It was Jinder Mahal's idea to have Shanky and Veer by his side.
After a prolonged injury absence, Jinder Mahal returned to WWE TV this past May and entered into a feud with his former 3MB teammate, Drew McIntyre. No longer with The Singh Brothers, Mahal began being accompanied to the ring by Shanky and Veer.
Speaking with Fightful's Sean Ross Sapp (full interview above), Mahal noted how he saw their potential and that he pitched them as his backup to WWE's higher-ups. Furthermore, he shared that he sees both men as being future champions in the WWE.
"I just saw the potential in them," Mahal began by saying. "So, when I was doing my rehab I went to the Performance Center. That’s actually where I seen them. So, when I came back I pitched it to Vince [McMahon], Bruce Prichard. I thought this pairing would be good, not only for myself on a character point, but it’s good for those guys to be around the system, around the locker room, around the matches, having matches against a guy like a Drew McIntyre. People more experienced than them. I definitely see them as being champions one day in the WWE."
Mahal spoke highly of Veer (Rinku Singh) and highlighted his status, along with Dinesh Patel, as the first Indians to sign American major league baseball contracts. Veer was a prospect for the Pittsburgh Pirates and played for their Gulf Coast League team. Their story was the subject of Disney's Million Dollar Arm film.
"First Indian to ever get drafted to the major league baseball system. Played for the Pittsburgh Pirates under their farm leagues and everything. He’s very, very explosive. Sometimes I’ll see his match from ringside, his explosiveness, his jumping, his strength is incredible. Very, very good athlete," Mahal said.
Thus far, Shanky and Veer have only competed in three matches on Raw, losing all of them to Drew McIntyre. The most recent defeat came in a 6-man tag on September 13 where they teamed with Jinder to face Drew and The Viking Raiders.
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