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Jinder Mahal on Pace to Be One of the Worst WWE Champions of All Time

Jinder Mahal on Pace to Be One of the Worst WWE Champions of All Time

Posted: Oct 1st 2017 By: Ryan Dilbert

Jinder Mahal is making the wrong kind of history as WWE champion.

His four-month reign has been bland, uninspired and forgettable. The Maharaja's matches as WWE's top titleholder haven't been special, and it's been hard to sit through his promos.

The "let's see where this goes" phase is coming to a close. It's time to start comparing Mahal to WWE's worst world champs ever.

Mahal's sudden leap from the undercard to the main event in the spring stunned the WWE fanbase. In a matter of weeks, a perennial stepping stone had become a charging freight train atop the SmackDown hierarchy. The "fun one" from the jobber faction 3MB became king at Backlash in May.

The finer points of the Mahal experiment have worked.

His swagger is befitting a top heel champ. His attitude resonates. The presentation WWE cooked up for him, from his entrance music to the digital rug that rolls out under his feet as he walks to the ring, has been excellent.

It's everything else that has flopped.

Mahal's methodical, throwback ring style hasn't produced enough top-notch bouts. Often the best parts of his matches don't actually involve him. Randy Orton manhandling the champ's cronies, The Singh Brothers, has elevated Mahal's title contests.

Overall, Mahal's matches have been fine at best.

Dave Meltzer has not had to reach deep into his bag of stars to rate The Maharaja's pay-per-view showings for Wrestling Observer Newsletter (h/t the Internet Wrestling Database).

Mahal vs. Orton: Money in the Bank (3.5)
Mahal vs. Orton: Battleground (0.75)
Mahal vs. Nakamura: SummerSlam (2.5)
That's an average of 2.25 stars and simply not good enough in an era where we're used to seeing guys like AJ Styles, John Cena and Seth Rollins knock it out of the park regularly.

Even a TV match against Styles, who thrives against everyone, underwhelmed.

But Mahal has been better between the ropes than he has been on the mic. His promos have dragged down his title reign like a two-ton anchor.

A part of that is poor material. It's hard to imagine anyone winning over the crowd by pointing up and laughing at photos of Shinsuke Nakamura making dramatic expressions. Constipation jokes and racially charged insults haven't done him any favors.

A controversial promo on Sept. 19 had fans chanting "That's too far."

Beyond being tone deaf, the speech was simply not good TV. In a post on Sporting News, former WWE Creative member Kevin Eck called the promo "an example of cheap heat and not particularly creative nor entertaining."

To this point, Mahal hasn't managed to overcome the subpar writing. His performances with a mic in hand have been flat.

Cena's father has clearly not been impressed. He laid into Mahal in a recent interview with Boston Wrestling MWF.

"I don't think he's a good champion. I don't think he's a worthy champion," Cena Sr. said. "I don't think he's the man for the job."

It's hard to argue with him.

Mahal getting a shot at the big time after all his hard work was a feel-good story. SmackDown stepping outside of the box sure got people talking, and WWE was bolder in its booking here than it normally has been.

But the experiment hasn't worked.

It's simply not fun to watch The Maharaja reigning. He's a career-long bench player being asked to be the star of the team, and he hasn't shown he cope.

Unless he goes on a tear and truly grows into his headliner shoes, Mahal is going to rank among the worst holders of the WWE Championship. Suddenly, Sheamus' 2009 reign and The Miz's time with the belt in 2010 don't seem nearly as underwhelming.

Mahal is charging past them, one blase performance at a time.

 

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Spotlight in History

  • 1967 Billy Red Lyons became the WCCW Texas Heavyweight Champion
  • 2009 3rd Rail def. Se7en for the SWCW Luchadore Title
  • 2009 Se7en became the SWCW Luchadore Champion
  • 2014 Bobby Starr def. Guy Atticus for the IZW Impact Division Title
  • 2019 Gorgeous Garcia def. Brock Landers for the ASP Inter-County Title
  • 2025 Stephen Nitro became the NAW Indigenous Land Champion
  • 2025 Rex Mori def. Rook Tyler for the TexPro Dynasty Title

Week of Sun 11-08 to Sat: 11-14

  • 11-08 1967 Billy Red Lyons became the WCCW Texas Heavyweight Champion
  • 11-08 2009 3rd Rail def. Se7en for the SWCW Luchadore Title
  • 11-08 2009 Se7en became the SWCW Luchadore Champion
  • 11-08 2014 Bobby Starr def. Guy Atticus for the IZW Impact Division Title
  • 11-08 2019 Gorgeous Garcia def. Brock Landers for the ASP Inter-County Title
  • 11-08 2025 Stephen Nitro became the NAW Indigenous Land Champion
  • 11-08 2025 Rex Mori def. Rook Tyler for the TexPro Dynasty Title
  • 11-09 1960 Danny McShain became the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Champion
  • 11-09 1976 The Spoiler def. Bill Watts for the TSW North American Title
  • 11-09 1978 Ron Bass became the TSW Brass Knucks Champion
  • 11-09 1986 One Man Gang def. Terry Gordy for the UWF Heavyweight Title
  • 11-09 1986 Savannah Jack def. Buddy Roberts for the UWF Television Title
  • 11-09 1986 Bill Irwin & Leroy Brown def. John Tatum & Jack Victory for the UWF Tag Team Titles
  • 11-09 2002 Sonny C def. Butch Dalton for the OCW Oklahoma Television Title
  • 11-09 2002 Dexter Hardaway def. Terry Montana for the OCW Oklahoma Hardcore Title
  • 11-09 2012 Kyle Kelly def. Steven Sterling for the ComPro Showtime Title
  • 11-09 2012 The Swamp Men (Amphibian & Reptile) def. The Legion of Bromance (Justin Lee & Max McGuirk) for the ComPro Tag Team Titles
  • 11-09 2013 Michael Wolf def. Kidd Krash for the OWA Junior Heavyweight Title
  • 11-09 2013 The Syndicate (Scott Sanders & Shawn Sanders) def. The Sharpe Brothers (Chaz Sharpe & Richard Sharpe) for the SWCW Tag Team Titles
  • 11-09 2013 Kidd Krash def. Michael Wolf for the OWA Junior Heavyweight Title
  • 11-09 2019 Double D def. Dexter Hardaway for the EmpCW Heavyweight Title
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  • 11-09 2024 Hell's Kitchen (The Canadian Red Devil & The Lunchador) def. The Grudge (Dr. Corvus & Giganto) for the WAH Tag Team Titles
  • 11-10 1976 Bill Watts & Billy Robinson def. Karl Kox & Ken Patera for the TSW United States Tag Team Titles
  • 11-10 1987 Matt Borne def. Ted Arcidi for the WCCW Texas Heavyweight Title
  • 11-10 2002 Kool Ade def. Li'l Joe for the ACW Hardcore Title
  • 11-10 2002 Jeffrey Parker def. Kool Ade for the ACW Hardcore Title
  • 11-10 2007 Cheerleader Melissa became the AACW Womens Champion
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  • 11-10 2007 J. D. Rebel & Fuel became the SECW Tag Team Champions
  • 11-10 2011 Uncle Mikey & Michael Titus became the ACW Tag Team Champions
  • 11-10 2018 Alex Royal def. J. D. for the WFC Hometown Heroes Title
  • 11-11 1964 Danny Hodge became the TSW Missouri Junior Heavyweight Champion
  • 11-11 1985 Eddie Gilbert & The Nightmare def. Wendell Cooley & Al Perez for the MSW Mid-South Tag Team Titles
  • 11-11 1988 Eric Embry def. Jeff Jarrett for the WCCW World Light Heavyweight Title
  • 11-11 2006 Mustafa Sharmoot def. Glen Steel for the AACW Heavyweight Title
  • 11-11 2017 Running Wolf def. Dusty Gold for the NAW Heavyweight Title
  • 11-11 2022 Nova Phoenix became the CPW Women’s Champion
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  • 11-12 1979 Bill Watts & Buck Robley def. Mike George & Bob Sweetan for the MSW Mid-South Tag Team Titles
  • 11-12 2002 Baby B def. Jeffrey Parker for the ACW Hardcore Title
  • 11-12 2011 The Jersey Kings (Scott Riley & King James) def. Pork Chop & Shane Cortez (subbing for Big Smooth) for the SRPW Tag Team Titles
  • 11-12 2022 Ronnie Morton def. Ryan the Ripper for the RDW Brass Knucks Title
  • 11-12 2022 Andrew Fenix def. Dove Puro for the WAH Hunger Dojo Title
  • 11-12 2022 San La Muerte became the WAH Spotlight Champion
  • 11-12 2022 Elijah Sparks def. San La Muerte for the WAH Spotlight Title
  • 11-13 1950 Verne Gagne became the NWA World Junior Heavyweight Champion
  • 11-13 1964 Angelo Savoldi def. Hiro Matsuda for the NWA World Junior Heavyweight Title
  • 11-13 1965 Jack Brisco became the TSW Missouri Junior Heavyweight Champion
  • 11-13 2010 Arrogant Money (Randy Price & Austin Tacious) def. Awesome X (Kevin Morgan & Xavior) for the IZW Tag Team Titles
  • 11-13 2010 Awesome X (Kevin Morgan & Xavior) def. Arrogant Money (Randy Price & Austin Tacious) for the IZW Tag Team Titles
  • 11-13 2015 The Pen Palz (Skyler Fayden & Dimitri Alexandrov) became the SRPW Tag Team Champions
  • 11-13 2015 Lance Osburn became the SRPW United States Champion
  • 11-13 2015 Jon Cross def. Riker for the SRPW Heavyweight Title
  • 11-13 2021 Rebel Hearts (Christian Temple & Justin Gray) def. The Psychotic Messengers (Maniac Mike & Malachi) for the EPW Tag Team Titles
  • 11-13 2021 Striker def. Warren Powers for the EPW All-American Title
  • 11-13 2022 Subject to Death (Leo Fox & Derek James & Cade Fite) became the BPW Oklahoma Tag Team Champions
  • 11-13 2022 Derek James became the BPW Lion Heart Champion
  • 11-13 2022 Cappuccino Jones def. Derek James for the BPW Lion Heart Title
  • 11-14 1980 Bruiser Brody def. Stan Stasiak for the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Title
  • 11-14 2009 Goldeneye def. Sage for the ComPro Oklahoma X Division Title
  • 11-14 2009 John O'Malley def. Aaron Neil for the IZW Heavyweight Title
  • 11-14 2009 Running Wolf def. Michael H for the 412PE Heavyweight Title
  • 11-14 2010 Greatness On Demand (Rage Logan & Damon Windsor) became the MSWA Mid-South Tag Team Champions
  • 11-14 2015 Aaron Neil def. Double D for the IZW Impact Division Title
  • 11-14 2015 Nemesis (Bobby Starr & Damien Morte) def. The K. C. Wolves (Graham Bell & Luke Langley) for the IZW Tag Team Titles
  • 11-14 2015 Rolling Thunder became the NAW Heavyweight Champion
  • 11-14 2020 Alex Royal def. Sam Stackhouse for the WFC Heavyweight Title
  • 11-14 2020 Dimitri Alexandrov def. Tim Rockwell for the WFC Hometown Heroes Title
11-08
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