Star files petition against WWE

A star has been involved in a dispute with WWE. He has now filed a petition against his former employers as the conflict as escalated.

The name in question is Jinder Mahal, who now goes by the in-ring name Raj Dhesi. Mahal filed to trademark 'The Maharaja' name with the United States Patent and Trademark Office in April 2024, but his application was rejected on November 15, 2024.

This was likely due to WWE's trademark of the name, which has been active since 2017. His application was turned down again by USPTO in June this year. However, Mahal isn't giving up his claim to 'The Maharaja' name.

It has emerged that he filed a petition for cancellation against the sports entertainment giant's trademark of 'The Maharajah' on December 4, 2025. In the petition the former U.S. champion has argued that he began using 'The Maharaja' in 2015 when he was away from WWE, while the promotion didn't file to trademark until April 2017.

He has also claimed WWE filed their trademark under false pretenses. The TKO-owned promotion has until February 3, 2026, to respond to Mahal's petition.

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Jinder Mahal nearly gave up on wrestling career before WWE return

Jinder Mahal made his WWE debut in 2011, and his first stint lasted for three years before being let go. During this time, the former 3MB member contemplated whether he should continue wrestling.

In an interview with Click and Tell, he mentioned that he was reconsidering his in-ring career before WWE called him.

He was re-signed by the promotion in 2016 and went on to have a much more successful run than his first stint. During this time he won the company's top prize and won the U.S. title at WrestleMania 34. He was released for a second time in 2024.