'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Jinder Mahal has been in WWE since the early 2010s, and "The Modern Day Maharaja" has been fairly successful throughout his career. He has held the WWE 24/7 Championship, and the United States Championship. Mahal has even won the most prestigious prize in all of sports entertainment, the WWE Championship. He was the first Indian wrestler to hold the title.
But Mahal has been absent from WWE programming in recent months. His last television appearance was in May 2020. At the time, he was coming back from an injury. Unfortunately, this return didn't last very long because Mahal had to get some surgery to repair his knee.
But the former WWE Champion's situation is improving. He recently announced his return at the WWE Superstar Spectacle. With "The Modern Day Maharaja" set to return, there are a plethora of routes he can take once he comes back.
These directions could help Mahal become even more successful. He has somewhat floundered since he lost the WWE Championship. But the company might place him in higher spots on the card because it is trying to boost its Indian viewership.
With that being said, here's a look at five potential directions for Jinder Mahal upon his return to WWE.
#5 Jinder Mahal squashes WWE Superstars and becomes a monster heel
When Jinder Mahal returned to WWE last April, he looked better than ever. The way he walked and carried himself showed that his character was more confident. Mahal also looked physically imposing. In his first match back on WWE RAW, Mahal utterly dominated Akira Tozawa.
Mahal's victory was quite impressive, so WWE could push him as an unstoppable heel. With his new physique, Mahal can be booked like a monster. For the first few weeks, he could compete in squash matches and pick dominant wins over reputable stars. The red brand features names like Jeff Hardy and The Miz, and these competitors could elevate Mahal's status on WWE RAW.
Once Mahal is established as an indestructible force, he can be used for various angles and storylines. Mahal could help WWE meet its goal of increasing its popularity with Indian audiences. "The Modern Day Maharaja" has proven that he can be a top heel, so WWE could opt to give him that spot again.
#4 Jinder Mahal joins The Hurt Business on WWE RAW
The Hurt Business is one of the most entertaining acts on WWE television. For the past few months, the faction has dominated WWE RAW. The Hurt Business has been featured on the red brand, and its members have been quite successful.
The Hurt Business has elevated Bobby Lashley, Shelton Benjamin, and MVP to new heights. The group even recruited Cedric Alexander, and he's becoming a breakout star.
Jinder Mahal would be a suitable addition to the group. Though it may seem like the group is perfect, it's always looking for recruits. From time to time, a spot in the stable might open up if the opportunity is right.
Mahal joining The Hurt Business could benefit both parties. He fits in perfectly with the style of the faction, and he can easily inflict pain on other WWE Superstars. Plus, The Hurt Business has collected several titles on WWE RAW. Mahal could help the group acquire even more gold.
If Mahal joins the Hurt Business upon his WWE return, he'd have a prominent spot on the red brand. He could even feud with Lashley for the WWE United States Championship at some point. That conflict could produce a match that many WWE fans would love to see.
#3 Jinder Mahal goes on a WWE Tag Team Championship run with Drew McIntyre
During his first few years in WWE, Mahal was famously part of a three-man stable known as 3MB. In this trio, Mahal teamed up with Drew McIntyre and Heath Slater. At the time, they were booked like jobbers.
3MB was typically seen as a comedy act. They were regularly featured on WWE programming, but the group was often put in situations that made it hard to take the three stars seriously.
It's fair to say that a lot has changed since 3MB broke up. In recent years, Mahal and McIntyre have become world champions. These two men are established Superstars, so WWE could opt to partially reunite the group. Mahal even made this prediction on an episode of WWE Ride Along.
WWE could put Mahal into a team with McIntyre, the current WWE Champion. These two men could have a dominant run as the WWE RAW Tag Team Champions. A title run for this duo would have the nostalgia factor attached to it. Given McIntyre's status on WWE RAW, it could also boost the importance of the titles.
#2 Jinder Mahal joins Roman Reigns' faction on WWE SmackDown
Roman Reigns has been on the best run of his WWE career. Since his return at WWE SummerSlam, Reigns has been the best part of WWE programming. He's the King Midas of WWE, as everything he touches turns to gold.
"The Tribal Chief" elevates any wrestler who is involved with him. "The Head of the Table" is slowly expanding his control over the promotion by recruiting other competitors to handle his business.
A returning Jinder Mahal could be the perfect fit in Reigns' new collection of henchmen. "The Modern Day Maharaja" could definitely improve and learn from "The Tribal Chief." Reigns' effect on people is quite apparent.
Within a week of his teased alliance with Reigns, Apollo Crews has received more character growth than ever before.
It's fair to argue that Mahal deserves better than this role. But a spot alongside Reigns could be the perfect starting point for Mahal's his second main event run in WWE. Mahal could thrive alongside Reigns, and the prominent position would set him up to succeed on his own a few months from now.
#1 Jinder Mahal targets Drew McIntyre's WWE Championship
As mentioned earlier in this list, Jinder Mahal and Drew McIntyre go way back in WWE. An intriguing way to utilize that story would be to pit the two stars against each other.
McIntyre has enjoyed a career resurgence since he returned to the main roster in 2018. Mahal could seek a similar rebirth when he comes back to the red brand.
Drew McIntyre even recently teased a feud with Jinder Mahal in a Sportskeeda exclusive interview. Drew McIntyre vs. Jinder Mahal is a match that is years in the making.
Mahal is in the best shape of his career. Though he was in a bit of a slump before his injury, he can easily be promoted as a legitimate threat to McIntyre's title reign.
If the rivalry between the two stars is built properly, McIntyre and Mahal could main event a few WWE pay-per-views. Before Mahal's injury, many fans speculated that WWE was planning this feud. Clearly, it's a natural path for Mahal, so WWE could book this program when Mahal returns.
Do you love to play crosswords, Wordle or other exciting games? We'd like to connect with you. Fill the form here!
