Impact Wrestling is making history, and a big move into a major global pro wrestling market, by filming four episodes of their main television show in Mumbai, India this week.
But Jeff Jarrett and his team weren’t content to stop there. At the first day of taping (May 30), Sonjay Dutt defeated Low Ki to claim the X-Division title.
Although his parents moved to the United States before he was born, Dutt’s family hails from and still resides in New Delhi. His ring name is meant to evoke famous Bollywood star Sanjay Dutt, and he’s been billed from Mumbai in the past.
In short, he’s one of Impact’s most high profile Indian performers, and live reports indicate the title change went over very well with fans in attendance at the taping.
It’s not simply a case of putting a belt on a guy with local ties for publicity or chasing WWE’s move to put one of their top titles on their own Indian Superstar, Jinder Mahal, however. Dutt’s been with TNA/Impact on and off since 2003, and has been a staple of the X-Division title scene whenever he’s with the company. After coming up short against a laundry list of guys who went on to big things in TNA and other companies like Samoa Joe, Xavier Woods, Christopher Daniels and Jay Lethal, winning the championship in front of a supportive home crowd is a nice moment for Sonjay.
Other spoilers are coming in slowly, and we should have a full report later.
Thoughts on putting the X-Division strap on Sonjay Dutt, Cagesiders?