WWE Star Opens Up On ‘Inspiring’ NXT & Future Role

WWE

A WWE star has opened up about their time in NXT and the inspiration that they’ve felt along with looking at a future role.

With a career of almost twenty years, Jinder Mahal is a former WWE Champion and United States Champion.

His initial run in WWE saw him join the company in 2010 on a developmental contract before making his main roster debut in 2011 with appearances in NXT also forming part of his 2012 run.

He would be released from his contract in June 2014 and go on to an independent run before returning to WWE in 2016 and appearing in NXT from January 2023.

During his appearance on WWE After the Bell, Mahal reflected on his current run in NXT, saying:

“It was incredible just being around young energy again, young, motivated superstars (in NXT) and it inspired me. It pushed me in a way, just seeing these young people. They’re full of hopes and dreams and aspirations and everything because kind of, we get a little bit grizzled and ah, like grumpy.

“It does happen, it does happen so yeah, just felt reinvigorated and then being around The Indus Sher, those two guys are mega, mega stars in my eyes. They can do everything. They have every aspect of the game down from look to persona to Veer’s explosive, powerful moves, Sanga’s just a mountain, just so powerful and calculated.

“Those two are incredible and excites me just standing ringside and watching those guys or tag teaming with them when the time comes or having those guys have my back when it’s my turn in the ring so yeah, it was incredible and you know what?

“I learned a lot. I worked with Terry Taylor and Shawn Michaels, all the great coaches there.”

With the impact of Taylor and Michaels along with the coaching team in NXT clearly on his mind, Mahal would express his thoughts on his future in WWE, adding:

“Yeah, definitely some day (I would like to transition into that mentor/behind the scenes role). When my in-ring career is over, definitely.

“I would love to mentor future superstars in a way and it would keep me active. I love being out there, I love being a part of WWE, I love traveling. I’m addicted to the lifestyle in a way. I love it.

“I love going to random gyms in all these different cities, I love being on the road, I love the overseas tours, being on the bus with everybody. It’s like family, the camaraderie we have with everybody in the back from the crew guys to the superstars in the locker room, everybody. Even the catering department, I’m such good friends with so no, it’s incredible.

“I would love to be a manager of some sort or maybe even I’ll work backstage as a producer. I think I would really enjoy that, just helping out, even off-camera.”

When it comes to when this will happen, though, Mahal is not seeing that day as any time soon, concluding:

“But I think I still have a long time left still in the ring, I can still perform at a high level, I stay in shape. At any time, this suit can come off and The Maharaja is ready, in shape and able at all times to still even challenge for the World Heavyweight Championship. The Maharaja’s always ready.”

Shawn Michaels has recently discussed the young age of the NXT women’s roster as a reason why the brand doesn’t yet have a secondary women’s championship.

On Sunday, NXT Battleground will see Lyra Valkyria and Tiffany Stratton fight for the vacant NXT Women’s Championship.

The card for NXT Battleground on Sunday, May 28 is as follows:

NXT Championship – Carmelo Hayes (c) vs. Bron Breakker

NXT Women’s Championship – Lyra Valkyria vs. Tiffany Stratton

Heritage Cup Championship – Noam Dar (c) vs. Dragon Lee

NXT Tag Team Championship – Mark Coffey & Wolfgang (c) vs. Brutus & Julius Creed

North American Championship – Wes Lee (c) vs. Joe Gacy vs. Tyler Bate

Last Man Standing – Dijak vs. Ilja Dragunov

If you want to stay fully updated on all the latest wrestling news, click the red bell in the bottom right of your screen to receive notifications from WrestleTalk.com straight to your device!

• wwe nxt
• Jinder Mahal
• wwe

Share this article with friends