WWE's first Universal Champion battles The Modern Day Maharaja for the right to enter a high-stakes Fatal 4-Way Match main event.

Jinder Mahal, challenge Brock Lesnar? It’s been a while since The Maharaja sniffed a World Title, but as he pointed out to Mr. McMahon, he’s as deserving as anyone of an opportunity. After all, he is a former WWE Champion, and he was about a minute away from facing The Beast at Survivor Series 2017 before AJ Styles swooped in and stole his glory. The Chairman, convinced to a point, gave Mahal an ultimatum: Defeat one of the Fatal 4-Way participants, and he’s in the match. If not, he gets back in line.

Long story short, he’s going back in line, though not for lack of trying against Finn Bálor. Mahal took no chances in the make-or-break opportunity, ambushing Finn during his entrance after Samir Singh distracted The Extraordinary Man and forcing the Irishman into an early pit he had to claw his way out of. To the surprise of no one, except perhaps Mahal, he did: Bálor slowly but surely rallied, disposing of Singh with a dropkick and putting Mahal away with a picture-perfect Coup de Grâce. The Irishman remains in the race, but with Mahal having visibly weakened him, at what cost?