Jinder Mahal Recalls Vince McMahon Hugging Him After WWE Championship Win

Jinder Mahal has recalled getting “big hugs” from Vince McMahon and Triple H following his WWE Championship win in 2017. It is fair to say that Mahal’s win shocked the wrestling world!

After initially signing a developmental contract with WWE in 2010, Jinder Mahal made his main roster debut in April the following year. Mahal went on to feature in numerous mid-card feuds before teaming with Drew McIntyre and Heath Slater in 3MB.

Into late 2013 and early 2014, the trio slid down the card and Mahal was released on June 12th 2014. After a short stint on the independent scene, a rejuvenated Mahal returned to WWE in 2016, winning the WWE Championship at Backlash 2017 a year later from Randy Orton.

During a new interview with Sportskeeda, Mahal recalled being greeted backstage by Vince McMahon and Triple H following his win.

“He [Vince McMahon] gave me a big hug (laughs). Honestly, it was like a big blur, but I have pictures of it. That’s how I know it happened. He gave me a big hug. Triple H was very supportive. He gave me a big hug. Randy! It wasn’t like a long conversation or anything like that. It was just, ‘I’m proud of you.’ Got a big hug, and then it was go-time from there.”

Following his shocking victory, Mahal would hold the championship for 170 days, defending it against the likes of Randy Orton and Shinsuke Nakamura. Mahal eventually lost the title to AJ Styles on an episode of SmackDown in November.

Elsewhere in the interview, Mahal said he would love to bring Hall of Famer The Great Khali back to WWE. Mahal went on to describe Khali as “an awesome person and an awesome WWE Superstar.”

More recently Jinder Mahal returned from a nine-month absence to enter into a feud with former partner and friend Drew McIntyre. The tensions came to a head at SummerSlam with McIntyre finally overcoming his rival.

H/t to Sportskeeda for the transcription.