WWE star Jinder Mahal hints at NXT switch while revealing dream to fight Brock Lesnar at WrestleMania 36 in Tampa
WWE’s Jinder Mahal has thrown the door open to joining NXT while revealing his dream of facing Brock Lesnar in his hometown on the Grandest Stage of Them All.
The 33-year-old, real name Yuvraj Singh Dhesi, last competed in June against Ali at a live event before suffering injury.
That will rule out the former WWE Champion until next year – but he has an almighty carrot dangling in front of him on his road to recovery.
On Sunday 5 April, WrestleMania 36 hits Tampa – a place Mahal has called home since 2010 - and the “Modern Day Maharaja” is determined to be a part of it.
Despite the Calgary-born Canadian being sidelined, he has still been on WWE’s current tour of the UK.
And Sun Sport got chance to catch up with Mahal to discuss everything from ‘Mania to NXT’s current invasions on Raw and SmackDown:
First of all we’ve missed you recently because of your injury. How’s the recovery going?
“I ruptured my patella tendon – which means a bit of a longer recovery because not that much blood travels to a tendon – but recovery is going good. I started squatting about two weeks ago and I’ll be back at some point in the New Year.
“It’s hard to say with a tendon injury, and I take it day-by-day, but everything else is going great and I’ve been doing a lot of reflecting and seeing what’s happening in WWE while plotting my return.
Having been on the main roster for quite some time, what are your thoughts on NXT invading SmackDown and Raw?
“This is the best I have ever seen the business ever since I got into it aged 15. There’s plenty of excitement going on and to see the NXT guys invade.
“I was in the first-ever NXT Championship match against Seth Rollins in 2012, and to think that in 2019 it would be its own brand and no longer been seen as a developmental league, have superstars not only invade but dominate SmackDown – I’d never have believed it would reach such heights.
“It just goes to show you the vision that Triple H has and that WWE is fully-behind NXT. The stars on there are no less than Raw or SmackDown.
“And I actually wouldn’t mind going to NXT. I feel that strongly about it.
WRESTLEMANIA 36
The biggest event in the WWE calendar occurs on Sunday 5 April when WrestleMania hits Tampa.
Tickets for the Showcase of the Immortals go on sale November 15.
And you can there as well.
To find out more on visiting Tampa Bay for Wrestlemania 36, please visit www.visittampabay.com
“With myself taking a step back from WWE right now, I’m genuinely watching as a fan and I don’t know what’s going on – I didn’t know they were going to show up on SmackDown or that Tyson Fury would appear or let alone have a match.
“That just goes to show you that WWE is so unpredictable – just like when I became WWE Champion. Nobody could see it. If you’d told someone a year before that I’d become champ then no-one would ever have believed you.
“But that’s what’s cool and why WWE has the longest-running episodic TV show in history without any off-season. We are a very unique form of entertainment.”
WrestleMania 36 tickets go on sale on November 15 and it’s going to be in your hometown of Tampa. That must give your extra motivation in your recovery?
“I moved to Tampa in 2010 and it feels like my home. I’m really excited and I’m here in the United Kingdom and I know everyone here is just as excited. You guys make up a huge chunk of the WrestleMania crowd.
“And it’s not only that one show, it’s the SmackDown prior and Raw afterwards. That crowd has the power to skyrocket a career. You have seen what happened with Fandangoing, I was there when Dolph Ziggler cashed in Money in the Bank on Alberto del Rio.
“I just happened to be around the curtain when it happened and didn’t know about it, but that was one of the loudest crowd reactions I’ve ever heard period.
“It’s such a cool time with everything in the business and new competition, and now that competition has intensified within WWE because of NXT and SmackDown’s move to FOX. Raw is the flagship show, but they will all have to fight for that spot to be flagship now.
“All three rosters are equally balanced and I’m looking forward to seeing the culmination of all the storylines at WrestleMania.
“And then the restart, back to day one, starts immediately the next day. It’s a great time and I’ll definitely be back from my injury for that and seeing everyone in Tampa.
“It’s such a cool city. Like Bourbon Street in New Orleans, there’s a place in Tampa called Ybor City and it’s very similar with the same vibe.
“I can’t wait to see the fans take over the city of Tampa.”
You’ve already had a few WrestleMania moments, but what would competing in front of your friends and family on home soil mean?
“A spot on the card of WrestleMania is not guaranteed – we have to fight for it. We are genuinely in competition for it.
“Although what we do is entertain, a lot of it is very real, and what’s very real is getting a spot at WrestleMania.
“I had a WrestleMania moment when I won the US Championship in New Orleans.
“Words can’t do it justice – it’s a reflection of all the hard work you put in not just for that year, but all the years you’ve put in leading to it. I started training when I was 15, and that and winning the WWE Championship are my two proudest moments.
“I devoted and dedicated my whole life to this and these are just some of those rewards.
“And that’s the thing, I won the US Title but you don’t have time to celebrate because of that instant restart the day after ‘Mania.
“But that’s the good thing about this injury now, I’m reflecting and appreciating everything I have accomplished. When you’re in the grind you don’t get chance to step back and realise how far you’ve come and the lives you are touching through WWE.
“Whether it’s Make A Wish or Be A Star, we do a lot within the community to try and give back, and I think that’s important. And I know that they have WrestleMania reading challenges for kids to win tickets by reading through their schools.
“So when you are there you don’t really appreciate it or the magnitude of what you’re accomplishing, but now when I look back and at the replica championship in my office, it’s so cool to see.
“And as I said I’ll definitely be back for next year and I’m really excited to see all the fans take over Tampa.”
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You will get asked this a lot, but many of us were a little gutted to see you miss out on the champion versus champion match with Brock Lesnar at Survivor Series two years ago. Is he still someone you would love to face?
“He has my championship, so definitely I would to face him.
“And what better stage to fight Brock Lesnar than the Grandest Stage Of Them All at WrestleMania 36 in Tampa.”
To find out more on visiting Tampa Bay for Wrestlemania 36, please visit www.visittampabay.com