Jinder Mahal has revealed the lengths WWE Creative went to keep his segment with The Rock a surprise and when he actually found out that he was working with The Great One.

Officials had announced the return of a ‘former WWE Champion’ for the Day 1 episode of Raw. The segment was planned for the Hollywood star, but the Maharaja came out first to swerve the audience. This created even more excitement for The Rock when he came out and delivered a people’s elbow to Mahal after a verbal exchange.

The 37-year-old spoke to Chris Van Vliet over the WrestleMania 40 weekend. In the interview that was released on April 23, Mahal was asked if he ever thought he was intended to be the announced former WWE champion for Day 1.

Jinder explained that he pieced together the fact that he was going to be involved in the segment somehow after the travel department messaged him personally instead of their group chat with Indus Sher:

“So I put it together, I kind of pieced it together. I got a text from creative ‘Hey, you guys have nothing this week.’ And then actually travel text says ‘Hey you guys are not flying out.’ I’m in a group chat with Indus Sher with our travel department.

Then 20 minutes later I get a separate text saying, ‘Actually, you are going’ I thought it was a little weird that it was just me and not Indus Sher but I didn’t think anything of it.

Then like a few hours later, I see the announcement on Twitter – Former WWE champion returns. I knew it wasn’t gonna be me but I figured like I’m going to be a part of it. So I texted Indus Sher ‘Hey, are you guys going to Raw?’ They said, ‘No.’ Alright, it’s just me going.”

The Segment With The Rock

Jinder Mahal revealed that the creative plans were not relayed to him even after this. He found out about the segment with The Rock only a couple of days before the show:

“So I’m like, ‘okay, good chance. I think it’s me.’ And actually it was Christmas week. I was with my family in Calgary. I flew back I think on the 30th. Yeah, I was flying back on the 30th. When I was in my flight, I got a text from one of the writers ‘Hey, can you talk on the phone?’

I said ‘I’m in the plane for a few more hours when it lands I’ll call you.’ When I landed just one of the writers he said ‘Yeah, so we got you in a segment….with the Rock.’ They’re like ‘Kayfabe.’ I said ‘Yes. Yes. 100%. Looking forward to it.’ So that’s how I found out. I found out two days before.”

The segment led to a prolonged buzz for Jinder Mahal. He was put in a world heavyweight championship match with Seth Rollins right after it. Many people came to his defense when Tony Khan decided to name-drop him on Twitter to defend his booking of AEW star Hook.

Mahal unfortunately has been released from his WWE contract since then and the former champion is currently waiting for his non-compete clause to expire.

The card for tonight’s (Saturday, January 1, 2022) WWE Day 1 pay-per-view event has been finalized.

The company hasn’t officially announced the main event of this event that takes place in Atlanta, Georgia at the State Farm Arena that will air on the Peacock but it will most likely be WWE Universal Champion Roman Reigns vs. Brock Lesnar. 

This show is a big deal for WWE President Nick Khan, who came up with this idea and wants it to feel big like other tentpole shows such as WrestleMania, Royal Rumble, Survivor Series, and Money in the Bank instead of just another B-level pay-per-view event. 

As a reminder, we will be providing live play-by-play coverage of this special on Saturday evening starting at 8 PM EST. Here is the final card for the show:

Final WWE Day 1 Card

• WWE Universal Champion Roman Reigns vs. Brock Lesnar
• WWE Champion Big E vs. Seth Rollins vs. Kevin Owens vs. Bobby Lashley – Fatal 4 Match
• Edge vs. The Miz
• WWE SmackDown Tag Team Champions The Usos vs. The New Day
• WWE Raw Women’s Champion Becky Lynch vs. Liv Morgan
• Madcap Moss vs. Drew McIntyre
• WWE Intercontinental Champion Shinsuke Nakamura vs. Sami Zayn
• WWE Raw Tag Team Champions Randy Orton and Matt Riddle vs. The Street Profits
• Cesaro and Ricochet vs. Sheamus and Ridge Holland – Kickoff Show

The betting odds for most of the matches that will take place at the WWE Day 1 pay-per-view event have been released.

The card for the show that takes place in Atlanta, Georgia at the State Farm Arena on Saturday night is still being finalized. So far, eight matches have been announced for the show. WWE is dealing with a COVID-19 outbreak that has caused some stars to be sidelined because they’ve either tested positive or been in contact with someone who has the virus. 

There are no titles favored to change hands. There are no odds right now for Madcap Moss vs. Drew McIntyre, WWE Intercontinental Champion Shinsuke Nakamura vs. Sami Zayn, and WWE Raw Tag Team Champions Randy Orton and Matt Riddle vs. The Street Profits.

The favorites to win are listed as – while the underdogs are listed with +. Odds call for all three titles to change. Here are the betting odds, courtesy of Bet Online: 

• WWE Universal Champion Roman Reigns -250 vs. Brock Lesnar +170
• WWE Champion Big E -165 vs. Seth Rollins +250 vs. Kevin Owens +500 vs. Bobby Lashley +350 – Fatal 4 Match
• Edge -700 vs. The Miz +400
• WWE SmackDown Tag Team Champions The Usos -250 vs. The New Day +170
• WWE Raw Women’s Champion Becky Lynch -300 vs. Liv Morgan +200

A new match has been announced for the upcoming WWE Day 1 PPV. On Monday’s episode of Raw, The Mysterios vs. The Street Profits in the finals of the RK-Bronament took place. 

Montez Ford and Angelo Dawkins beat Rey and Dominik Mysterio to become the new #1 contenders for the Raw Tag Team Titles. Now, The Street Profits will challenge Randy Orton and Riddle for the titles at the first PPV event of 2022. 

WWE presents the Day 1 pay-per-view event on Saturday, January 1, 2022 in Atlanta, Georgia at the State Farm Arena that will air on Peacock. WWE could be announcing more matches for this show in the coming days. With WWE dealing with a COVID-19 outbreak, some wrestlers could be pulled from their matches at the event. 

Updated WWE Day 1 Card

• WWE Universal Champion Roman Reigns vs. Brock Lesnar
• WWE Champion Big E vs. Seth Rollins vs. Kevin Owens vs. Bobby Lashley – Fatal 4 Match
• Edge vs. The Miz
• WWE SmackDown Tag Team Champions The Usos vs. The New Day
• WWE Raw Women’s Champion Becky Lynch vs. Liv Morgan
• Madcap Moss vs. Drew McIntyre
• WWE Intercontinental Champion Shinsuke Nakamura vs. Sami Zayn
• WWE Raw Tag Team Champions Randy Orton and Matt Riddle vs. The Street Profits

In an update to yesterday’s report concerning a COVID-19 outbreak at WWE, PWInsider has followed up their reporting by noting that even more talent and personnel tested positive throughout the day on Wednesday.

Several WWE talent confirmed that they were contacted and asked to take a COVID-19 test to confirm whether they were positive or negative in order to get ahead of the situation. That led to even more confirmed positive cases, with one source noting to PWInsider that there has been a “lot of running around” within the office.

WWE still plans to continue on with their holiday tour next week, though obviously none of the confirmed positive cases will be allowed to travel.

The belief internally is that WWE could not have done anything more to prevent this outbreak. Sources indicated that they are operating with the mentality that the company is going through the same thing that many sports leagues and Broadway are right now in regards to COVID-19 outbreaks. WWE talents are regularly tested before being allowed into venues.

There will likely be some shuffling of the cards planned for this upcoming tour. A source noted to PWInsider that under a worst case scenario, they could even bring some NXT talent on the road to fill-in the undercard of some of their live events.

A Busy WWE Schedule Over The Next Week

WWE’s Day 1 PPV in Atlanta is exactly 10 days from yesterday’s reporting on this outbreak. CDC guidance indicates that people generally shed the virus for 10 days after becoming symptomatic. The hope within WWE is that all talent will be cleared and still be able to perform at the PPV given the time frame they are working with.

It will be a busy week for WWE starting on Sunday, December 26, with WWE holding live events that day in Tampa (SmackDown brand at Amalie Arena) and New York City (Raw brand at Madison Square Garden). Raw on Monday night will emanate from the Little Caesars Arena in Detroit, while the SmackDown crew will be running the Amway Center in Orlando on Monday. Tuesday will see shows in Washington, D.C. (SmackDown) and Pittsburgh (Raw), and Wednesday the tours move on to Toronto (Raw) and Baltimore (SmackDown). The SmackDown crew wraps up Thursday in Buffalo (SmackDown). Next Friday night’s New Years Eve edition of SmackDown has already been taped, and the Day 1 PPV will be Saturday night in Atlanta.

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Liv Morgan’s challenge for a rematch at the WWE Day 1 pay-per-view event against Becky Lynch with the Raw Women’s Title was accepted by the champion on Monday’s episode of Raw. 

They just main evented last week’s episode of Raw when Lynch used the ring rope to secure leverage for her pin to retain the title. On this week’s show, Lynch was confronted by Morgan. 

Although Lynch declined, a brawl broke out with Lynch getting the advantage on the outside and putting Morgan’s arm between the ring steps and the ring post before stomping it on. Lynch then accepted the challenge if Morgan still wanted it. 

Also, Bobby Lashley has been added to the WWE Title Match as Big E will now defend the title against Lashley, Seth Rollins, and Kevin Owens. Lashley won a gauntlet match, which included victories over Rollins, Owens, and Big E, to earn his way into the bout. 

WWE presents the Day 1 pay-per-view event on Saturday, January 1, 2022 in Atlanta, Georgia at the State Farm Arena that will air on Peacock. WWE will be announcing more matches for this show in the coming weeks. Here is the updated card:

Updated WWE Day 1 Card

• WWE Universal Champion Roman Reigns vs. Brock Lesnar
• WWE Champion Big E vs. Seth Rollins vs. Kevin Owens vs. Bobby Lashley – Fatal 4 Match
• Edge vs. The Miz
• WWE SmackDown Tag Team Champions The Usos vs. The New Day
• WWE SmackDown Women’s Champion Becky Lynch vs. Liv Morgan

Edge vs. The Miz has been officially announced for the upcoming WWE Day 1 PPV.

WWE set up this feud on last week’s episode of Raw when Edge and Miz made their returns where they exchanged words. Miz had an issue with WWE giving so much attention to Edge’s return and there wasn’t anything hyped about his own return. Miz thinks has surpassed Edge a long time ago and Edge should have stayed home for good.

On this week’s show, the war of words continued when the WWE Hall of Famer made an appearance on Miz TV. After the challenge was excepted, Edge faked him out and Miz dropped as he expected a punch to end the segment to make it seem Miz was afraid of Edge. 

WWE presents the Day 1 pay-per-view event on Saturday, January 1, 2022 in Atlanta, Georgia at the State Farm Arena that will air on Peacock. WWE will be announcing more matches for this show in the coming weeks. Here is the updated card:

Updated WWE Day 1 Card

WWE Universal Champion Roman Reigns vs. Brock Lesnar

WWE Champion Big E vs. Seth Rollins vs. Kevin Owens – Triple Threat Match

Edge vs. The Miz

Big E, Kevin Owens and Seth Rollins are set to face off on New Year’s Day for the WWE Championship. 

On Monday’s episode of Raw, Seth Rollins confirmed in a promo that he will challenge Big E for the WWE Title at the WWE Day 1 pay-per-view. This marks the first match to be confirmed for the PPV event. 

Rollins then beat Finn Balor in a singles match on the show. Rollins earned this title match by becoming the number one contender when he won a fatal four-way ladder match on Raw five weeks ago as he beat Finn Balor, Kevin Owens, and Rey Mysterio. 

However, Big E went one-on-one with Owens in a non-title match with the stipulation was that if Owens won, he would be added to the WWE Title. That happened so now it will be a triple threat match.

Big E has held the WWE Championship since cashing in his Money in the Bank briefcase on Bobby Lashley this September.  Since that time, he had successful title defenses against Lashley, Drew McIntyre, and Austin Theory.

WWE presents the Day 1 pay-per-view event on Saturday, January 1, 2022 in Atlanta, Georgia at the State Farm Arena that will air on Peacock. WWE will be announcing more matches for this show in the coming weeks.

The WWE will need to find a new TV distribution deal in Japan.

Japanese broadcast network J Sports has shared that they will not be renewing a new deal with WWE. Subtitled and highlighted episodes of Monday Night Raw and Friday Night Smackdown will end on December 31.

“Thank you for watching J SPORTS. December 31, 2021, all six programs of English version / Japanese subtitled version/highlight version of “WWE Raw” and “WWE SmackDown” that have been delivered to WWE fans nationwide for many years.
Broadcasting/distribution of the “PPV Tournament” will end on December 27 (Monday),” shared J Sports.

More Details on J Sports Deal

The WWE hasn’t released a statement regarding the end of their partnership with J Sports. The end of their collaboration ends a 24-year deal. J Sports also announced that their Video on Demand for WWE called “WWE Pack” will not end until January 31, 2022. However, it is unclear if that means users can watch WWE Day 1 and the Royal Rumble. J Sports is also warning WWE Pack members to cancel in December.

WWE Pay Per Views in January

WWE will start next year with their first PPV on New Years Day, called Day 1. The event will take place at the State Farm Arena in Atlanta, Georgia. It’s unclear what WWE plans are for the event or if unique stipulations will take place. On January 29, 2022, the Royal Rumble will happen at The Dome at America’s Center in St. Louis, Missouri. Tickets for both events are still on sale.

As this year ends, WWE will look to have another successful year in 2022. However, they will have to find a new TV distribution partner to keep consumers in Japan.

It looks like WWE is ditching a December PPV this year.

Back in July, WWE announced that it would be holding a PPV event on New Year’s Day. The following month, it was revealed that the PPV will be called Day 1. It’ll be held inside the State Farm Arena in Atlanta, GA.

Dave Meltzer of Wrestling Observer Radio is reporting that Day 1 will take the place of a December PPV for WWE. This leaves WWE with two PPV events in the month of January. Royal Rumble will take place on Jan. 29 inside The Dome at America’s Center in St. Louis.

Initial Plans For End-Of-The-Year PPV

WWE had plans in place for a PPV on Dec. 12 inside Allstate Arena in Rosemont, Illinois. The company then wanted to have TLC take place on Dec. 19 at a location to be determined. It should be noted that the Dec. 17 episode of WWE SmackDown will be held inside Allstate Arena.

With WWE deciding against running a December PPV this year, Survivor Series will be the promotion’s final PPV event of 2021. That’ll be held inside the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York on Nov. 21.