The Characterization Of Jinder Mahal: Just Another Example Of WWE's Problem With Foreign Stars

A couple days ago, I was scrolling through the days’ wrestling rumors and news when something unique caught my eye. A rumor had been going around that the rivalry between Jinder Mahal and Randy Orton was going to end inside the confines of a Punjabi Prison match. That rumor alone got me thinking. No, I was not just thinking about how horrible it would be to have to sit through yet another Punjabi Prison match; I was thinking about how odd the approach to Jinder Mahal’s character has been. As many have pointed out, Jinder Mahal has been pushed as a stereotypical foreign heel. In 2017, it was almost like the Iron Shiek of the late 80’s had won the WWE Championship. It’s been painfully obvious to all who have watched in the past couple of months that we are suppose to hate Jinder Mahal, not just for his cockiness or his dastardly ways, but for the culture and ethnic background he comes from. WWE has even dipped its toes in the Muhammed Hassan territory of the mid-2000’s by having Mahal begin his entrance with his turban covering part of his face. The best part of all of this is that WWE hasn’t even recognized that Mahal is actually Canadian. When I thought of this, I got to thinking about even more of the current WWE roster and how they have been represented.

Everyone’s favorite zoo enthusiast, Kevin Owens, has also been treated as your stereotypical foreign heel. KO, someone who has had an illustrious career as a heel with a number of personalities ranging from cold-blooded destroyer to best-friend betrayer, has been reduced to a Lance Storm impersonator. Something about that just doesn’t sit well with me. On top of that, the debut of Lana in her new Ravishing Russian gimmick was treated similarly. Lana, despite her obvious popularity, is being treated as someone who we should all boo and jeer at the top of our lungs. I can’t help but feel that it’s only a matter of time before she starts hacking Shane Mcmahon’s computer to give herself title matches.

Overall, I think the WWE writers need to seriously take a look at themselves and start writing their characters that hail from a different country with a little bit of respect. The treatment of Shinsuke Nakamura as a bonafide star should be the treatment that WWE is able to extend to other wrestler’s of foreign descent. It’s not the 80’s anymore and WWE needs to start thinking like it. I would like to hear what everyone else thinks about this. I have started a poll on my own website, Ringside Reactions, to gauge the response people have to WWE’s current treatment of foreign stars. I would also appreciate any comments or discussions on what you all think WWE should do, or not do, about this problem.

Does WWE Have A Problem With How It Treats Its Foreign Stars