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Five things to know ahead of Mahal-Orton at Money in the Bank

Jinder Mahal defends his title against Randy Orton at Battleground. Courtesy of WWE

While much of the focus at Money in the Bank will be on the two ladder matches that inevitably will shape the SmackDown landscape, let's not forget about the WWE Championship match between champion Jinder Mahal and Randy Orton. Here are the five facts you need to know heading into Sunday's title match.

1. Randy Orton looks to win his 14th world title. That would tie Triple H for third-most in WWE history.

2. Money in the Bank takes place in Orton's hometown of St. Louis. Orton could become the fourth superstar in WWE history to win the WWE Championship in his hometown and the first since CM Punk did so in 2011 at this same event in Chicago.

3. At Backlash last month, Jinder Mahal became the first superstar of Indian descent in WWE history to win the WWE Championship and the second to win any world title. In 2007, The Great Khali won the World Heavyweight Championship and held the title for 61 days.

4. Mahal's WWE Championship victory at Backlash was his first title win of any kind in the WWE. He is the fifth superstar since 2000 who can make that claim.

5. The WWE Championship has changed hands four times at Money in the Bank, including twice at last year's event. After Seth Rollins defeated Roman Reigns in the main event for the title, Dean Ambrose cashed in his Money in the Bank contract he had won earlier in the night to win the WWE Championship. All three former members of the Shield were WWE champion in a span of three minutes that night.