THOUGHTS ON JINDER MAHAL

Jinder Mahal has always been a mixed bag, and that isn’t always on Jinder. Much has to do with WWE Booking. Jinder Mahal is a perfect example of WWE Booking and Creative that expects fans to accept sudden twists and turns that make no sense, defy logic and demands people to forget what has come before.

Maybe wins and losses don’t mean much. Maybe telling a story means more. But it isn’t enough to tell a story – you need to tell it good and right.

Jinder’s story has rarely been good or right.

He started out as an antagonist for The Great Kahli – someone who Kahli’s family owed a debt. During that story he floundered, talked a lot, but never showed anything that proved he belonged in the WWE. It doesn’t feel like the WWE felt he should be there either, never really using him or letting him shine.

He eventually become a comedy foil in 3MB, with Heath Slater and Drew McIntrye. McIntrye was on the downslide, Heath was (and is) Heath and Jinder found his niche for the moment. Even though this was a jobber trio, Jinder finally started to show what he could do in ring – and he sold the gimmick.

This is where I became and fan of Jinder. 3MB could have become something if not for his release (and Drew’s).

Jinder found his way back. Leaving on good terms and bettering his skills found his way home. He had always been in good shape, but now he looked Fantastic!

Still, he remained a mix bag, floundering as a jacked up jobber that couldn’t get over and had little reaction from any but die hard fans.

Then came the Brand Split.

Then came Smackdown Live into Jinder’s life. Then came JINDER.

He lost his debut Smackdown Live Match, then won a #1 contender ship match, then claimed the World Title.

After beating Randy Orton, he became unstoppable (with the Sing Brothers). Orton, Nakamura, and all fell to the Majahara.

The real Question is did Jinder claim the title, or did the Title claim Jinder?




See, even though I like Jinder, and he may one day have risen to the title, he shouldn’t have won it when he did. It made no sense. Jinder was the perennial loser who couldn’t win, then wins one match – and from there on can’t be beat?

I mentioned WWE Booking above, and this is what I mean. The fans are supposed to forget that Jinder was a jobber, and accepted him as the real deal overnight. They didn’t. It didn’t help that they portrayed him as an old-school anti-American heel who spews out racist slurs.

Let’s be honest though, it’s all over the internet and there is a ring of truth to this: Jinder as champion was a business decision. The WWE wanted to make a big push into India and he was the ticket. Understandable move, and good for Jinder.

The answer to the question is this: The Title claimed Jinder.

As the jobber he was then, it made no sense story wise to put the title on him. The Title elevated Jinder, not Jinder the title. The WWE business plan elevated Jinder, not Jinder’s skill set or abilities.

Jinder should NOT have been the WWE Champion this past year – by any means. But he was. The Title claimed him. The WWE barreling into India spurred his rise.

Yet there is another story here, a secondary plot to all this. The true rise of Jinder Mahal.

Since winning the title Jinder has stepped up, big time. His in-ring work has improved – and how could it not. Instead of being a jobber, he was now tasked with hanging with top tier talent like Randy Orton, Nakamura and Styles.

Iron sharpens Iron, and Jinder would only do one of two things in the ring with this level of talent: Fail or Rise Up.

It took time, but as WWE Champion, Jinder started to rise.

In his second match with Nakamura, Jinder arrived with his best match to date.

Even in his two losses to AJ Styles (losing the Title and rematch), Jinder performed far greater then he would have six-months ago.

The Rise of Jinder may have just begun.

This time maybe the Modern Day Majaraha can claim the Title.

 - Ace Masters