Jinder Mahal’s First Challenger Announced

Just in case you didn’t get Mahal you wanted the first time. This past Sunday, Jinder Mahal won the Smackdown World Title in a major upset in the main event of “Backlash 2017”. Mahal defeated thirteen time champion Randy Orton to win the title and the big question was where would Mahal go from there. Well now two days have passed and now we know.

As announced tonight on “Smackdown Live”, Orton has cashed in his rematch clause and will be facing Mahal again for the title at “Money in the Bank 2017”. The rematch will be taking place in Orton’s hometown of St. Louis, Missouri with Orton trying to win his fourteenth World Title. That would put just two behind John Cena and Ric Flair for the most of all time.

Opinion: The more I think about it, the more I think Mahal might actually retain here. The common way of thinking would see Mahal drop the title back almost immediately but the hometown advantage comes into play. WWE has a major issue with people winning in their hometown and there’s a good chance Orton will fall into the same trap.

Jinder Mahal's custom plates are added to the WWE Championship: Exclusive, May 23, 2017

Do you think Mahal retains the title? If Orton doesn’t beat him, who will? Let us know in the comments below.