Mezue ahịrịokwu na-esonụ: Na Disemba 19 nke "Raw", Mahal nke dị nro na nke siri ike malitere mkpakọrịta ya na Rusev mgbe Mahal na onye iro Rusev Enzo Amore zutere tupu ha abụọ awakpo Amore. Na Jenụwarị 2, 2017 nke "Raw", Mahal na Rusev meriri onye otu egwuregwu Amore bụ Big Cass na egwuregwu 2-na-1 handicap. N'izu sochirinụ na "Raw", Mahal meriri Cass (onye nwere Shawn Michaels na ringside) mgbe Michaels mere "Sweet Chin Music" na Rusev na ringside, nke dọpụrụ uche Mahal. Na February 27 nke "Raw", Mahal na Rusev bidoro igosi esemokwu mgbe Rusev n'amaghị ama dọpụrụ uche Mahal, na-eme ka ha abụọ tufuo The New Day (Big E, Kofi Kingston na Xavier Woods). Njikọ dị n'etiti Mahal na Rusev kwụsịrị na
Fastlane na Machị 5, mgbe Mahal gwara Raw General Manager Mick Foley banyere ọchịchọ ya ịlaghachi na asọmpi ndị otu, na-akpali Foley itinye duo na egwuregwu ndị otu n'abalị ahụ na Mahal na Rusev na-efunahụ egwuregwu ha megide Cesaro na Big Show. Emere nke a n'ihi na Rusev merụrụ ahụ n'ubu ya.