Well, Jinder Mahal is currently the number one contender for the WWE Championship at WWE Backlash on May 21st, 2017. What is remarkable to me, is that Mahal had been a jobber for the duration of his WWE career, at least for the most part. He got some attention at WrestleMania involving Mojo and Rob Gronkowski, but he hadn’t established himself in a WWE ring since his return last year to the company.
So, before his match with Randy Orton at Backlash, which airs live on the WWE Network for $9.99 a month (you’re welcome WWE), I decided to look on the internet to watch Jinder Mahal in action outside of a WWE ring. As expected, there wasn’t a lot of options to pick from. However, I happened to stumble upon a match that caught my interest.
Mahal, very early into his career and before he even made it to FCW, competed in a singles match against former WWF and WCW World Champion, Psycho Sid Vicious. The match took place for the Great North Wrestling promotion on June 21st, 2008.
Jinder certainly doesn’t have the physique that he has in 2017. He’s looking rather pudgy. Sid wants to do a test of strength at the start. Mahal goes to the floor and stalls for several moments. They eventually do the test of strength with Mahal delivering a knee strike and takes Sid down to his knees to control the match. Mahal gets a two count with Sid laying on the mat maintaining the test of strength. Sid gets back to his feet and controls the test of strength. Sid breaks free and slams Mahal. Sid misses a leg drop and Mahal works over Sid with stomps on the canvas. Mahal continues to strike Sid and chokes him over the top rope. Mahal continues to work over Sid with forearms to the lower back and controls Sid with a bear hug. Mahal delivers a few more shots to the lower back and goes back to the bear hug. Sid drops down to his knees and Mahal puts the camel clutch on Sid! Sid isn’t about to give in so Mahal drops down across his upper back. Mahal keeps Sid on the canvas with a camel clutch. Sid is fading but doesn’t drop three times. Mahal tries to jump down onto Sid, but Sid gets his knees up. Sid plants Mahal with a choke slam and wins the match. *
Well, anyone expecting a memorable match between these two just wasn’t going to happen. Mahal played his role rather well and bumped for Sid. Sid didn’t do much and won with his secondary finish mainly because I don’t think he would have been able to power bomb Mahal. Instead, after the match, Sid power bombed a lighter wrestler known as MVP. Anyway, the action was lackluster and that’s put on Sid here. I was just curious to see Mahal in action before his WWE run and to see how he’s grown as a performer. This could be known as a world champion vs. world champion match by the end of the month. Who would’ve though that one, right?
What are your thoughts on Jinder Mahal, Sid or the match here? Leave your thoughts below.