Credit: WWE.com Jinder Mahal lost the WWE Championship to AJ Styles on SmackDown Live
Following an almost random loss to AJ Styles on SmackDown Live, he is no longer scheduled to compete against Brock Lesnar at WWE Survivor Series as plans for the pay-per-view—and seemingly Jinder Mahal's career—have been turned upside down.
But despite the backstage chaos surrounding Styles' feel-good moment, the smart money says that Jinder Mahal isn't going anywhere.
WWE SmackDown Live rebounded with a 23% increase in viewership after Styles' memorable victory that was telegraphed with a WWE press release ahead of time.
As the United Kingdom, and many WWE fans, celebrated what they think is the end of Jinder Mahal, the modern-day Maharaja took to social media to diffuse rampant speculation following his shocking loss to AJ Styles.
First, Mahal posted congratulatory praise for Styles on Instagram before turning his ire to the incessant wrestling rumor mill:
To @ajstylesp1, you were the better man for one night. Six months I held the #WWEChamoionship, defended it countless times, all over the world. I will one day raise the title again. To my haters and wrestling "insiders", this was NOT an experiment, I am NOT injured, I have NOT violated the wellness policy. So keep throwing shade my way, it only motivates me.
Mahal reiterated his designs to recapture the WWE Championship on Twitter as it is quickly becoming clear that his perplexing downfall is only a temporary one.
Mahal's controversial six-month reign as WWE champion came to a crashing halt on short notice. WWE canceled plans for a match between AJ Styles and Rusev as it called an audible to have Styles win the world title in the main event of WWE SmackDown Live on Tuesday night. This prompted immediate questions as to whether a wellness violation or injury may have led to the sudden decision to get the title off Mahal just one month before he is set to headline WWE's upcoming tour of India.
Mahal shot down all the unsavory gossip in his aforementioned social media posts, painting an auspicious picture of his future as a top star.
Credit: WWE.com AJ Styles captured his second WWE Championship on WWE SmackDown Live
The projected main event of Survivor Series will be without Jinder Mahal, which is somewhat of a blessing in disguise. These recent changes seem to be part of a grand plan for WWE to make Mahal look as strong as possible headed into what should be another feel-good moment if and when he regains is crown in India.
WWE's international attendance averaged 6,900 attendees per event in Q3 2017, a relatively low number for the quarter. And as WWE looks to capitalize on its popularity in India, it'll be interesting to see how attendance shakes out for their upcoming tour of the country especially with a hometown hero advertised in a world championship match.
Meanwhile, back in the states, Brock Lesnar is no joke. There were very few scenarios where Mahal could have convincingly defeated The Beast at Survivor Series. Lesnar, who is currently penciled into the WrestleMania main event, has beaten foe after foe in clean fashion.
Braun Strowman is in the midst of a wildly successful monster push that is encroaching on Roman Reigns' stratosphere as a top star.
Even he laid down for Lesnar.
Many are excited about the potential of Styles vs. Lesnar, but one of WWE's top long-term priorities is to make Lesnar appear unstoppable as he heads into a likely WrestleMania main event against Roman Reigns.
AJ Styles vs. Brock Lesnar is intriguing on paper. But WWE loves its monsters, and in the ring, this match could play out like Finn Balor vs. Kane.
Don't think of this as a Jinder Mahal downgrade as much as it is a stay of execution. Survivor Series is destined to play out as a story of AJ Styles taking the proverbial bullet all while Mahal takes a detour around Sulex City to come storming into New Delhi.
WWE has charted a course, albeit sloppily, for Mahal to become a two-time WWE champion in front of a partisan crowd in what figures to be one of the most heavily celebrated victories in the promotion's live event history.
This is setting up to be the British Bulldog winning the Intercontinental Championship in Wembley Stadium, plus Rob Van Dam winning the WWE Championship in ECW, plus CM Punk winning that same championship in Chicago—times ten.
The modern-day Maharaja has better days ahead.
India, stand up.
">Jinder Mahal's push is under siege.
Credit: WWE.com Jinder Mahal lost the WWE Championship to AJ Styles on SmackDown Live
Following an almost random loss to AJ Styles on SmackDown Live, he is no longer scheduled to compete against Brock Lesnar at WWE Survivor Series as plans for the pay-per-view—and seemingly Jinder Mahal's career—have been turned upside down.
But despite the backstage chaos surrounding Styles' feel-good moment, the smart money says that Jinder Mahal isn't going anywhere.
WWE SmackDown Live rebounded with a 23% increase in viewership after Styles' memorable victory that was telegraphed with a WWE press release ahead of time.
As the United Kingdom, and many WWE fans, celebrated what they think is the end of Jinder Mahal, the modern-day Maharaja took to social media to diffuse rampant speculation following his shocking loss to AJ Styles.
First, Mahal posted congratulatory praise for Styles on Instagram before turning his ire to the incessant wrestling rumor mill:
To @ajstylesp1, you were the better man for one night. Six months I held the #WWEChamoionship, defended it countless times, all over the world. I will one day raise the title again. To my haters and wrestling "insiders", this was NOT an experiment, I am NOT injured, I have NOT violated the wellness policy. So keep throwing shade my way, it only motivates me.
Mahal reiterated his designs to recapture the WWE Championship on Twitter as it is quickly becoming clear that his perplexing downfall is only a temporary one.
Mahal's controversial six-month reign as WWE champion came to a crashing halt on short notice. WWE canceled plans for a match between AJ Styles and Rusev as it called an audible to have Styles win the world title in the main event of WWE SmackDown Live on Tuesday night. This prompted immediate questions as to whether a wellness violation or injury may have led to the sudden decision to get the title off Mahal just one month before he is set to headline WWE's upcoming tour of India.
Mahal shot down all the unsavory gossip in his aforementioned social media posts, painting an auspicious picture of his future as a top star.
Credit: WWE.com AJ Styles captured his second WWE Championship on WWE SmackDown Live
The projected main event of Survivor Series will be without Jinder Mahal, which is somewhat of a blessing in disguise. These recent changes seem to be part of a grand plan for WWE to make Mahal look as strong as possible headed into what should be another feel-good moment if and when he regains is crown in India.
WWE's international attendance averaged 6,900 attendees per event in Q3 2017, a relatively low number for the quarter. And as WWE looks to capitalize on its popularity in India, it'll be interesting to see how attendance shakes out for their upcoming tour of the country especially with a hometown hero advertised in a world championship match.
Meanwhile, back in the states, Brock Lesnar is no joke. There were very few scenarios where Mahal could have convincingly defeated The Beast at Survivor Series. Lesnar, who is currently penciled into the WrestleMania main event, has beaten foe after foe in clean fashion.
Braun Strowman is in the midst of a wildly successful monster push that is encroaching on Roman Reigns' stratosphere as a top star.
Even he laid down for Lesnar.
Many are excited about the potential of Styles vs. Lesnar, but one of WWE's top long-term priorities is to make Lesnar appear unstoppable as he heads into a likely WrestleMania main event against Roman Reigns.
AJ Styles vs. Brock Lesnar is intriguing on paper. But WWE loves its monsters, and in the ring, this match could play out like Finn Balor vs. Kane.
Don't think of this as a Jinder Mahal downgrade as much as it is a stay of execution. Survivor Series is destined to play out as a story of AJ Styles taking the proverbial bullet all while Mahal takes a detour around Sulex City to come storming into New Delhi.
WWE has charted a course, albeit sloppily, for Mahal to become a two-time WWE champion in front of a partisan crowd in what figures to be one of the most heavily celebrated victories in the promotion's live event history.
This is setting up to be the British Bulldog winning the Intercontinental Championship in Wembley Stadium, plus Rob Van Dam winning the WWE Championship in ECW, plus CM Punk winning that same championship in Chicago—times ten.
The modern-day Maharaja has better days ahead.
India, stand up.
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