Former WWE Champion Jinder Mahal, who now competes under the ring name Raj Dhesi, has confirmed he recently underwent surgery. The former WWE star shared the health update on his Instagram account.
He posted a video on the social media platform which showed the first day of his recovery from a knee operation. In the caption accompanying the video, Dhesi revealed the specifics of the procedure, which was related to his meniscus. He wrote: “2 loose bodies removed + meniscus trimmed. Surgery went well, now comes the recovery.”
Jinder Mahal exited WWE in April 2024, bringing his second run with the company to an end after eight years. This second stint with the promotion was by far his most successful, as he achieved a significant milestone in 2017.
He became the first person of Indian descent to hold a World Title in WWE when he defeated Randy Orton for the WWE Championship at Backlash 2017.
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A post shared by Raj Dhesi / The Maharaja (@rajthemaharaja)
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It is currently unknown where Dhesi suffered the injury, but he has maintained an active schedule on the independent circuit since his WWE release. Now competing under his real name, the 39-year-old has wrestled for various promotions in recent months, including GCW and Maple Leaf Pro.
His last documented match occurred at an independent event on October 17, 2025. In that contest, Dhesi was victorious over fellow WWE alum Matt Riddle. Given the timing, it is possible that the injury occurred during this bout against Riddle.
Dhesi’s post-WWE career has seen him actively competing, while his WWE departure came after a brief return to the spotlight in early 2024 when he confronted The Rock on Raw, followed by his eventual release in April.
As Raj Dhesi begins his recovery, his last opponent, Matt Riddle, also continues to navigate the post-WWE landscape. Riddle is active in Major League Wrestling (MLW) in addition to his other independent bookings.
While Dhesi is now sidelined, MLW is preparing for its next Premium Live Event, MLW Fightland, which is scheduled for November 9, 2025, in Philadelphia. It is unknown when Dhesi will be cleared to return to the ring.
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