Jinder Mahal (Raj Dhesi) is no longer in WWE and is currently an independent wrestler recovering from a knee surgery, after a long, up‑and‑down run that included a surprise WWE Championship reign.

Quick Scoop: What happened to Jinder Mahal?

  • He was released by WWE on April 19, 2024 as part of the post‑WrestleMania roster cuts, ending his second run with the company (2016–2024).
  • After his release, he went back to the independent scene under his real name, Raj Dhesi, working for promotions like Black Label Pro, AAA, and Dungeon Wrestling, even holding the Stu Hart Heritage Title.
  • In late 2025 he revealed he had undergone knee surgery, saying he had “two loose bodies removed + meniscus trimmed,” and that the surgery went well and he was in the recovery phase.
  • He has said he “started from the independents and I'll probably finish my career… on the independents,” suggesting he plans to keep wrestling outside WWE for the foreseeable future.

Very short career timeline

  1. Early WWE run (2010–2014): Mid‑card heel, part of 3MB with Drew McIntyre and Heath Slater.
  1. Return and peak (2016–2017): Shock push as WWE Champion, beating Randy Orton at Backlash 2017 and holding the title for 170 days.
  1. Later years in WWE: Mostly mid‑card work, managing Indus Sher and occasional high‑profile matches like a title shot vs Seth Rollins.
  1. Release and independents (2024–now): Released in April 2024, active on the indie circuit as Raj Dhesi, then knee surgery and rehab while still planning to continue his career.

Why fans ask “what happened to Jinder Mahal?”

  • His big 2017 push felt sudden, with some fans feeling his matches and promos didn’t live up to main‑event level, leading to “go‑away” heat in certain crowds.
  • After losing the title to AJ Styles, he slowly slid back down the card, so he was on TV less and less before the eventual 2024 release.
  • Today, he’s in that “cult figure” space: ex‑WWE Champion, polarizing online, but still wrestling and openly talking about finishing his career on the independents.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.