5 Most Insane Things Happening In Wrestling Right Now (May 19)

3. Jinder Mahal Has Pinned AJ Styles Using The Power Of Positivity

Randy Orton No Fly Zone
WWE.com

The joke isn't funny anymore.

On this week's episode of SmackDown, as part of the quest to get Jobber Jinder Mahal over as a main event threat, he was booked to pin AJ Styles. He relied on the chicanery of the Singh Brothers to keep him in the match and on Kevin Owens to win it, but still. He was largely booked as legit competition to a man who as of two months ago was Cristal champagne to his Buck's Fizz.

"This is called the Khallas!" cried Tom Phillips on commentary as Mahal scored the pin. He had to remind everybody at home what Mahal's finishing move is called. That should really be established as part of the make-up of any title challenger - sorry, Championship Opportunist, to use WWE's current lingo.

Mahal this week was a guest on Chris Jericho's Talk Is Jericho podcast, on which he credited his turnaround in fortunes to the power of positive thinking. "It’s kind of like The Secret. I haven’t read the book but I know what it is about, having positive energy around you, things start happening. I’m a firm believer in all this because who would have thought?"

How powerful is this book? Apparently you only need to have heard of it to reap the benefits. I've just read the Wikipedia page. Can I please watch a WWE Title challenger who I can actually believe in and enjoy watching?

Thank you, Rhonda Byrne.

Contributor
Contributor

Michael Sidgwick is an editor, writer and podcaster for WhatCulture Wrestling. With over seven years of experience in wrestling analysis, Michael was published in the influential institution that was Power Slam magazine, and specialises in providing insights into All Elite Wrestling - so much so that he wrote a book about the subject. You can order Becoming All Elite: The Rise Of AEW on Amazon. Possessing a deep knowledge also of WWE, WCW, ECW and New Japan Pro Wrestling, Michael’s work has been publicly praised by former AEW World Champions Kenny Omega and MJF, and surefire Undisputed WWE Universal Champion Cody Rhodes. When he isn’t putting your finger on why things are the way they are in the endlessly fascinating world of professional wrestling, Michael wraps his own around a hand grinder to explore the world of specialty coffee. Follow Michael on X (formerly known as Twitter) @MSidgwick for more!