Jinder Mahal Discusses Becoming the First Ever WWE World Champion of South Asian Descent, Reflects on Picking Up His First Win at WrestleMania, and Why He Feels His Journey Has Just Begun

– As previously reported, Darpan Magazine recently interviewed former WWE world heavyweight champion Jinder Mahal. Mahal was also featured on the cover of the magazine Below are some highlights from the interview.

Jinder Mahal on using a traditional Sikh pagh (turban) for his ring appearances: “We are recognized by the pagh and I am very proud to represent it on a global stage like WWE. I have the utmost respect for the pagh and have always been protective and respectful of it. It is a big deal for our community to be represented on an international program like WWE>”

Jinder Mahal on feeling his journey has just begun: “It has been a long journey but I feel like it has just begun. I want to have a long career and the sky is the limit.”

Jinder Mahal on winning his first WrestleMania match at WrestleMania 34: “This was my first WrestleMania moment and I am very happy that I won the title. Now that I have a taste of it, I want to go again and take it to the next level. I am thankful for the opportunity, but I remain hungry for the main event and the chance to win the WWE championship at WrestleMania one day.”

Jinder Mahal on becoming the first man of South Asian descent to win the WWE world title: “I was brought back to the WWE in 2016 and won this [title] 10 months later. Being the 1st ever champion of Punjabi or South Asian descent is truly an honor. I still have a lot more to show and the best is yet to come. When it’s all over,I want to be seen as one of the best WWE wrestlers of all time.”

Jinder Mahal on leaving WWE and working the independent circuit: “I look back on it as the best thing that happened to me as it motivated me. WWE is a highly competitive entertainment business where if you aren’t up to the level they want, there are numerous others waiting to take your spot. You have to give your 100% every day. I had a lot of regrets when I got released, but I committed myself to making it back to the WWE and didn’t take anything for granted. I worked very hard to achieve those goals and I look forward to a long career. Winning the US Championship at WrestleMania in front of 78,000 people was awesome and I want to have more of those moments. I want to be a hall of famer so I will need to achieve my goals and work harder than the competition. It is not a one-time thing that you made it; you are being tested everyday as a challenge.”

Jinder Mahal on working his whole life for this: “I have dreamt of this my whole life. You don’t win the WWE championship by accident, you have to dedicate your life to it. I visualize where I want to be in the future and I work relentlessly to get there. … When I was in high school in Calgary, I used to take the bus for over an hour in the winter to go train. I would be wrestling with grown men, then take the bus back in -40 degree weather to go back to school next day. It really is crazy to think about where I have come from and what I have done to get here. I really appreciate all I have done and what my supporters have done for me to get to this level.”