The Modern Day Maharaja is back!

Jinder Mahal returned to action on Friday at the advanced taping for WWE Superstar Spectacle (full SPOILERS here). The special will air on January 26, Republic Day, on Sony networks throughout India. It will also stream internationally on the WWE Network.

Mahal appeared before the show to hype up the fans streaming into the ThunderDome. He returned for the main event, teaming with the Bollywood Boyz to take on WWE Champion Drew McIntyre and Indus Sher.

It has essentially been a year and a half since we’ve consistently seen Jinder Mahal on television. He injured his knee in June 2019 requiring a surgery that put him on the bench for nearly a year. He returned in April 2020 but was only back a few weeks before another surgery was required.

WWE Champion Drew McIntyre has been cleared to compete.

McIntyre missed the last two weeks of Monday Night Raw after it was announced that he had tested positive for COVID-19, placing himself in immediate quarantine.

He quietly returned to action this Friday at the taping event for WWE Superstar Spectacle (full SPOILERS here), teaming with Indus Sher in a main event six-man tag team match against Jinder Mahal and the Bollywood Boyz.

The show will air next Tuesday, January 26 on Sony television stations in India and internationally through the WWE Network. Charlotte Flair, AJ Styles, the New Day, the Street Profits, Rey Mysterio and Ricochet were also featured.

McIntyre is still expected to defend the WWE Championship against Goldberg at next weekend’s Royal Rumble pay-per-view, and is advertised to appear on the go-home edition of Raw to hype up the match.

Larry King, one of the most accomplished and recognizable interviewers in the history of American broadcasting, has passed away today at the age of 87. It was reported earlier this month that he had tested positive for COVID-19, and was being treated at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles.

King was a member of the National Radio Hall of Fame and a two-time Peabody Award winner for excellence in broadcasting, interviewing thousands of celebrities throughout a career that spanned more than six decades.

WWE has released the following statement:

WWE is saddened to learn that Larry King passed away at the age of 87.

The talk show titan reimagined possibilities in the world of television with his iconic “The Larry King Show.” Prominent figures from the entertainment, sports and political worlds graced his show nightly, but King made a special impact on the national coverage of wrestling.

“They are incredible athletes, their fan following is amazing, but their results are never in the paper… To me, if someone is interesting, then I am curious. And wrestlers—and wrestling—are interesting,” King once told Sports Illustrated.

When “The Larry King Show” debuted on Ora.TV in 2012, King featured a special WWE Superstars episode that included John Cena, The Miz & Maryse, Big Show and more. After being named Social Media Ambassador for Raw, King would bring his legendary show to the red brand in 2012. It was an eventful night for two-time Peabody Award winner, as the A-Lister memorably couldn’t help but crash his set and King also provided some life advice to Daniel Bryan.

WWE extends its condolences to King’s family and friends.