Former WWE Champion Raj Dhesi, known formerly as Jinder Mahal, recently addressed the viral tweet from AEW President Tony Khan as the two promotions’ World Title scenes aligned last year. When Dhesi was granted a WWE World Title match against Seth Rollins, Tony Khan criticized him on X (formerly Twitter) amid the wrestling community’s commentary on AEW’s title shot granted to Hook against AEW World Champion Samoa Joe. Khan’s tweet ridiculed Dhesi’s performance record while inadvertently increasing attention on his title match.
In the tweet dated January 9, 2024, Tony Khan wrote,
“A moral victory for USA is one win more than their World Title challenger Jinder Mahal has in the past 364 days… because it’s been literally a full year since he won a match. You really put AEW in our place getting Jinder Mahal in a big match on your tv show. Do it more often.”
During a recent interview with TMZ Sports’ Inside The Ring, Raj Dhesi reflected candidly on Khan’s comments. Rather than viewing the tweet negatively, Dhesi acknowledged that it actually helped generate additional hype for his WWE title match against Seth Rollins and for AEW’s own matchup between Hook and Samoa Joe.
No, no, it was good…it was good for me, it was good for WWE. It was good for my title match with Seth, and it was good for AEW, and good for Hook’s match with Samoa Joe. He was getting a title shot against Samoa Joe. It just created more buzz.
—Raj Dhesi, Former WWE Champion
Raj Dhesi Weighs Potential Future with AEW
When asked about the possibility of joining AEW under Tony Khan’s leadership, Dhesi shared that any decision would depend on clear business reasoning and meaningful storylines. He emphasized the importance of purposeful involvement rather than simply appearing without direction.
I would have to see if the business makes sense. What’s the storyline? Is there a plan for me, or am I just coming to do nothing? I’m past that point in my life, past that point in my career. Whatever I do, I want to do something next level… I don’t want to just coast anymore.
—Raj Dhesi
Dhesi also expressed respect for AEW’s evolving wrestling style, noting how it influences the independent wrestling scene. He stays informed about the industry, often watching highlights and following developments through social media, even if not watching entire shows live.
The style has definitely changed there. So, you know, it trickles down to the independents… I watched a little bit. I do a good job of keeping track of what’s going on in wrestling. Do I sit and watch the entire show? No, but I kind of see through social media what’s going on,
—Raj Dhesi
Looking ahead, the former WWE Champion named AEW stars Swerve Strickland and MJF as potential opponents he would be interested in facing if he were to join the company in the future.
Significance of the Exchange and Future Prospects
The interaction between Tony Khan and Raj Dhesi illustrates the competitive and often provocative nature of today’s wrestling world, where social media plays a critical role in narrative-building and fan engagement. Khan’s viral tweet, while critical, inadvertently boosted visibility for both Dhesi’s WWE title run and AEW’s storylines, demonstrating how digital platforms can influence wrestling story arcs across promotions.
Dhesi’s openness to working with AEW, contingent on compelling opportunities, signals potential shifts in the wrestling landscape as top talent evaluates options beyond WWE. Should Dhesi join AEW, it could lead to fresh rivalries with notable stars such as Swerve Strickland and MJF, further blurring lines between wrestling organizations and exciting fans with new matchups.
Overall, the Tony Khan Raj Dhesi tweet exchange is a notable example of how modern wrestling promotions leverage social media interactions to amplify their product and engage audiences, while wrestlers like Dhesi carefully consider their next career moves in this evolving environment.
