A WWE fan favorite is expected to return to SmackDown Live this week, just in time to continue the build up for his big match at SmackDown's exclusive pay-per-view Battleground later this month.

Battleground is expected to be a big one, as it is currently booked to host a Punjabi Prison match between Jinder Mahal and Randy Orton for the WWE Championship. This will only be the third time in the company's history that a match with this stipulation has taken place.

The Viper has been absent from building up the match for several weeks as he has been filming for a movie called Changeland in Thailand. He hasn't been seen on SmackDown Live since July 4. However, that's all about to change.

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According to Wrestling Inc, Orton wrapped filming for his movie on Saturday, and although he is not scheduled for Monday's SmackDown live event in Columbus, he will be returning at Tuesday's SmackDown Live taping.

While the 13-time World Champion has been away, The Maharaja has been promoting their match on his own, and he worked in a match with Tye Dillinger this past week, prevailing easily. He then made an announcement which could indicate what is to come between Orton and Mahal this week on SmackDown Live.

Mahal announced that he would be bringing the Punjabi Prison this week to SmackDown Live, giving fans a look at the amazing structure for the first time since The Great Khali faced Batista in a Punjabi Prison match at No Mercy in October 2007.

It will be interesting to see how WWE books the segment this week on SmackDown Live, as all signs point towards it being the contract signing before their match at Battleground next Sunday on July 23. In both the SmackDown segment and the match itself, Mahal should be coming out on top since the structure is part of his cultural background.

If The Maharaja does retain his title for the second time against Orton, he will go down as the first superstar of actual Punjabi heritage to win a match of this stipulation, as Khali never won his match vs The Animal, and the first Punjabi Prison match in 2006 took place between The Big Show and The Undertaker.

Who do you think should win between Randy Orton and Jinder Mahal at Battleground next weekend? Have YOUR say in the comments section below and the fourth episode of GiveMeSport’s WWE podcast is here! Check it out via this link: https://soundcloud.com/user-818579649/gms-wwe-podcast-money-in-the-bank-fallout