When WWE set its sights on making an impact in India, the company gave Jinder Mahal an unexpected push as WWE Champion on SmackDown Live. Unfortunately, relatively little change in WWE Network subscription numbers and poor ticket sales at a WWE Live event in India made it clear things weren't panning out and it didn't take long until AJ Styles took the title from him.
However, WWE is clearly willing to give Mahal another chance as he managed to emerge from WrestleMania as the new United States Champion after hitting the Khallas on Rusev.
Former champion Randy Orton and fellow challenger Bobby Roode were outside the ring when the title change took place and it appears as if Rusev's popularity (and strong merchandise sales) weren't enough to result in a big win on the Grandest Stage of Them All. WWE is also very attached to the foreign heel gimmick where the US title is concerned so that probably explains a lot too.