He's been here before, as WWE Champion earlier this year. But Saturday's showdown against the 'King of Kings' Triple H at the Indira Gandhi Stadium, the highlight bout of the much-awaited WWE Live India Tour, carries a different resonance for WWE Superstar Jinder Mahal.
Mahal, known as the 'Modern Day Maharaja' is in India to mark the historic occasion of his first professional wrestling match in the country of his origin - he was born in Calgary, Canada as Yuvraj Singh Dhesi - and it carries immense weight in his professional development as he aims to become WWE champion again.
Speaking exclusively to TOI Sports on Friday, Mahal - who was WWE champion for six months - said he was nervous to face Triple H, but that this bout was instrumental in his development as a professional wrestler.
"This is definitely the biggest match of my career. Probably the biggest match in Indian wrestling history. I'm really disappointed that I'm not here as WWE champion, but a match against Triple H is more than making up for it. I was really looking forward to play Kevin Owens, but this is a really big match," said Mahal during an hour-long interaction with TOI Sports.
"I would be lying if I said it was not a little bit nervous. I definitely feel the pressure. I'm very, very nervous. Triple H said in a recent interview that now his job is to ensure that the next generation of WWE superstars are up to par, so basically Triple H is the measuring sick, so I need this match personally. I want to see how I measure up to Triple H, the 'King of Kings'."
And what is WWE without a bit of pre-game trash talk?
"I personally believe that Triple H is a bit past his prime, whereas I haven't even hit my prime," said Mahal as his tone changed and a sly grin broke out on his face. "I'm 31 years old. Day by day, week by week, month by month I'm getting better. I hope Triple H sees that, and come tomorrow I think he's going to see that my arm is going to be raised at the end of the night [in celebration of victory]."
Mahal added: "The WWE Live event in India is a very special moment for me. I will be taking on Triple H in what is possibly the biggest match of my career in front my home crowd and I couldn't be more excited or determined to triumph for the people of India."