4 reasons why Jinder Mahal was a true heel champion

The WWE Championship is undoubtedly the most sought-after and revered title in sports entertainment history. No knock to the WWE Universal Championship, but despite several name changes and title design modifications, the WWE Championship’s longevity of relevance has spanned more than five decades since Buddy Rogers established the title on April 25, 1963.

Given that only 50 men have ever been able to call themselves WWE Champion, making Jinder Mahal’s 170-day reign as Champion, despite criticism, was a historic title reign. In fact, the “Modern Day Maharaja” can hold his head high as a fighting champion who successfully defended his title on four separate pay-per-view events.

But we like Jinder’s reign for only one reason: he was a proper “heel” Champion, one of which we haven’t seen in quite some time. This is largely unique in modern day WWE, where fans and writers often clash over how a performer is supposed to be portrayed (see Roman Reigns).

Here are some of the reasons we loved his title reign.

#1 He was a true heel

Jinder's ability to gloat and grind in front of hostile crowds made me an exceptional heel champion

Jinder Mahal created the right amount of heat, whether it was directed at his subjective ability to wrestle, his personality, or his microphone skills, that personified what it is to hold a title as a heel. We haven’t seen that level of heat directed at a WWE Champion in quite some time, with heel champions in recent memory both receiving boos, jeers and cheers from the WWE Universe.

There was nothing better than the crowd aggressively shouting "USA! USA!" while Jinder calmly raised his title with a devious and defiant grin scrawled across his face. This is the sight, frankly, that we missed in our recent WWE Champions.

Don’t believe we haven't had a real heel champion in some time? Let’s look at the five WWE Champions prior to Jinder Mahal winning the title from Randy Orton at Backlash 2017...

#2 Last five WWE champions, no real heels in sight

Neither Randy Orton nor Bray Wyatt was universally hated by the WWE Universe in the way Mahal was as champion

Randy Orton: Babyface. Though Randy has played a fantastic heel champion in the past, his win at the Royal Rumble and subsequent victory over Bray Wyatt at WrestleMania doubtlessly happened as Orton was being portrayed in babyface fashion.

Bray Wyatt: Heel, however, receives a great number of cheer from the fans. Just look at the Universe’s participation in his ring entrance.

John Cena: Babyface. Despite his penchant for irritating old school wrestling fans, it is still safe to say that Cena presents the most family-friendly, franchise-calibre personality to the WWE Universe that epitomizes a babyface.

AJ Styles: Heel, however, any onlooker would be able to see his abrasive attempts to annoy the WWE Universe were futile as “AJ STYLES!” chants were still heard loudly through arenas across the world, largely because of his in-ring ability.

Dean Ambrose: Babyface. The consummate joker of The Shield, prior to its recent reunification, who spent most of his title reign regaling against the rest of the WWE roster.

If we look at the above list, do we see any real heels? Any Superstar listed about has the ability to put a hostile crowd in a frenzy simply by arriving on the scene carrying the title? Absolutely not. When we look at the above list, we know Jinder was a special and exceptional heel.

#3 A remarkable story

Jinder's body transformation is emblematic of a man who works hard to achieve his dreams.

Despite the vitriol from WWE fans in the form of boos and memes, Jinder's story is, without question, the true dream of every WWE Superstar. Who else do you know that moved so rapidly from jobber to Champion in less than a year.

Given his physical transformation, Jinder obviously put the literal work in, something recent Champions have lacked, and took the bumps and blows from higher-echelon Superstars until it was finally his turn. This, my friends, is the proper way to finally reach success in the business.

Who else from 3MB will ever reach this pinnacle of success? Perhaps McIntyre, but we will have to wait and see how that pans out.

#4 Why we will miss him

Mahal may be absent from the WWE Championship picture for some time

We fear Jinder Mahal’s second loss to AJ Styles at Clash of Champions, marking a defeat in his contractually obligated rematch, puts “the Maharaja” out of the WWE Championship picture for some time.

This is truly unfortunate, as we will miss having a champion who can walk to the stage with confidence, take the boos, smile and laugh off the chants for his opposition in the ring, and push back against the WWE Universe who, all too often, are quick to judge anything that doesn’t go exactly there way.

Also, Jinder was one of the best dressed WWE Superstars of the modern era.