Jinder Mahal challenging for WWE title at Backlash

[cero2k]

Source: f4wonline.com

Jinder Mahal is getting a shot at the WWE Championship.

Mahal won a number one contender's match on tonight's SmackDown to advance to Backlash, where he'll challenge for the title. He got an assist from The Bollywood Boyz before pinning Sami Zayn to win the six-pack challenge, which also included Luke Harper, Erick Rowan, Mojo Rawley, and Dolph Ziggler.

Mahal moved over from Raw in last week's Superstar Shakeup. Before Backlash, current WWE Champion Randy Orton will take on Bray Wyatt in a House of Horrors match at Raw's Payback pay-per-view on April 30th.

Another future title match was also announced on tonight's show. Charlotte Flair will challenge for Naomi's SmackDown Women's Championship next week after beating her in a non-title match.

Orton vs. Mahal is the first bout officially announced for Backlash. The show is SmackDown's first post-WrestleMania 33 PPV, though it won't take place until May 21st. The Allstate Arena in Rosemont, Illinois will host the PPV.

[cero2k]

sooo....Jinder....

[Earth Child]

Did you see the lacklustre big name talent in that 6 pack challenge?

I was shocked!!

Sami was the closest to being acceptable in my books.

but Jinder is facing Randy Orton so we can expect some sort of squash yes?

[KILLdozer]

Did you see the lacklustre big name talent in that 6 pack challenge?

I was shocked!!

Sami was the closest to being acceptable in my books.

but Jinder is facing Randy Orton so we can expect some sort of squash yes?

That's how it always is, where have you been?!? Lol

No, really, where have you been? Lol

[Big Red Machine]

Did you see the lacklustre big name talent in that 6 pack challenge?

I was shocked!!

Sami was the closest to being acceptable in my books.

but Jinder is facing Randy Orton so we can expect some sort of squash yes?

1. WELCOME BACK!
2. These are pretty much my thoughts, too, which shows you how far Dolph has fallen and how much they're squandered Harper's face turn.
3. It's not impossible, but I'd be shocked if they did it. I'm shocked they got away with a main event squash with Goldberg so many times. If they did it with Orton and Jinder I think people would be pretty annoyed. Of course, they could find a way for that match to not be the main event, which would necessitate making something else the main event, but I don't see the two logical candidates- the women's or tag titles- having any feud that could do that. Maybe they could get the women there if they had something to REALLY take off. On paper Nattie and Charlotte could definitely be that thing, but based on the way they started that build off on last night's show, I just don't see it happening. Nattie looked like such a dork. (Also that would be heel vs. heel... unless they turn Charlotte babyface. Hmmm...)

[KILLdozer]

There's a slight part of me that feels Jinder Mahal could shock the world and actually win.

[Big Red Machine]

There's a slight part of me that feels Jinder Mahal could shock the world and actually win.

No way.

[KILLdozer]

There's a slight part of me that feels Jinder Mahal could shock the world and actually win.

No way.

The way WWE are going I'd say it's maybe even a huge possibility lol.

[cero2k]

i totally thought so too Dozer, he does have a stable with him and I feel he's another Sheamus in the making

[Earth Child]

I have a new job that doesn't block the internet! I log on most mornings to check the latest and decided to post something today.

Mahal gave Balor a concussion so I'm kinda surprised he is getting a push.

[KILLdozer]

i totally thought so too Dozer, he does have a stable with him and I feel he's another Sheamus in the making

Exactly. Plus he's full of steroids it whatever he's been taking so you that certainly helps lol.

Balor's still competing lately so it obviously wasn't very bad.

[Big Red Machine]

I have a new job that doesn't block the internet! I log on most mornings to check the latest and decided to post something today.

Mahal gave Balor a concussion so I'm kinda surprised he is getting a push.

It almost feels like they're trying to capitalize off of that without actually acknowledging it in any way. But I think that sets a bad precedent because it encourages people to try to work really stiff.

[cero2k]

I have a new job that doesn't block the internet! I log on most mornings to check the latest and decided to post something today.

Mahal gave Balor a concussion so I'm kinda surprised he is getting a push.

It almost feels like they're trying to capitalize off of that without actually acknowledging it in any way. But I think that sets a bad precedent because it encourages people to try to work really stiff.

that and the crazy dieting, either reason is a bad example for the rest of the roster.

the better reasons I've heard is that this is a placeholder for Rusev who got injured, or simply because there's an india tour coming up

[Big Red Machine]

I have a new job that doesn't block the internet! I log on most mornings to check the latest and decided to post something today.

Mahal gave Balor a concussion so I'm kinda surprised he is getting a push.

It almost feels like they're trying to capitalize off of that without actually acknowledging it in any way. But I think that sets a bad precedent because it encourages people to try to work really stiff.

that and the crazy dieting, either reason is a bad example for the rest of the roster.

the better reasons I've heard is that this is a placeholder for Rusev who got injured, or simply because there's an india tour coming up

The India tour reason seems most likely, but at the same time it doesn't make much sense. If you want to push Jinder for the India tour, wouldn't it make sense to push him as a babyface? And what are they going to do, have him challenge for the title on every show and lose every night to the American guy? As Alvarez said, it would make sense to push him for the tour, but there is no reason that you can't give him a push that doesn't make him the #1 contender to the WWE World Heavyweight Title.

[KILLdozer]

So I've read the Bollywood Boyz are now the Singh brothers, because horray for originality in wrestling, and the three of them could be joined by some ", Jeet Rana" from NXT, as some sort of big dude type of thing.

[cero2k]

So I've read the Bollywood Boyz are now the Singh brothers, because horray for originality in wrestling, and the three of them could be joined by some ", Jeet Rana" from NXT, as some sort of big dude type of thing.

yeah, right on all accounts. this is Jeet Rama

[Earth Child]

Two years ago they didn't make Emma the number one contender just before the Australia tour. They just put her in tag match against the Bella's who were heel at the time. ( and I know its different with Emma but still, they booked her like a hero on that tour)

I don't know, it just doesn't feel right.

This situation with the WWE championship and as BRM pointed out in his RAW review, Lesner being MIA since the RAW after Mania, The state of your world titles mate!!!!

[KILLdozer]

Two years ago they didn't make Emma the number one contender just before the Australia tour. They just put her in tag match against the Bella's who were heel at the time. ( and I know its different with Emma but still, they booked her like a hero on that tour)

I don't know, it just doesn't feel right.

This situation with the WWE championship and as BRM pointed out in his RAW review, Lesner being MIA since the RAW after Mania, The state of your world titles mate!!!!

WWE doesn't really care about much of anything except what they want anymore lol. You've been away for a while obviously lol.

[Big Red Machine]

Two years ago they didn't make Emma the number one contender just before the Australia tour. They just put her in tag match against the Bella's who were heel at the time. ( and I know its different with Emma but still, they booked her like a hero on that tour)

I don't know, it just doesn't feel right.

This situation with the WWE championship and as BRM pointed out in his RAW review, Lesner being MIA since the RAW after Mania, The state of your world titles mate!!!!

Now that I think about it, seeing as how I think this "House of Horrors" match is actually going to be non-title (or so the word is, but of course they've never said this on TV because they're assholes) we're going to go almost two months between world title defenses in a company with TWO world titles.

The difference between India and Australia in terms of markets is that India is much bigger and also untapped. They figure they've already got most of the fans they're going to get in Australia so they put in no effort. Same goes for the UK, Germany, and Canada (my guess is that the reason Mexico doesn't get this treatment is that they see it as an extension of the US Hispanic population and also because they think they can "steal" fans from CMLL and AAA, just like they think they'll be able to do via their recent spat of Japanese signings). In India there are a lot more potential fans, so they'll put in a lot more effort.