*Article written by former Senior Columnist Anthony Cox
I don’t know about you, but I am actually interested to see what WWE does with Jinder Mahal as the number one contender for the WWE Championship! I know that a lot of you folks out there are moaning and groaning about it, but I truly feel that this is an opportunity for WWE to push fresh talent to the main event. It is hypocritical for fans to be out there complaining about Jinder Mahal being given a shot, but at the same time complain that WWE is too repetitive (it is). The guy looks great, and actually looks like he will whoop someone. I know that WWE is trying to make good with their fan base in India who hasn’t really had a wrestling hero since The Great Khali! YIKES! I have a feeling that this guy may surprise us, and I feel that putting the Bollywood Boyz with him also helps with giving them a rub as a fresh tag team on the SmackDown Brand. Jinder Mahal does not necessarily have to win the title, but I think that if he makes a good showing that maybe he can get that chance someday down the road. I know that a lot of you folks like Randy Orton, but in my opinion, he has kind of hit a plateau in the last 5 or 6 years. I have heard all the chatter about Dean Ambrose being complacent, but I think that Randy Orton is the poster boy for complacency! Now more than ever could WWE start pushing some newer guys at the top. There is really nowhere they can go but up from here as the product itself has been “meh” for a while. Would it really hurt if guys like Jinder Mahal and Sami Zayn were getting title shots? I don’t know about you, but it gets pretty tiresome seeing Randy Orton vs “place guy he’s wrestled for the 900th time here”. This is a huge step up for Jinder Mahal! Just a couple of years ago, he was a member of 3 Man Band with Heath Slater and Drew McIntyre! Those guys have gotten a fresh start with their careers in their own way, why can’t Jinder? Another thing, can you silly marks quit accusing the man of taking steroids? None of you know anything about the supplements or training regimen that he is probably going through that we know nothing about. Every time someone looks good, the first things that someone wants to say is steroids were the reason. Don’t you think that maybe when he got released from WWE back in 2014, that this was possibly one of the things that he worked on while he was away from WWE? Vince McMahon himself has always made it clear that he likes his guys to spent a lot of time in the gym. Plus, we all know WWE has a Wellness Policy. I am thinking he would have been busted by now! Heck, maybe he is taking supplements that are prescribed to him. Cut the man some slack, and let him do his thing!
We won’t know how he will do in the main event until we are allowed to see him in the main event. I have always been a firm believer in letting angles play out before making a judgement on if it will work or not. What I don’t want to happen is Mahal get a shot at the championship, and gets squashed by Randy Orton in under five minutes. That won’t do him any good at all. Let the guy go in there, and have a good match. Let him show Vince, Triple H, and anyone else in the back that he was worth giving another opportunity. I know that I will be pulling for him! I am hoping that his push will allow for other guys to get a chance. I have no problem with guys like Mojo Rawley and Baron Corbin getting shots at the top title as long as they can take the ball and run with it when the opportunity presents itself.
What do you think? You can hit me up on Twitter @whosantcox, and we can discuss! The door is always open. I'll catch you next time, wrestling fans!
*Kayfabe Kickout (2012 - 2020) has since rebranded in July, 2020 and is now known as 'Pro Wrestling Slam!'
Follow us on Twitter @PW_Slam, to get the latest news in the world of professional wrestling, like us on Facebook, subscribe to our Official YouTube Channel and follow us on Instagram. To submit wrestling news email prowrestlingslam2012@gmail.com and be sure to check out our Official Pro Wrestling Tees Store to pick up some Pro Wrestling Slam! Merchandise, also be sure to listen to the Pro Wrestling Slam! Podcast on Anchor.fm.