I like Smackdown.
Ever since the first brand split, my heart bled blue.
The Undertaker, Kurt Angle, Chris Benoit, Edge, Rey Mysterio, Chavo Guerrero, Brock Lesnar, London and Kendrick, and Eddie Guerrero made it an awesome viewing experience. The second brand split gave a bunch of stars like AJ Styles, The Miz, Dean Ambrose, Dolph Ziggler, Baron Corbin, Luke Harper, Heath Slater, Alexa Bliss, and Bray Wyatt the opportunity to further explore their characters. Now I know pundits thought the Superstar Shakeup gutted Smackdown but working in the WWE umbrella, Raw needs to inject life on their brand.
Smackdown can survive.
Even with Jinder Mahal as the number one contender to Randy Orton’s WWE title.
I know the emergence of Mahal as the top contender of the most cherished spot in Smackdown is all too random for everyone’s liking but it’s not like that six-pack challenge is loaded with Cena-like talent. At best, it feels like Sami Zayn, Dolph Ziggler, and four Jack Swaggers randomly thrown to the mix. I bet the things people say about Jinder would have been the same things they would say if Mojo Rawley or Erick Rowan won instead of Sami Zayn. And I don’t want to say that Sami Zayn is a potential “Daniel Bryan clone” but I bet WWE will keep his lovable loser shtick for now so don’t lose on him yet. Dolph Ziggler’s momentum sank after losing the Intercontinental Title to The Miz. I would have given the contendership to Luke Harper but WWE botched his rise when he began to team up with Randy Orton. Harper should be mad at Orton for ruining The Wyatt Family but for some reason… did he think Orton had it right to dismantle his beloved allegiance?
So returning to Jinder Mahal. The consensus at the start of the second brand split is that Smackdown got robbed of talent. If that’s the case, then why did Raw raid its stars? Smackdown can build stars on their own and they’ll probably handle the likes of Rusev, Zayn, and Kevin Owens better. At the moment, Smackdown just upgraded Jinder and The Colons with Raw doing their spin on Ambrose versus Miz.
People should praise his physique. Jinder Mahal looked like a bigger version of Daivari when he debuted. I guess this is the reason why WWE didn’t take him seriously. Apart from his ethnicity, he never had anything eye-catching. I don’t know if this is due to globalization but what made Shinsuke Nakamura stand out as compared to Masato Tanaka, Tajiri, Ultimo Dragon, Funaki, Kenzo Suzuki, and Yoshi Tatsu?
Shinsuke Nakamura had the presence.
This presence should give him the chance to become the first Japanese wrestler to win a top WWE title.
Matt Hardy relied on Jeff Hardy for that presence in the WWE. Sure he did a lot of things… but it’s a safe bet that the only chance he’ll win a WWE top title (not the ECW Championship) is if he returns to his broken gimmick. When Drew Galloway (McIntyre now) was released from his WWE contract a few years back, he decided to create a persona oozing with top title charisma. It’s as if he had a pact with himself to never do a gimmick that would force him to do silly faces or stupid dances or cringe-worthy poses.
It’s the same deal Cody Rhodes has at the moment.
Jinder is never known for his promos so the next best thing for him to cultivate is to make people look at his build. The Ruthless Aggression era featured the likes of John Cena, Batista, and Randy Orton with guys like Rene Dupree, Rob Conway, Chris Masters, Sean O’Haire, Mark Jindrak, Ken Doane, and Luther Reigns getting somewhat significant pushes because of their looks. If he roided up to get muscles then WWE would have peppered him violation prompts. His physique is basically the same as Alberto del Rio’s ill-fated second stint.
And it’s not as if he’s a bad wrestler a la Great Khali.
Jinder Mahal never graced the TNA ring. He also never wrestled in Ring of Honor, Lucha Underground, and New Japan. The only wrestling promotion he prominently wrestled was in Puerto Rico and the one in Japan that Antonio Inoki owned.
He kept a low profile and yet he got a WWE return.
Word.
The only thing I hate about his win is that he got help from the Bollywood Boyz. This move reminded me of when Tajiri had Akio and Sakoda to distract his opponents. The Boyz will never get anything from being his lackey and I also fear Jinder’s path when his program as number one contender ends. Also, his emergence as well as The Colons and Charlotte beating current Smackdown women’s champ Naomi
But in the meantime, don’t hinder on Jinder yet.
Maybe if he tries to do his Air Sitar… but not right now.
PROJECT SYDRIFIED WP 