8 Big Concerns Ahead Of WWE Clash Of Champions 2017
2. The Maharaja Retakes His Throne
While November 7th should have signalled the end of WWE's failed Jinder Mahal experiment, there's a strong chance 'The Maharaja's' main event push isn't over.
The fact that he's still in title contention is worrying. Yes, he has the fabled rematch clause in his contract, but WWE have conveniently ignored those in the past, particularly for performers whose immediate future lies outwith the spotlight. The continuation of Mahal's feud with AJ Styles suggests that maybe - just maybe - the company still see Jinder as WWE Championship material, despite every available metric suggesting otherwise.
Mahal's elevation hasn't spiked business in the untapped Indian marketplace. The country's Network subscription count is down on Jinder's pre-push numbers, and their recent 'tour' of India was reduced to a single date on the back of poor ticket sales. On top of this, he has totally failed to get over as a heel, and largely draws pure indifference from the audience, even when resorting to unbridled racism in his promos against Shinsuke Nakamura.
Him reconquering the throne would be a complete travesty. It's unlikely to happen, but far from impossible, and fans should be very, very worried.