The music might be over for the Three Man Band but Jinder Mahal鈥檚 pro wrestling career is still making sweet music.
The former WWE superstar, who was part of the popular Three Man Band stable in WWE, makes his 麻豆社国产debut for All Star Wrestling (ASW) on March 27.
Since leaving WWE in June, Mahal said he鈥檚 been busy jumping back into the independent wrestling scene and enjoying performing all over the world.
鈥淚 started on the independent circuit so I鈥檝e been getting to revisit the same places I used to wrestle at before and getting my passion back for wrestling,鈥� he said. 鈥淚鈥檓 having fun with it because independent wrestling is the most fun you can have in this business.鈥�
Mahal has been competing on international tours, at Houston鈥檚 Reality of Wrestling and in Puerto Rico since leaving WWE. He said the schedule is much easier for his mind and body.
鈥淲ith WWE you travel non-stop all year round,鈥� he said. 鈥淚n the four years I was there I never had one week off where I wasn鈥檛 at [weekly TV shows] Raw or Smackdown. The wrestling isn鈥檛 tough because I love it but the travel never ends. Now I mainly wrestle on weekends and pick my own schedule. In WWE you miss a lot of family events, birthdays and anniversaries because you鈥檙e always working.鈥�
He said he enjoyed his time in WWE, noting that some of his highlights include competing in front of 80,000 people at last year鈥檚 Wrestlemania event and battling WWE superstar Seth Rollins in the final of the first NXT title tournament. Mahal said one of the most memorable moments was competing in last year鈥檚 Wee-LC contest, a match that involved midgets, tables, ladders and chairs.
鈥淚 think we surprised a lot of people with that match,鈥� he said, laughing. 鈥淚t was probably my favourite match I鈥檝e been a part of. We really pushed ourselves and I don鈥檛 think the people were expecting that.鈥�
Mahal debuted with ASW in October and quickly won the tag team title with his cousin Gama Singh Jr. He will battle Squamish鈥檚 own Cody 鈥淭KO鈥� Smith on March 27 and said revenge is on the mind.
鈥淚 was wrestling in Vancouver last month and TKO interfered and attacked me after the match,鈥� he said. 鈥淭KO wants to try and make a name for himself but that鈥檚 ok because he鈥檒l learn that he stuck his nose in the wrong man鈥檚 business.鈥�
He said he enjoys wrestling in BC and that local fans have always supported him.
鈥淓verywhere else I got booed but when I came to Vancouver or BC they loved me,鈥� he said. 鈥淏C has a huge Indian population and a lot of them like wrestling and I think they like the fact that I鈥檓 Canadian. BC is one of my favourite places to wrestle.鈥�
Being only 28 years old, Mahal still has a long career ahead of him and said he鈥檇 like to return to WWE one day. He said he鈥檚 also open to discussing opportunities with other American promotions like TNA or Lucha Underground. He said being on the independent scene has re-invigorated him.
鈥淚鈥檝e really re-ignited my passion for wrestling,鈥� he said. 鈥淲hen you鈥檙e in WWE and in the grind sometimes you don鈥檛 get used properly and frustrated. But now the shackles are off and I can grab the mic and say and do whatever I want. Fans in 麻豆社国产can expect a physical match and I plan to punish TKO for what he did to me. I鈥檓 not underestimating him, he鈥檚 a tough opponent and he鈥檒l bring it but I鈥檓 ready for him.鈥�
Mahal vs. TKO is one of five matches occurring at the event on March 27 at Totem Hall. Doors open for the event at 7 p.m. For more information, visit www.facebook.com/events/830335183690078.
