Could The Great Khali have a SummerSlam Match?

The Great Khali may be hanging around for a bit.First impressions from last night would lead you [...]

The Great Khali may be hanging around for a bit.

First impressions from last night would lead you to think that his appearance at Battleground would be just an apparition. However, there may be more to the story.

In his post-Battleground podcast, Wrestling Observer's Dave Meltzer pointed out some logic that keeps Kahli around past SummerSlam. Noting that numbers in India have not met WWE's expectations since making Mahal Champion, Vince McMahon and Co. were forced to bring in Khali for extra Indian appeal.

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Keen eyes pointed out the Kahal has been added to the active WWE roster page on the company's website. Even further, Meltzer thinks that Khali may have a match at SummerSlam. According to him, WWE may be moving towards a tag match involving Mahal and Khali vs. John Cena and Randy Orton. Meltzer also added that it could be Khali vs. Orton too, seeing that the Viper has plenty of incentive to get physical with Khali.

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(Photo: WWE)

Yikes. Last night was fine, but only if that's the last of Khali. 2017's WWE just doesn't lend itself to such a rigid in-ring performer. Fans were reluctant to get involved in a championship feud between Mahal and Orton and to think this could multiply is near mind numbing. Does WWE need to expand in India this badly?

More: Vince Russo Says WWE Mishandled Jinder Mahal

When Jinder Mahal first became WWE Champion, many fans were skeptical. The Modern Day Maharaja seemed to have sprung from nowhere to snatch one of WWE's most coveted titles. His sudden rise had fans and media alike asking where this push was coming from. Many believed it was all based on WWE trying to break the 2 million subscriber mark on their WWE Network via a short cut into the India fans base.

They may have been right.

In an interview with India Today Mahal was asked if he received this opportunity in order to expand WWE's product in India:

"WWE sees India as a huge opportunity and wants to continue to build its base. Personally, I am hoping being champion will increase the WWE Universe in India because I know that Indian fans are really passionate and I want to be WWE Champion in India."

Mahal's quote seems to prove the theory that he's Champion for the sake of Indian appeal alone.

It's well documented that India has a population of over 1 billion. For WWE, they lack only a few thousand from reaching a highly brag-able 2 million Network subscriptions. Sticking their needle into the Indian fan base would certainly be the quickest options to break that number. The best way to get in touch with India? Get an Indian champion.

In terms of business, it's probably a great decision. For wrestling purposes, it's been OK at best. WWE has used some out of touch psychology to help Mahal's character. Althgoht the Anti-American heel has a tremendous success rate, it's out dated and it feels like WWE took the laziest option. We already know the Jinder Mahal is inexperienced, and on that level of expectation, he's actually doing just fine. But WWE has put him in a tough position by asking him to carry the emotional baton in a feud with an emotionally numbing Randy Orton.

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