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For Jinder Mahal, 2024 started with a bang. During the Raw Day 1 show, Mahal was involved in a heated promo battle against Dwayne “The Rock” JohnsonThe Maharaja also unsuccessfully challenged for a championship match against Seth Rollins in the following weeks on RAW. The former WWE Champion recently appeared on Gorilla Position and was asked about his involvement in the Day 1 segment. Mahal broke kayfabe while explaining how his segment with Johnson occurred.

Mahal was unaware of The Rock’s return until Christmas

According to Mahal, the segment was a complete surprise as he never pitched it and was only aware of the segment a few days before. “I didn’t pitch it. I went home for Christmas. When I landed back in Tampa, I got a call from one of the writers, ‘I think you’ve probably seen on social media, we announced a WWE Champion will return.’ Yeah, it’s me, but….I knew a big kicker was coming. ‘There’s going to be a big switch, you’re actually with The Rock. Don’t tell anybody’,” Mahal said.

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Obviously, Mahal spoke about how excited he was, not just at the potential push of working with a WWE legend, but also due to the fact that The Rock was easy to work with due to his professionalism and his experience in the ring. “The Rock is one of the most amazing performers of all time. Super giving. Super easy. That was the most relaxed I’ve been in a promo. He’s an absolute pro,” he said. This was also a big surprise, as just before the match, Mahal was trending on social media after a Twitter spat with AEW President Tony Khan.

The 37-year-old was further asked about how Johnson will be helping WWE in their upward trajectory as a board member of the TKO. Mahal replied “Unbelievable. Obviously, he’s now a board member, so he brings a different side of entertainment to WWE. I believe it’s only going to make us bigger….It’s an amazing time. An amazing time for the company. We’re exploring uncharted territory in terms of growth. All of us performers in the locker room are super excited.”

Read More: “Not the Time”: Becky Lynch Reveals Why WWE Went With Cody Rhodes Over Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson vs. Roman Reigns

Mahal appreciated Johnson for helping other superstars and positively impacting the locker room.“Dwayne is a very giving performer. Based off my experience, he’s always been super helpful. Anytime he’s there on Raw or SmackDown, he hangs out after. He’s super approachable, he gets along with everybody. Overall, it’s a positive thing.”

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After the Elimination Chamber PLE, Mahal appeared on Sony Sports Network and called out The Rock as his dream opponent.

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The Rock’s plan for WrestleMania is still unclear, so it is very probable that The Modern Day Maharaja gets his wish to face The Brahma Bull again. What do you think about Mahal’s assessment of The Rock as a performer and a boss?

Read More: “Up Next”: Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson Announces Next Three Smackdown Appearances Ahead of Wrestlemania 40

Written by

Pranav Kotai

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Pranav Kotai is a WWE reporter at EssentiallySports. With a master's in sports management and a lifelong passion for pro wrestling, Pranav has an eye for understanding WWE like no other. Pranav is an open encyclopedia of all storylines, with a well-rounded approach to his writing, especially for his favorites like up-and-coming legends Randy Orton, LA Knight, and Rhea Ripley.
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Edited by

Donna Eva