Former WWE Champion to debut at AEW Dynamite: Maximum Carnage and align with Rated FTR? Chances explored

AEW will undoubtedly be looking to heat its mid-January programming by ensuring next week's special tapings of Dynamite and Collision - dubbed Maximum Carnage - leave an indelible impression on their viewership. To that end, Tony Khan could debut a former WWE Champion in Cincinnati and book him to enter a mega-alliance with Rated FTR.

Following his departure from the Stamford-based company last year, Raj Dhesi (fka Jinder Mahal) returned to the independent circuit and has been competing in promotions like Black Label Pro, GCW, and MLP. He wrestled at TripleMania XXXII in August 2024, winning the AAA World Tag Team Championship with AEW star Satnam Singh. The partnership had subsequently led to some speculations that All Elite Wrestling could potentially sign the 38-year-old star, especially in light of Tony Khan's remarks about how he had been booked and his response to those remarks some time ago.

AEW needs to ensure its upcoming programming generates a lot of buzz. An easy way to do that is through a major and unexpected debut. Furthermore, according to recent reports, the company's broadcasting partner Warner Bros. Discovery has seemingly requested that care and emphasis be invested in producing its upcoming Cincinnati shows. Tony Khan could achieve this by bringing in Raj Dhesi on next week's tapings of Maximum Carnage.

One compelling way to introduce The Modern Day Maharaja in an active storyline on All Elite programming would be to affiliate him with fellow former WWE Superstars FTR and Adam Copeland. Dhesi has experience sharing the ring with The Top Guys from their time together in the sports entertainment juggernaut and could help Rated FTR in their ongoing war against Jon Moxley and The Death Riders.

Of course, there have been no recent reports of All Elite Wrestling making moves to sign the erstwhile Jinder Mahal, so the angle discussed above is entirely speculative. However, Dhesi did express interest in working for the Jacksonville-based promotion during an interview with Sportskeeda's WrestleBinge last year.

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AEW Dynamite next week will feature multiple high-stakes matches

All Elite Wrestling has loaded the Dynamite: Maximum Carnage card with several significant matchups. The episode will host the first-ever Women's Casino Gauntlet Match, whose winner will have the chance to challenge for the AEW Women's World Championship at Grand Slam Australia.

Next week, we will also witness the culmination of HOOK's feud with Christian Cage as the two men face off.

Furthermore, Dynamite will see Kenny Omega return to action against Brian Cage of the Don Callis Family on January 15. Jon Moxley of the Death Riders will defend his World Championship against his former ally, Powerhouse Hobbs.