10 Big Questions About Jinder Mahal As WWE Champion

What started life as a bizarre punchline during a post-'Superstar Shake-up' edition of SmackDown Live! has now become a vascular reality. Two weeks on from the blue brand's Backlash pay-per-view, and Jinder Mahal is still WWE Champion. It's really happened.

And it looks as though it might stay that way.

The contractually mandated rematch with Randy Orton seems destined to have the same result as their first encountr, as WWE persists with their brave effort to establish a brand new main eventer from the downtrodden ashes of the lower card.

There's been endless pontification on his unlikely ascent, but it's now crucial for the company to be forward thinking with their leap of faith. There'll be much still to learn about Jinder's composure as a topliner, as well as his in-ring talent in main event matches. Fans have come to expect big things from their headline attracts in the shadow of progressive title reigns for AJ Styles, John Cena and others.

Furthermore, some of the direct reasons (beyond hopeful star creation) for the push will now have to be justified, as the company will look to see if their desperate grasp at an entirely new market has been successful, or if they've gambled foolishly with a stereotypical knee-jerk. The questions raised before his title victory are nothing compared to the company's complex new challenges ahead.

Universally (and somewhat unfairly) considered the main reason Jinder Mahal is now somehow SmackDown Live!'s top star, WWE's attempt to move in on the largely untapped Indian market has been the contentious rationale even since he even became Number One Contender.

But what exactly can the company hope to achieve from the strategy?

Population appears to be the biggest positive for their aggressive approach. India has an approximate population of 1.3 billion people, which in Vince McMahon's mind presumably means an eight-figure turnover in hastily designed 'Maharaja' t-shirts and wristbands when the group next tour the country.

Previous experience with the marketplace suggests that volume is not the problem, but conversion is key. WWE are looking for buys, not eyes, effectively. YouTube videos from official and unofficial WWE outlets do enormous numbers in India, with such a thirst for the product that the part-parody/part-tribute 'Angaar TV' even earns over 3 million views for select videos of their lovingly recreated Royal Rumble and WrestleMania moments.

Jinder himself spoke on Chris Jericho's podcast of promoting the Great Khali on a show to tens of thousands, but noted that without proper organisation and security, it was near-impossible to monetise through the traditional means. WWE will be hoping Mahal's own title run will generate even more interest than the giant's own infamous run.