April 24, 2017 Wrestling Observer Newsletter: Jinder Mahal made #1 contender, Rosey passes away, more
One of the most surprising PPV main events in years looks to be the 5/21 Backlash show in Chicago where Randy Orton will defend the WWE title against Jinder “Traps Don’t Lie” Mahal.
Mahal and his freakazoid traps, which look like they need their own zip code, won a six-way on Smackdown over Mojo Rawley, Dolph Ziggler, Sami Zayn, Luke Harper and Erick Rowan and the title match was announced for the winner of the Orton vs. Bray Wyatt. Since Wyatt is being programmed on Raw for Finn Balor and Orton confronted Mahal after winning, that result seems obvious.
So the question becomes why someone who was brought back as enhancement talent on Raw, basically with the same role Curt Hawkins had on Smackdown at first, until being put in a brief tag team with Rusev which enabled them to figure Enzo Amore into the Rusev vs. Big Cass program, is now positioned as lead heel on Smackdown.
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Dave Meltzer is the founder and lead writer on the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, the weekly constant when it comes to news and reviews in pro wrestling and mixed martial arts for more than 40 years. Dave also co-hosts Wrestling Observer Radio with Bryan Alvarez and had had bylines for The National, Yahoo Sports, MMA Fighting and others.