW Heavyweight Title
  • 04-29 2012 Rage Logan became the MSWA Mid-South Heavyweight Champion
  • 04-29 2012 Nemesis (Damien Morte & Damon Windsor) became the MSWA Mid-South Tag Team Champions
  • 04-29 2017 Aaron Anders became the ComPro Oklahoma X Division Champion
  • 04-30 1954 Frenchy Roy became the TSW Oklahoma Junior Heavyweight Champion
  • 04-30 1971 Toru Tanaka def. Johnny Valentine for the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Title
  • 04-30 2004 Shadow of Death def. Terry Montana for the TPW Hardcore Title
  • 04-30 2011 Ryan Reed def. Rolling Thunder for the UWE United States Title
  • 04-30 2011 Ray Martinez def. Ryan Reed for the UWE United States Title
  • 04-30 2016 Ray Martinez became the SRPW Heavyweight Champion
  • 04-30 2022 Clayton Bloodstone def. Ky-Ote for the NCWO Choctaw Nation Title
  • 04-30 2023 El Gallardo/El Vaquero def. Cappuccino Jones for the BPW Lion Heart Title
  • 04-30 2023 Heavyweight Grappling (Dan Webber & Morrison) def. Subject To Death (Cade Fite & Leo Fox) for the BPW Oklahoma Tag Team Titles
  • 05-01 1981 Super Destroyer def. Jim Garvin for the MSW Louisiana Title
  • 05-01 2016 Skylar Slice def. Nikki Knight for the MSWA Ladies Title
  • 05-01 2021 Fuel def. Derek James for the UWE Heavyweight Title
  • 05-02 1969 Johnny Valentine def. Fritz Von Erich for the WCCW American Heavyweight Title
  • 05-02 1975 Mad Dog Vachon def. Billy Graham for the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Title
  • 05-02 1977 Stan Hansen def. Dick Murdoch for the TSW North American Title
  • 05-02 1984 Krusher Khrushchev became the MSW Television Champion
  • 05-02 1984 The Rock-N-Roll Express (Ricky Morton & Robert Gibson) def. The Midnight Express (Bobby Eaton & Dennis Condrey) for the MSW Mid-South Tag Team Titles
  • 05-02 2009 Ozzy Hendrix def. Shank for the SWCW Luchadore Title
  • 05-02 2015 Gail Kim became the IWR Diamonds Champion
  • 05-02 2015 Kareem Sadat became the BCW Independent Hardcore Champion
  • 05-02 2021 Drake Gallows def. Blade [2nd] for the AIWF National Title
04-28
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  • Sunshine Apr 29th
  • Joe McCarthy Apr 30th
  • Billie the Kiid Apr 30th
  • Dustin Tibbs Apr 30th
  • Anarchy [2nd] Apr 30th
  • Prince Maivia May 1st
  • Don Fields May 2nd
  • Barrett Brown May 2nd
  • Americos May 2nd
  • Nightmare [1st] May 2nd
  • Big Bossman May 2nd
  • Kari Wright May 2nd
  • Lester Welch May 3rd
  • Johnny Humble May 3rd
  • Lily McKenzie May 3rd
  • Jay Hazzard May 4th
  • Malik Mayfield May 4th
  • El Hijo del Mascara Sagrada May 4th
  • Dory Funk May 4th
  • Bull Schmitt May 4th
  • Miss Diss Lexia May 5th
  • Bill Watts May 5th
  • Zane Morris May 5th
  • El Gallardo May 5th
  • Olivier Vegos May 5th
  • Pat O'Dowdy May 5th
  • Maria Brigitte May 5th
  • El Matador Dos May 5th
  • Princess Victoria May 5th
  • Claire Watson May 6th
  • Hercules May 7th
  • Richie Adams May 8th
  • Jake Danielsson May 9th
  • Jerry Brown May 10th
  • Tito Santana May 10th
  • Billy Brown May 10th
  • Sunny War Cloud May 10th
  • Rook Tyler May 10th
  • Psycho May 11th
  • Big J May 11th
  • Charming Charles May 11th

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