6 Damning Things Jinder Mahal's Title Reign Says About WWE
Lessons learned from four months of failure.
Jinder Mahal became number one contender to Randy Orton's WWE Championship on April 18th, 2017.
It seemed like a cruel joke at the time; 'The Maharaja' had been booked like an enhancement talent for the bulk his career, yet here we are, five months later. Not only is Mahal still in the main event scene, but he's now 123 days into a title reign that seemed implausible at the start of the year, and has already surpassed Chris Jericho, The Rock, and Ric Flair's longest runs as champion.
When his reign ends, Mahal will likely go down as one of the most divisive WWE Champions of all time. His coronation was a cynical move designed to pop the Indian market, his title defences have been weak, and his character work is outdated at best, and xenophobic at worst. He's the opposite of what fans want from a top champion in 2017, and WWE have shown no sign of changing course, despite the backlash.
Jinder's run has exposed him as a performer and taught a number of depressing lessons on WWE's current state, as well as reaffirming some old complaints - none of which can subside before this destructive reign's conclusion.
6. Opportunities Are Superficial
WWE love trumpeting SmackDown as "the land of opportunity," and while it's true that Jinder Mahal's sudden ascent to main event status could be twisted to fit this, the narrative isn't consistent.
The yarn spun by Shane McMahon and Daniel Bryan is that, with the right mindset and work ethic, any wrestler can reach the top of Mount SmackDown. If this was true, SD's main event scene would be populated by the likes of Sami Zayn and Rusev: wrestlers who've been working their fingers to the bone for several years, yet still find themselves languishing in the midcard.
Rather than justifying the blue brand's tagline, Mahal's rise proves that it is a fallacy. This is a push based on the performer's appearance and perceived value as a marketing tool in an untapped foreign market, not dedication, longevity, and skill. His reign proves that the qualities personified by the Zayns of the world don't matter, and in the end, WWE still default to those who satisfy far more superficial criteria.
WWE isn't a meritocracy. Yes, the past decade has brought increased opportunities to those who don't fit the traditional Superstar mould, but Mahal's reign shows that there has been no paradigm shift.