The first Indian athlete to sign a professional baseball contract is now pursuing another goal. Veer Mahaan returned to the WWE with a look that went viral on social media. Veer Mahan’s WWE journey has been challenging. Read ahead to find out the story of India’s new wrestling star.
Who is Veer Mahaan aka Rinku Singh?
Born in Gopiganj, Uttar Pradesh, Veer Mahaan started his career as a baseball player. Veer originally known as Rinku Singh became the first professional baseball player from India. He represented the Pittsburgh Pirates. His life was also the subject of the film “Million Dollar Arm” (2014). Dinesh Patel, another Indian-born athlete, was also part of the film.
Start of the wrestling journey
Rinku Singh signed his first WWE agreement in January 2018. He was a member of the NXT tag team Indus Sher, which included Jinder Mahal and Shanky. With the stage name Veer, he joined the major roster in May 2020. In the year 2021, the name was altered to Veer Mahaan. The baseball player turned wrestler weighs 276 pounds and is 6ft 4in tall.
For months, the WWE has teased Veer Mahaan’s arrival by playing vignettes of him. Mahaan’s return to the ring has generated a lot of excitement. Veer has competed in WWE Main Events on several occasions before making his comeback last week on Monday Night Raw, and he even had a 12-match winning streak.
“Growing up in a small town in India, it always seemed like a far-fetched dream to represent India on a global platform, and I am so grateful to the WWE for giving me this opportunity,” Veer said.
“While being alongside Jinder Mahal in my initial days, his grit and determination would inspire me to work hard. After years of hard work and pushing myself to the absolute limits, I was handed my first ever competitive debut against Rey Mysterio. I am looking forward to an exciting journey with WWE and hope to inspire more future WWE Superstars from India,” he added.
