Photo/Steve Lanava / USA TODAY NETWORK

Jinder Mahal is back.

On the November 11 episode of WWE SmackDown, Mahal faced Braun Strowman in a first-round bout in the SmackDown World Cup. Mahal was aggressive as he brought the fight to the big man, but this approach only fired Strowman up. The former WWE Universal Champion overpowered Mahal

Mahal last wrestled for WWE on the July 22 episode of WWE SmackDown, where he and Shanky lost to the Viking Raiders (Erik and Ivar). Ironically, that episode was held on the same day Vince McMahon retired. Triple H was subsequently named the head of WWE creative on July 25, and Mahal hadn’t competed on WWE TV until he returned on Friday.

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