Jinder Mahal

Jinder Mahal
Mahal in 2014
Birth name	Yuvraj Singh Dhesi
Born	(1986-07-19) July 19, 1986[1] Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Alma mater	University of Calgary
Family	Gama Singh (uncle)
Professional wrestling career
Ring name(s)	Jinder Mahal[2] Raj Dhesi Raj Singh[1] Tiger Raj Singh[3]
Billed height	6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)[2][1]
Billed weight	235 lb (107 kg)[2]
Billed from	Punjab, India[2][4]
Trained by	Allen Coage[3] Gama Singh[3] Gerry Morrow[3] Rick Bognar[3]
Debut	2003

Yuvraj "Raj" Singh Dhesi (born July 19, 1986), better known by the ring name Jinder Mahal, is a Canadian professional wrestler signed to WWE, where he performs on the Raw brand.

Professional wrestling career

Early career (2003–2010)

Dhesi began his professional wrestling career at the Martial Arts Fitness Center in Calgary, Alberta training with Rick Bognar and Premier Martial Arts Wrestling (PMW) working as Raj Dhesi. He then went on to train with Allen Coage and Gerry Morrow. He worked for the Prairie Wrestling Alliance, where he was the PWA Champion from 2008 until January 2010, and also he is three time tag team champion. Dhesi also competed for Great North Wrestling (GNW), where he feuded with such wrestlers as Samoa Joe and Hannibal.

World Wrestling Entertainment/WWE

Florida Championship Wrestling (2010–2011)

He decided to start training to become a WWE wrestler. He traveled to Tampa, Florida, to try out for WWE's developmental promotion Florida Championship Wrestling (FCW).^[3] At the try out Steve Keirn, Pat Patterson and Mike Rotunda saw him wrestle but Dhesi thinks that what sold him to the WWE was his ability to speak Punjabi and his authentic costume like his turban.^[3] He remembers that, "I think they needed an Indian guy, they were looking for one."^[3] In early 2010, he was signed to a developmental contract with FCW.^[3]

Various feuds (2011–2012)

Mahal in his pre-match attire

Dhesi made his televised WWE debut on the April 29, 2011 episode of SmackDown under the ring name Jinder Mahal, greeting fellow Indian wrestler The Great Khali and his manager, Ranjin Singh backstage. During the segment, Mahal spoke in Punjabi that he was really happy and excited that Khali and Ranjin were there. On their part, both of them were happy too. The next week, Mahal, unimpressed by how Khali and Singh have been partaking in childish activities instead of winning matches, confronted Singh about his mismanagement of Khali thus confirmed he was a heel. Mahal interrupted a Khali Kiss Cam segment the following week, slapping Khali twice to no response from the giant. On the May 20 episode of SmackDown, Mahal interrupted Khali's match against Jey Uso leading Khali to leave the ring to confront Mahal. On the September 5 episode of Raw, he suffered his first loss, when he and Khali lost to WWE Tag Team Champions Evan Bourne and Kofi Kingston in a non-title match. In a rematch on SmackDown, they lost again to Bourne and Kingston, after the match, Khali walked away from Mahal, thus ending their alliance.^[5] On the September 16 episode of SmackDown, Mahal attacked Khali during his match with Heath Slater which Khali won. On the September 23 episode of SmackDown, Khali defeated Mahal in a singles match, thus suffering his first loss in a singles match. On the October 14 episode of SmackDown, Mahal competed in the largest Battle Royal in WWE history, a 41-man Battle Royal, where Mahal made it to the final three before being eliminated by Randy Orton.

Mahal wrestling Yoshi Tatsu in April 2012.

After the feud with Khali finished, Mahal targeted wrestlers whom he deemed as beneath him or embarrassing. In November, Mahal began a feud with Ted DiBiase.^[6] On the December 30 episode of Smackdown, Mahal broke DiBiase's winning streak via submission, ending their feud.^[7][8] In December, Mahal, trying to make a name for himself, went after Sheamus and constantly disrespected him. On December 13, Sheamus defeated Mahal and for several months, they were involved in multiple matches, with Sheamus always getting the best of Mahal.^[9] At Mahal's first Royal Rumble, he was eliminated by the Great Khali, rekindling their feud. On the next SmackDown, Khali again defeated Mahal.^[9] At Over the Limit, Mahal participated in and lost a battle royal where the winner was to receive a shot at the WWE Intercontinental Championship or the WWE United States Championship.^[9]

Mahal began confronting several wrestlers, starting with Randy Orton, interrupting one of his promos. In retaliation, Orton hit the RKO on Mahal.^[10] On July 23 at Raw 1000, Mahal confronted Kane, leading a group consisting of Drew McIntyre, Curt Hawkins, Tyler Reks, Hunico and Camacho. Mahal claimed none of them had been given an opportunity within WWE, and would make one by taking down Kane. The Undertaker's sudden appearance halted their advance. The Brothers of Destruction attacked the group and took them out.^[11][12] On the July 27 episode of SmackDown, Mahal lost to Ryback by countout. He then began a feud with him, winning by intentional count-out and disqualification. Mahal, to try and prove himself to Ryback, requested a match against two jobbers, in a match style similar to Ryback's, defeating them quickly by submission. In spite of this, Mahal continued his feud with Ryback, attacking him during their matches and after Ryback's. Mahal was finally pinned by Ryback on the August 24 episode of SmackDown.^[13]

When WWE rebranded its developmental territory, FCW, into NXT Wrestling,^[14] Mahal began appearing on the rebooted WWE NXT, where he started a winning streak by defeating several wrestlers, including Derrick Bateman and Percy Watson.^[15][16] On the August 8 episode of NXT, Mahal was inserted into the Gold Rush Tournament to crown the first NXT Champion, where he defeated Bo Dallas in the first round.^[17] On the August 15 episode of NXT, Mahal defeated Richie Steamboat in the semi-finals of the Gold Rush Tournament.^[18] On the August 29 episode of NXT, Mahal was defeated by Seth Rollins in the finals of the Gold Rush Tournament, ending his NXT winning streak.^[19] At the Night of Champions pre-show on September 16, Mahal competed in the 16-man battle royal to become number one contender for the United States Championship but was eliminated by Brodus Clay.

3MB (2012–2014)

3MB in 2014.

On the September 21 episode of SmackDown, Mahal and Drew McIntyre interfered in Heath Slater's match against Brodus Clay by attacking Clay.^[20] The alliance of Mahal, Slater and McIntyre were later named 3MB.^[21] From October 2012, 3MB racked up many wins against Team Co-Bro (Santino Marella and Zack Ryder) and The Usos, all of them due to illegal interference.^[22][23][24] At the Survivor Series pre-show, Mahal and Slater defeated Santino Marella and Zack Ryder with Mahal pinning Ryder. At TLC, 3MB were defeated by the team of The Miz, Alberto Del Rio and The Brooklyn Brawler.^[25] The next night at the Slammy Awards show, 3MB lost again to Miz, Del Rio and Tommy Dreamer. Mahal competed in the 30-man Royal Rumble match at the Royal Rumble, entering at number 27, but was eliminated by Sheamus. On the April 12 episode of SmackDown, in an attempt to make a name for themselves, 3MB tried to attack Triple H, but were attacked themselves by The Shield. On the April 15 episode of Raw, 3MB called out The Shield, only for Brock Lesnar to come out instead and attack the group.^[26] At the Night of Champions pre-show, 3MB (Drew McIntyre and Heath Slater) competed in a number one contenders Tag Team Turmoil match for the WWE Tag Team Championship, in which they were the last team eliminated by Tons of Funk (Brodus Clay and Tensai).^[27]

In late 2013, 3MB began adopting new ring names against their opponents, although their misfortunes and amounting losses remained the same. At WrestleMania XXX, Mahal competed in the André the Giant Memorial Battle Royal but was eliminated by Mark Henry. In May, 3MB formed an alliance with Hornswoggle to feud with Los Matadores. On June 12, 2014, WWE announced that Mahal was released from his WWE contract.^[28]

Independent circuit (2014–2016)

Dhesi wrestled for Reality of Wrestling at their summer iPPV, ROW Summer of Champions 2014 under the name Raj Singh, defeating Jasper Davis.^[29] On October 24, 2014 at All Star Wrestling in Vancouver at the live event Fright Night Live, Raj Singh teamed with his cousin Gama Singh Jr. to defeat Kyle Sebastian and Collin Cutler to win the ASW Tag Team Championship. He also appeared in Puerto Rican promotion the World Wrestling Council against local star Ray Gonzalez. He also participated in Qatar Pro Wrestling Souq Waqif Championship tournament in April 2015 where he ended up as first runner up. On May 5, 2015, Dhesi, as Raj Singh, made his debut for Japanese promotion Inoki Genome Federation (IGF), losing to Wang Bin.^[30] In 2016, he also wrestled for The Great Khali's wrestling promotion Continental Wrestling Entertainment in India.^[31]

Return to WWE (2016–present)

On July 27, 2016, it was announced that Dhesi had re-signed with the WWE as Jinder Mahal. On the August 1 episode of Raw, Mahal returned to television alongside former 3MB ally Heath Slater, demanding contracts. Raw General Manager Mick Foley informed the pair that they must face each other in a match for a Raw contract, which Mahal won.^[32] Throughout the rest of the month, Mahal began losing to the likes of Neville, Sami Zayn and Darren Young. On the September 12 episode of Raw, Mahal stated that after he left WWE, he "felt anger and rage" and had since "found inner peace". He ended his losing streak by defeating Jack Swagger. When Chris Jericho's "list of Jericho" went missing, Jericho confronted Mahal, asking if he'd seen the list. Mahal then formed a breathing exercise to help Jericho express himself, which got Jericho even more angry, calling Mahal a "stupid idiot."^[33] On the September 23 episode of Superstars, Mahal and Titus O'Neil lost to The Golden Truth (Goldust and R-Truth). On the September 30 episode of Superstars, Mahal lost to Neville. On the October 14 episode of Superstars, Mahal lost to Darren Young. On the November 18 episode of Superstars, Mahal defeated Darren Young.

Personal life

Dhesi is of Punjabi Sikh origin. He speaks Punjabi, and English.^[3] He is the nephew of wrestler Gama Singh.^[3] He holds a business degree in communications and culture from the University of Calgary.

In wrestling

• Finishing moves
  • Arm trap neckbreaker – 2016–present
  • Runnung Big boot – 2016
  • Camel clutch^[34][35] – 2011–2014
  • Full nelson slam^[36] – 2011
  • Karachi Valley Driver (Death Valley driver)^[37] – 2011
  • Sands of Time^[37] (Fireman's carry double knee gutbuster)^[4][38] – 2010–2011
• Signature moves
  • Cravate^[39]
  • Double underhook suplex^[34][40]
  • Hangman^[41]
  • High knee^[42][43]
  • Knee lift^[40]
  • Multiple knee drops^[42][43]
  • Neckbreaker^[39]
  • Reverse STO^[42]
• Managers
  • Hornswoggle
• Nicknames
  • "The Man of Peace"^[33]
  • "The Maharajah"
• Entrance themes
  • "Main Yash Hun" by Jim Johnston (WWE; April 29, 2011 – October 19, 2012)
  • "One Man Band" by Jim Johnston (September 21, 2012 – October 19, 2012; Used while a part of 3MB)
  • "More Than One Man" by Jim Johnston featuring TB5^[44] (October 25, 2012 – June 12, 2014, August 1, 2016; Used while a part of 3MB)
  • "Panga Paijave" by Diljit Singh (IGF)^[1]
  • "Sher (Lion)" by Jim Johnston^[45] (August 15, 2016-present)

Championships and accomplishments

• All-Star Wrestling
  • ASW Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Gama Singh Jr.^[46][47]
• Prairie Wrestling Alliance
  • PWA Heavyweight Championship (2 time)^[3][48]
• Pro Wrestling Illustrated
  • Ranked No. 148 of the top 500 singles wrestlers in the PWI 500 in 2013^[49]
• Stampede Wrestling
  • Stampede Wrestling International Tag Team Championship (2 times) – with Gama Singh Jr.^[3]

References

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Jinder Mahal.

• Jinder Mahal on WWE.com
• Raj Singh's Inoki Genome Federation profile (Japanese)
• Jinder Mahal's profile at Cagematch.net, Wrestlingdata.com, Internet Wrestling Database