Jinder Mahal: “I Bet If I Didn’t Become WWE Champion, Drew McIntyre Wouldn’t Have”
Jinder Mahal wonders why he wasn’t celebrated as WWE Champion.
Ahead of WrestleMania Backlash, The Modern Day Maharaja appeared on WWE’s The Bump and was asked about the triple threat match between Drew Mcintyre, Braun Strowman, and Bobby Lashley and whether or not he and McIntyre would be able to put their friendship aside should they eventually face off in a title program. Jinder said the following:
“So, my problem is not with Drew. My problem is with the idea that Drew McIntyre was celebrated as a champion [as if] he overcame such enormous odds — let’s back it up. Me and Drew were a part of 3MB together. Me and Drew got released the exact same day. I made it back to WWE faster [and] better. I became WWE Champion faster than Drew McIntyre, yet I wasn’t celebrated. I was called ‘the experiment’ or whatever. I don’t have a book right now. Drew has a book. Drew is doing media nonstop. This is one of the only times I’ve done media in the last few months. Why am I not celebrated the same way Drew McIntyre is celebrated? Our stories are parallel. Just because you don’t hear about my hardships in life [that] doesn’t mean I’ve had an easy route to the WWE or becoming WWE Champion. I’ve had just as many challenges as Drew has had. Yet I’m not acknowledged… I bet if I didn’t become WWE Champion, Drew wouldn’t have. You know why? Because I showed him the way… I laid the blueprint down for Drew. Drew followed the same game plan that I did; comeback, best shape possible, target the biggest guy, make an impact. But here we are.”
Jinder also added that watching Drew McIntyre motivated him through his rehab, but in a different way than he motivated Drew.
“I bet if I didn’t become #WWEChampion, @DMcIntyreWWE wouldn’t have. Why? Because I showed him the way.”@JinderMahal#WWETheBump pic.twitter.com/Y2qGanbETZ
— WWE (@WWE) May 16, 2021
McIntyre and Mahal were both released by WWE on June 12, 2014. Drew reemerged in NXT nearly three years later in April 2017. Mahal on the other hand returned in August 2016. He would become WWE Champion at Backlash 2017, defeating Randy Orton. McIntyre won the belt for the first time in the main event of WrestleMania 36 against Brock Lesnar.
After dropping the title to The Miz at Elimination Chamber 2021, thanks to a helping hand from Bobby Lashley, McIntyre has a chance to regain the title at WrestleMania Backlash when he faces Lashley and Braun Strowman. Fightful will have live coverage of the event beginning at 3 p.m. PST with a post-show review immediately following its conclusion.
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