10 Times WWE Asked You To Blindly Hate Foreigners
'Love it, or leave it.'
Jinder Mahal's 'Punjabi Celebration' was a segment not unlike similar in-ring festivals used to mark the crowning of a brand new World Champion. Over the years, Jeff Hardy and Eddie Guerrero's maiden title victories were given pyro budgets bigger than the annual government spends on New Year's Eve or July 4th, and Edge infamously commemorated his spectacular penetration of the upper echelon with a spectacular penet...engagement of very public relations with Lita at the end of Monday Night Raw.
Mahal gamely tried to be a villain on the microphone, but it sunk. Like a grandparent at a wedding disapproving of the union after one too many complimentary reception drinks, he failed in pushing his negative agenda at the expense of the really rather nice time.
Because, subversively, that's what it was. WWE underestimated the sophistication of their own audience. On arrival, Jinder, the Singh Brothers and the various 'punjabi' performers appeared to be having a fabulous time. What crowd wouldn't want to share in that? Pavlovian 'USA' chants disappeared as quickly as they'd arrived, and some audience members were visibly smiling, chanting and dancing along with the entertainment. Having a good time at the show? How dare they!
The 'Punjabi Celebration', or segments of its ilk were once a creative safe space for instant heel heat. Jingoism has long been relied upon to draw equal parts rage and currency from swathes of the wrestling populous. Like a microcosm of the world itself, wrestling often profited from the divisiveness of diversity.
10. Yokozuna
By virtue of his physical dominance, Rodney Anoa'i was destined to be a top star during a tumultuous 1992 for Vince McMahon. In desperate need for traditional monster heels but keen to distance his product from growing accusations (and in some cases, impending charges) of rampant steroid abuse, a man billed at 505lbs for bulk rather than vascularity was ideal.
Furthermore, for his mammoth frame, he was a spectacular athlete. Performing a running charge from corner to corner quicker than a Hogan-sized heavyweight, he literally threw his weight around with unparalleled grace.
Sadly, it wasn't quite enough for Vince McMahon. Doubling down on his latest killer, he paired the Samoan Anoa'i with stereotypical Japanese heel Mr Fuji to craft grand sumo champion Yokozuna. His tear through the jobber ranks saw him win the Royal Rumble in January 1993, and famously defeat Hulk Hogan for the WWE Title at June 1993's King of the Ring pay-per-view.
As well as literally squashing the greatest American hero the company had ever created, he was positioned as the scourge of the United States in feuds with the similarly flag-cuddling Jim Duggan and Lex Luger, and would illegally utilise a ceremonial salt bucket, the Japanese flag, and any other pan-asian paraphernalia when being over a quarter of a tonne in weight wasn't quite enough to get the job done.