Shield member was supposed to be part of 3MB, says Jinder Mahal

Jinder Mahal revealed which former Shield member was supposed to be part of the infamous pro-wrestling group 3MB. Mahal stated that Dean Ambrose was considered for a spot in the group, before the role was accorded to him.

Jinder Mahal, Drew McIntyre and Heath Slater performed as 3MB, with Hornswoggle joining the fray- a team that performed as comedic relief in filler matches in the WWE. The group was dissolved within a couple of years of its inception, following which Mahal and McIntyre were released from WWE.

In a recent appearance on Talk Is Jericho, Jinder Mahal looked back at what he considers a ‘slump’ in his career, revealing that he and McIntyre were not the original choices for Heath Slater’s 3 Man Band. He stated that Dean Ambrose and Johnny Curtis aka Fandango were initially considered for 3MB. Below are a few excerpts from the Maharajah’s statements regarding the same-

“I came to TV. I can’t remember where we were. Right when I got to the building, I see Heath Slater. He’s like, ‘man, I just had a meeting with Vince (McMahon). I’m going to get my own band!’ (Mahal asked), ‘who’s going to be in it?’ He said, ‘I don’t know, man.’ Johnny Curtis wasn’t Fandango at the time and he was coming to TV. Surprisingly enough, Dean Ambrose was coming to TV. (Slater said), ‘well, maybe Ambrose’ not knowing that (he was going to The Shield).”

“They had other plans for him (Dean Ambrose). And I jokingly said, ‘watch, I’ll be in the band.’ Completely joking! So Drew McIntyre is my best friend. He’s like my brother, so I was hanging around Drew ringside and one of the writers called him over, Kevin Eck. Kevin Eck calls Drew over and I just stumble down the hall, ‘oh, I’m going to go to catering.’ I come in the hallway and I see Scotty, Scott Armstrong, ‘oh, Scotty, the card’s out. What do I got?’ I think it was Heath Slater versus Brodus Clay with Drew McIntyre, Jinder Mahal, and Rhyno.” (*H/T to Wrestling-Edge for the transcription*)

Jinder Mahal shocked the world this past Sunday at Backlash by dethroning Randy Orton, and becoming the new WWE champion. Mahal had a ‘Punjabi’ celebration this Tuesday on SmackDown Live and is said to have wrestled a dark match with Orton after the 205 Live tapings.

It’s no secret that WWE’s push of Jinder Mahal is in direct relation with the launch of the WWE Shop in India last month around the time Wrestlemania 33 was broadcasted. Vince and co. seem hell-bent on expanding their fan-base and making the 1.3 billion people in India a part of the WWE Universe.

Mahal is the only Superstar of Indian origin to have prominently featured in WWE after the Great Khali made waves in the mid-to-late 2000s before being demoted to a mere comedy act. Here’s hoping great things lie ahead for the Indo-Canadian WWE champion.

Long Live the Maharajah!

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