Is Mahal WWE’s unlikeliest champion?
Last Sunday, Jinder Mahal defeated Randy Orton to win the WWE heavyweight championship.
I did not see the match live on the WWE Network, but I woke up to multiple texts and private messages on social media about it.
My initial reaction when learning of the finish was more of an 鈥渁lright, they actually did it鈥� than it was of shock.
Heading into the match Mahal鈥檚 all-time record at PPV鈥檚 was 2-8.
Yes, 2-8 and no that was not a typo.
Mahal is the 50th different wrestler to hold the WWE championship since Buddy Rodgers was the first champion dating back to April 25, 1963, and it made me wonder, is he the unlikeliest WWE heavyweight champion of all-time?
Mahal鈥檚 reign, now at seven days, is the 134th reign of all-time between the 50 men, has already passed reigns of several legends including Andre the Giant (less than one day), Triple H (less than one day), John Cena (less than one day), Daniel Bryan (less than one day), Roman Reigns (less than one day), Bryan (one day), Hulk Hogan (one), Bret Hart (one), The Rock (two), Batista (two), and The Undertaker鈥檚 first reign (six days).
If Mahal holds the title until the June 6 edition of Smackdown Live, he will pass a pair of 14-day reigns by Cena and a 15-day Kurt Angle reign.
So how long will Mahal hold the belt?
There are a few possible ideas that I have given thought to.
Smackdown Live鈥檚 next event on the WWE Network is Money in the Bank, which takes place in St. Louis.
Mahal is defending against Orton in Orton鈥檚 hometown, and we all know how much Vince McMahon loves to have wrestlers lose in their hometown.
However, could McMahon throw us a curveball and have Orton win it back?
Whether Orton wins it back or not next month, WWE is going on a tour of India in September and I think Mahal will have the belt during the tour.
My reasoning is that since Mahal is part-Indian, by having him going on the tour as champion, he will gain notoriety there and would bring more fans to the shows.
Ultimately, this puts more money in WWE鈥檚 pockets and if it is trying to grow in the Indian market, having Mahal as the champion would be a big first step.
Another thought that crept into my mind was WWE having Cena, or even a returning Hogan, win the title as an American hero.
I don鈥檛 see either doing it, but the thought did cross my mind.
Nakamura opened Backlash
In an odd move, WWE had the Shinsuke Nakamura versus Dolph Ziggler match open Backlash.
Considering that Smackdown Live had been hyped for weeks around Nakamura鈥檚 debut, I was really surprised when that match opened the show.
On this date鈥�
In 1996, one of the weirdest 鈥渟tories that isn鈥檛 really a story鈥� in pro wrestling took place.
WWE ran its In Your House: Beware of Dog PPV and during the event, the power went out.
Because of this, they ran a PPV two nights later and the Tuesday night PPV was titled In Your House: Beware of Dog II.
Funny thing is, in the prior month鈥檚 WWE Magazine, in the pullout calendar, it listed IYH:BoD for May 28 and IYH:BoD II for May 30.
So the plan was always for WWE to run two PPV鈥檚 in three nights, but no one knows this.
Had I kept my magazines from back then, I would have proof of it.
So if any of you have any WWE Magazines from 1996 and still have the pullout calendars inside, please email me.
For years I have argued this with reputable online reporters, as have other friends who were aware of this, but to no avail.
If we could provide visual proof, it would show that we were right!
This week鈥檚 question:
Why has WWE seemed to put Roman Reigns onto the backburner? Cindy, West Brownsville.
I am not sure if we are watching the same WWE!
Reigns just ended The Undertaker鈥檚 career and just main evented his third straight WrestleMania.
How rare is that feat?
Only Hulk Hogan, Triple H and John Cena have pulled off the rare accomplishment of main eventing three straight Mania鈥檚.
WWE understands that fans are tired of Reigns, so they have kind of pushed him down the card a little bit, but don鈥檛 worry, he will be back in the thick of things shortly.
He is penciled in to face Brock Lesnar for the Universal title at Mania 34.
Email questions/comments to Bill at powerhousehughes@gmail.com or tweet them to me @BillHughes_III.