Jinder Mahal and the 10 Fastest Pushes in WWE History

In the world of pro wrestling, shock value can often trump logic when it comes to storytelling. This is especially true in the case of the world title.

Some Superstars scratch and claw their way to the top over several years before even being given a shot at the belt, while others stroll in and win it right away.

Shawn Michaels is a prime example of a Superstar who spent years challenging for the tag team and intercontinental titles before ever being considered a contender for the WWE Championship.

Then you have guys like Sheamus who were able to win it in their first year with the company. It might not seem fair, but it's the way the business works. 

Of course, there's a third scenario. Jinder Mahal spent his entire WWE career as a low-midcard performer before having a rocket strapped to his back and pushed to the moon with a WWE title win over Randy Orton.

Most Superstars have to take the long road to the top championship, but every so often, someone is picked by management to jump to the front of the line. This slideshow will look at 10 of the fastest pushed in WWE history.

WCW pushes will be included since WWE purchased the company in 2001. The entries are not ranked in any particular order, but the best was definitely saved for last.

10. Kevin Owens

Since the moment he debuted at NXT TakeOver: R Evolution, Kevin Owens has been on a warpath to become the greatest WWE Superstars of all time.

His first taste of gold came two months after his first match when he won the NXT Championship from Sami Zayn at TakeOver: Rival.

After a dominant reign, Owens was called up to the main roster, where he continued to impress with his performances. Following a reign as intercontinental champion, he won the universal title last August.

Within two years of signing with WWE, KO had won the NXT, IC and Universal Championships, cementing him as a main event player. 

9. Goldberg

Bill Goldberg will never be praised for being the most technically sound wrestler in the world, but it would be foolish to deny his accomplishments and impact on the industry.

His undefeated streak in WCW may have been exaggerated for the sake of entertainment, but he still had one of the quickest pushes of all time.

He won the United States Championship less than seven months after winning his first match, and just three short months later, he won the World Heavyweight Championship from Hulk Hogan on the July 6, 1998, episode of Nitro.

As if he didn't already have an impressive resume, Goldberg became a member of an elite club by holding both a midcard and top title at the same time. 

8. The Undertaker

When it comes to the world of pro wrestling, The Undertaker is one of the most iconic Superstars in the history of the business.

Even people who have never watched a single episode of WWE programming know who he is. That kind of pop culture permeation is rare, especially for a wrestler.

He debuted at Survivor Series 1990, and one year later at Survivor Series 1991, he bested Hulk Hogan to begin the first of what would eventually turn into seven world title reigns.

The Deadman has earned his own wing in the Hall of Fame after one of the most incredible careers anyone has ever had. 

Whether he ever returns for another match is up in the air at this point, but one thing we know for sure is he will always hold a special place in the hearts of wrestling fans around the world.

7. AJ Styles

AJ Styles made a couple of appearances for WWE in 2002, but he never signed a contract, so his WWE run officially began when he made his debut at the 2016 Royal Rumble.

As one of the most successful wrestlers to never win a title in WWE, there was a lot of pressure on The Phenomenal One to live up to his reputation, and he has yet to disappoint.

After a few storylines with Chris Jericho, Roman Reigns and John Cena, Styles defeated Dean Ambrose at Extreme Rules on September 11 to win his first WWE Championship.

Even though he came into the company with a lot of hype, Styles winning the belt within eight months of his debut is still an impressive statistic.

He has positioned himself as one of the major players in WWE and continues to deliver show-stealing performances every time he steps into the ring. At this rate, he will earn his spot in the Hall of Fame quicker than anyone the company has ever inducted.

6. Alberto Del Rio

Only a few Hispanic Superstars have ever held the WWE Championship, and out of that select group, Alberto Del Rio won it faster than anyone.

He had his first televised match on August 20, 2010, against Rey Mysterio. Just under one year later, he cashed in his Money in the Bank contract against CM Punk to win the title at SummerSlam 2011.

All this came after he already won the first and only 40-man Royal Rumble and unsuccessfully challenged Edge for the World Heavyweight Championship at WrestleMania 27.

Del Rio had one of the greatest debut years in WWE history, and he would go on to win three more world titles, two United States Championships and a Bragging Rights trophy before exiting the company for good earlier this year.

5. Jack Swagger

Jack Swagger was being booked as the next Kurt Angle when he was first debuted on WWE television on September 9, 2008, and in the beginning, it seemed like he could fill the role.

Less than four months after he arrived, he beat Matt Hardy to become the ECW champion. This might not count as a world title in the eyes of some fans, but his quick rise to the top didn't stop there.

He became Mr. Money in the Bank at WrestleMania 26, and he cashed in his title shot on March 30, 2010, against the already-injured Chris Jericho to become the world heavyweight champion.

Within his first 18 months on the main roster, The All-American American had three major accomplishments under his belt. Unfortunately, his push didn't last much longer.

He was eventually downgraded to the midcard scene, where he would remain until he requested his release from the company in March.

4. Jinder Mahal

Mahal's recent push surprised a lot of people, especially after he came up short in a feud with Mojo Rawley right before he was put into the chase for the WWE Championship.

He has made big strides in improving himself both in the ring and on the mic since winning the title, but his ascension is still confusing to many fans.

He had never held gold in WWE before, and until recently, he was little more than a glorified jobber. Even his days in 3MB were mostly spent putting others over.

This might be the start of a long and fruitful run for The Maharaja, or he could end up like Swagger and fall to the wayside after he eventually loses the belt. 

Either way, his journey from the bottom to the top was faster than anyone else's in recent memory. 

3. Sheamus

Sheamus debuted in WWE on June 30, 2009 as a member of the ECW roster. Exactly six months later to the day, he defeated John Cena for the WWE Championship at Tables, Ladders & Chairs on December 30. 

At first, many questioned the decision to put the title on someone we were just getting to know, but over time, he proved himself to be a worthy champion.

The Celtic Warrior is obviously a powerhouse, but he has also shown signs of great technical prowess and an understanding of how to structure a good match.

His current tag team with Cesaro has given him a fresh start after bouncing between various feuds for the past few years, but he will always be able to say he won his first WWE Championship in a matter of months.

2. Brock Lesnar

When Brock Lesnar first debuted in WWE, it was immediately clear he was going to be a force to be reckoned with. His size, speed and agility were unlike anything we had ever seen, and Vince McMahon jumped at the chance to put him in the spotlight.

He had a few minor feud with the likes of The Hardy Boyz before he gained his first major accomplishment by becoming the King of the Ring in 2002.

With Paul Heyman by his side, he began pursuing the Undisputed Championship held by The Rock, and at SummerSlam 2002, he defeated The Great One to win the first of five world titles.

It only took him 126 days after his initial debut to win the title, and he did it as the youngest champion in the history of the company as a 25-year-old. 

1. Big Show

Many Superstars can claim to have won a major title in their first year, but only a select few can say they won a World Championship in their first match.

Big Show was known as The Giant when he first arrived on the scene in WCW. Parallels were drawn between him and Andre the Giant due to their similar size, so he was paired with Andre's greatest rival, Hulk Hogan.

At Halloween Havoc 1995, Big Show defeated Hogan to become the WCW champion. It was a strange situation where the title was allowed to change hands due to a disqualification, but he still left with the belt.

He was stripped of the title just eight days later, but his reign is still recognized, making him the wrestler with the fastest push in WCW history.

These 10 Superstars rose through the ranks quickly, but we have seen other speedy success stories before, and we will likely see them again in the future.