8 New Directions For WWE Champion Jinder Mahal
1. Build Towards An Orton Rematch
This might be the most boring potential direction for Jinder Mahal as WWE Champion, but it’s also the likeliest. Randy Orton has a rematch clause just waiting to be triggered. We’re almost certainly getting Mahal vs. Orton II at Money In The Bank, and possibly beyond, if WWE are as serious about their Indian expansion as they appear to be.
‘The Viper’ was in the midst of one of the blandest title reigns of his career prior to the lose. Perhaps losing the belt will light a fire within his character, but that seems unlikely. Orton, unfortunately, has never been particularly convincing when playing babyface, and continuing his bland feud with Jinder isn’t going to help a champion who is in dire need of a heroic foil that the crowd actually want to root for.
Prior to Mahal’s ascension, the presumption was that WWE would build towards a World Title program between Orton and Baron Corbin this summer. If this is still the case then we could see Jinder drop the title at Money In The Bank on June 18th, or perhaps even sooner. Regardless, it’ll take a pretty dramatic shift in writing quality for the fans to fully buy into another arc of Mahal vs. Orton, and there’s a strong chance that the US Title could overtake the WWE Championship as SD’s top belt, if it hasn’t already.