10 Times WWE Hit Themselves Where It Hurts

Jinder Mahal was a mid-tier player, most known for his time in the comedy trio 3MB. Until he took time off, returned incredibly jacked, and was pushed into the spotlight.

It was generally accepted that the only reason for this was because WWE was attempting to break into the potentially lucrative Indian market for live shows and Network buys. While WWE denied this, the evidence says otherwise.

Mahal was drafted to Smackdown after 'Mania 33, immediately winning a #1 contender's match for Orton's title. At Backlash 2017, he beat Orton, and would hold the title for six months, including a horrible feud with Shinsuke Nakamura.

His title defenses were full of interference. The Punjabi Prison match against Orton is considered one of the worst WWE matches ever.

He simply wasn't credible.

WWE planned a massive tour of India in September 2017 with Mahal as the centrepiece. The tour barely sold, and Survivor Series, which was supposed to feature Mahal vs Brock Lesnar, grew closer. Lesnar, who could get away with anything, told Vince McMahon that Mahal was not a draw. The belt was quickly transferred to AJ Styles at a UK Smackdown to one of the loudest pops in recent WWE history.

Everyone was simply expected to go along with the rocket Mahal was on, and no one really wanted to.