WWE Hall of Famer Road Dogg has admitted that a controversial WWE Championship reign “wasn’t a great creative decision”.
Back in 2017, Jinder Mahal shocked the wrestling world when he defeated Randy Orton at that year’s Backlash to capture the WWE Championship.
Mahal went on to hold the title for almost six months, seeing off Orton in two rematches as well as Baron Corbin and Shinsuke Nakamura.
However, the reign was not well-received among fans, with many believing it to be a bad idea to elevate a man who had been an enhancement talent for some time to become one of the top champions in the company.
During a recent edition of ‘The Wrestling Outlaws’ podcast, former SmackDown lead writer Road Dogg admitted that reign wasn’t a great creative decision and says he fought the idea.
“Just like fans viewed it – it wasn’t a great creative decision. I fought it as hard as I could, but that was the decision. To Vince’s [McMahon] point, we dressed him up, and put those Bollywood Boys with him, we did everything we could. It looked beautiful on TV, but it didn’t have any substance.”
When asked if it was a Vince McMahon decision, Road Dogg said it was.
“100%. Look, that’s what I assumed. That’s what happens when you assume. But that’s what I assumed and I don’t think it was a bad idea. What if it took off in the biggest market on the globe? It’s not a bad roll of the dice. The ratings were still pretty decent during it all because we had a lot of great stuff underneath.”
Jinder Mahal lost the WWE Championship to AJ Styles during an episode of SmackDown filmed in the UK ahead of Survivor Series, something Road Dogg says was done to give UK fans “a cool moment”.
H/T to Sportskeeda Wrestling for the above transcription.