Former WWE Champion Jinder Mahal has filed a trademark dispute with WWE.
Raj Dhesi, formerly known in WWE as Jinder Mahal, is taking formal action to secure ownership of his long-used nickname. According to USPTO records, Dhesi filed to trademark “The Maharaja” in April 2024. The application was rejected in November, with the office citing a likelihood of confusion with WWE’s existing “The Maharajah” trademark, which has been on file since 2017. A second rejection followed on June 4, 2025.
Dhesi has now escalated the situation. On December 4, he filed a petition to cancel WWE’s trademark altogether, arguing that he began using “The Maharaja” in early 2015, two years before WWE submitted its filing. He further claims that WWE obtained its trademark under false pretences. WWE has until February 3, 2026, to formally respond.
Dhesi initially wrestled for WWE from 2010 to 2014 before returning in 2016 for a second run that featured a 170-day WWE Championship reign in 2017 and an eight-day stint as United States Champion the following year. He was released again in April 2024.
Since leaving the company, Dhesi has continued performing on the independent circuit under the “Maharaja” persona he popularised during his WWE tenure, despite the ongoing dispute over who legally owns the moniker.
Who Did Jinder Mahal Win The WWE Championship From?
Jinder Mahal won the WWE Championship from Randy Orton. The victory took place at Backlash 2017, where Mahal shocked the wrestling world by defeating Orton to capture his first world title.
The win marked the peak of Mahal’s second WWE run and launched a 170-day reign built around his Maharaja persona and support from The Singh Brothers.
