ADVERTISEMENTs
Raj Dhesi questions lack of South Asians on WWE
Dhesi, one of WWE’s most successful Indian-origin wrestlers, lamented that the company currently has no South Asian talent on its "Raw," "SmackDown," or "NXT" rosters.
Raj Dhesi / Image - Wrestling Inc
Former World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) champion Jinder Mahal, now wrestling under his real name Raj Dhesi, has voiced his frustration over the absence of South Asian wrestlers in WWE.
Speaking at the ‘For the Love of Wrestling convention’, the Canadian wrestler emphasized the need for better representation of South Asians in professional wrestling.
Also read: Trump taps former WWE CEO Linda McMahon as education secretary
Dhesi highlighted the impact of limited representation during his childhood, stating, "Growing up, there were no South Asians on TV. We didn't have anybody we could relate to.”
“We've already accomplished so many great things, but we need to accomplish more. And the fact that there is zero — not a single South Asian in WWE right now, 'Raw,' 'NXT,' or ”SmackDown,' there's something seriously wrong with that," said the former WWE star.
"But we can't blame the system. We ourselves have to rise up. We have to get ourselves to that level, and we will,” he added.
Dhesi acknowledged past South Asian wrestling icons like The Great Khali, Tiger Jeet Singh, and the late Dara Singh, whose 2018 WWE Hall of Fame induction was a milestone for Indian wrestlers. He credited Dara Singh for inspiring his career and those of his contemporaries, including The Singh Brothers, Shanky, and Veer.
Currently, Indian representation in wrestling is minimal. All Elite Wrestling (AEW) features Sonjay Dutt and Satnam Singh, while (Total Nonstop Action Wrestling) TNA Wrestling has Shera. WWE released Dhesi, along with Veer and Sanga, last year, and Shanky in 2023.
Dhesi urged aspiring wrestlers to rise through the ranks despite WWE’s lack of South Asian talent, stressing that change must come from within the wrestling community itself.
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
E Paper
ADVERTISEMENT
.jpg)
Video
.png)
.jpeg)
.png)
.jpg)
.jpeg)
.png)
.jpeg)
.png)
Comments
Start the conversation
Become a member of New India Abroad to start commenting.
Sign Up Now
Already have an account? Login