Jinder wants multiple WWE championships

NEW YORK: Jinder Mahal’s run as the World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) champion has been a divisive one when it comes to pro-wrestling fans. Most of them pointed to his surprising ascension being in direct correlation to WWE’s expansion into India and the push was not received well by experts. However, Jinder is not bothered by the criticism and is aspiring for big things in future.

“It has been a crazy journey for me in the company till now. But, it is just the beginning for me and I want to win multiple titles and, someday, become a part of the legendary Hall of Fame,” Jinder told Hindustan Times ahead of his WWE Summerslam match against Shinshuke Nakamura.

The road to stardom has been tricky for the Indian-origin wrestler who made his debut for the company in 2011. In the beginning, he was booked in a feud with compatriot The Great Khali but after a lacklustre show, he was released by the company in 2014. That could have been the end of his WWE dream, but Jinder believes that the setback was actually a boon for him.

“I had become complacent in my last run in WWE. I was not happy with my position and instead of working hard and getting out of it, I thought that it would just pass. Ultimately, I learned that was the kiss of death. Going away was probably the best thing that happened to me as it helped me regroup and concentrate on my craft and that is one of the big reasons behind my success.” However, since his return, Jinder Mahal has been a force to reckon with. He was the last person to be eliminated in the Andre The Giant Memorial Battle Royal at Wrestlemania 33 and then, he defeated five other wrestlers to earn a shot at the WWE title. But, the crowning moment of his career came in May when he became the 50th recognised WWE champion.

When asked about his inspiration in this process, Jinder was all praise for his mentor The Great Khali. “The Great Khali is a legend in this business and I want to follow in his footsteps. He has always been like an elder brother to me and he has guided me a lot both in life and in my career.”

Although Jinder hails from Calgary, he is immensely proud of his Punjabi heritage and he promised that he will soon be visiting India with his title belt.