| The Great Khali | |
|---|---|
 Khali in 2011 | |
| Birth name | Dalip Singh Rana[1][2] |
| Born | (1972-08-27)27 August 1972 (age 52)[1] Dhiraina,Sirmaur,Himachal Pradesh, India[3] |
| Spouse(s) | |
| Children | 2 |
| Professional wrestling career | |
| Ring name(s) | |
| Billed height | 2.15 m (7 ft 1 in)[5] |
| Billed weight | 157.5 kg (347 lb)[5] |
| Billed from | Punjab, India[5] |
| Trained by | All Pro Wrestling[1] |
| Debut | 7 October 2000[1][6] |
| Retired | 27 April 2018[6] |
| Political party | Bharatiya Janata Party (since 2022) |
Dalip Singh Rana (born 27 August 1972) is an Indian-born American[7] retiredprofessional wrestler andwrestling promoter better known by hisring nameThe Great Khali.[8] He is best known for his tenure inWWE where he became the first Indian-bornWorld Heavyweight Champion in history. He was inducted into theWWE Hall of Fame in 2021.[9]
He made his professional wrestling debut in 2000. Before embarking on his professional wrestling career, he was anAssistant Sub-Inspector[dubious –discuss] ofPunjab Police. He has appeared in fourHollywood films, twoBollywood films and several television shows. He is the founder and head coach of India's largest professional wrestling promotion, Continental Wrestling Entertainment, founded in 2015.[10][non-primary source needed]
Rana was born in aRajput family[11] to Jwala Ram and Tandi Devi in theDhiraina village ofHimachal Pradesh'sSirmaur district.[3][12]
One of seven siblings in a poor family, Rana had to do odd jobs to help his family make ends meet. He hasacromegaly, which among other symptoms causesgigantism and chin protrusion.[13] When Rana was serving as a security guard inShimla, he caught the eye of a police officer[specify] from the neighbouring State of Punjab who previously helped several employees of the Punjab Police to become international sportspersons, got him employed into the Punjab Police in 1993.[14] Although Rana was reluctant to leaveHimachal Pradesh, his brother[who?] was also offered a job in the Punjab Police, after his arrival in Punjab'sJalandhar, he trained in local gyms to become a wrestler[dubious –discuss] and soon was selected for specialised wrestling training in the United States.[15]
Under the ring name Giant Singh he first became a professional wrestler forAll Pro Wrestling (APW) in the United States, making his first appearance in October 2000 when teaming withTony Jones against the West Side Playaz.[1] In 2001, Rana was involved in the death of an APW trainee, Brian Ong, when he performed a wrestling manoeuvre on Ong, who had already suffered a concussion. No charges were filed against Rana, however, APW was found liable for Ong's death, and a jury ordered the promotion to pay the Ong family $1.3 million.[16]
When Rana came to San Francisco, he signed a contract withWorld Championship Wrestling (WCW) and spent eight months there, until WCW was bought by their rival promotion, World Wrestling Federation (WWF).[17]
As Giant Singh, he received an offer fromNew Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW) by Team 2000 leader,Masahiro Chono, along with another big man,Giant Silva.[1] They were the tallest tag team in professional wrestling history at an average height of 7 foot 1 inches and a combined weight of 805 pounds, teaming up for the first time at theTokyo Dome in October when labelled as Club 7 by Chono defeatedHiroshi Tanahashi,Kenzo Suzuki,Wataru Inoue andYutaka Yoshie in ahandicap Match when Silvapinned Tanahashi and Inoue at the same time.[18] Singh suffered his first loss in atag team match atWrestling World 2002 in January 2002 afterHiroyoshi Tenzan pinned him with acradle.[19] Singh suffered another big tag defeat during March, being pinned byManabu Nakanishi after aGerman suplex pin, though his most critical loss came in August at Tokyo Nippon Budokan, when after a falling out he was pinned by Silva in asingles match.[1]
Starting in 2002, he also wrestled in the Mexican promotionConsejo Mundial de Lucha Libre (CMLL) and the Japanese promotionAll Japan Pro Wrestling (AJPW) until 2006, when he signed with WWE.[20]
On 2 January 2006, Rana became the first Indian professional wrestler to be signed to a contract byWorld Wrestling Entertainment (WWE).[21] He was assigned to theirdevelopmental federation,Deep South Wrestling,[1] where he wrestled under his real name.[4]
WithDaivari as hismanager, the unnamed Singh debuted on WWE television as avillain on 7 April episode ofSmackDown!, attackingThe Undertaker and leaving him defenceless during his match withMark Henry, thus causing ano contest ruling.[22] The following week onSmackDown! he was introduced as The Great Khali and Daivari explained that he finally had a client who would destroy The Undertaker (afterMuhammad Hassan and Mark Henry had previously failed).[23] Khali made his in-ring debut on 21 April episode ofSmackDown!, defeatingFunaki.[24]
On 12 May episode ofSmackDown!, Khali wasJohn "Bradshaw" Layfield (JBL)'s hand-picked opponent againstWorld Heavyweight ChampionRey Mysterio (Khali had a height advantage of 21 inches and weight advantage of 250 pounds) and defeated Mysterio in asquash match.[25] In his match against The Undertaker atJudgment Day on 21 May, Khali defeated The Undertaker with akick to the head after receiving some illegal help from Daivari.[26][27] Khali continued on a rampage for several weeks, winning handicap matches,[28] beating wrestlers up in a display of power[29][30] and mocking The Undertaker's signature pin and victory pose.[31]
Khali then challenged The Undertaker to aPunjabi Prison match atThe Great American Bash.[32] However, Khali was not medically cleared to compete in the match and was replaced byBig Show, who lost despite Khali's interference. After he was medically cleared, Khali was challenged by The Undertaker to aLast Man Standing match atSummerSlam on 20 August.[33] The match was moved to theSmackDown! just prior to SummerSlam and was won by The Undertaker, giving Khali his first definite loss in WWE.[34]
The Great Khali and Daivari weremoved to theECWbrand officially when they made their ECW debuts on 31 October episode ofECW on Sci Fi, when Daivari defeated "The Reject"Shannon Moore in a very quick match.[35] Afterwards, Moore was manhandled by Khali.[35] Daivari continued his ECW winning streak over the next several weeks with The Great Khali usually following up the contest with achokebomb on Daivari's opponent. AtDecember to Dismember on 3 December, Daivari got a victory overTommy Dreamer following aroll-up.[36] Dreamer then chased Daivari backstage, but Khali appeared and caught Dreamer, planting him on the steel ramp with a chokebomb.
On 8 January 2007 episode ofRaw,Jonathan Coachman announced that Khali had signed with Raw (without Daivari, who stayed on ECW) and would wrestleJohn Cena in themain event, which Khali won bydisqualification after Cena took asteel chair held byArmando Estrada and hit Khali with it, though after the match he performed achokeslam on Cena and left the ringside area, leaving Cena prone to an attack byUmaga.[37] On 19 February episode ofRaw, Khali demanded better competition after easily defeatingThe Highlanders.[38] Four days later onSmackDown!, Khali interfered in aFalls Count AnywhereMoney in the Bank qualifying match betweenKane andKing Booker by costing Kane the match,[39] leading to a feud culminating in a match atWrestleMania 23, which Khali won in his first appearance atWrestleMania after slamming Kane with theKhali Bomb and choking him with a hook and chain at the end of the match.[40] On 30 April episode ofRaw, Khali attackedEdge,Randy Orton andShawn Michaels (all three top contenders to theWWE Championship at the time) backstage.[41] Khali then attacked WWE ChampionJohn Cena as well, sending a message that he wanted Cena's title.[41] The next week onRaw, Khali defeated Michaels in a number-one contender's match for the WWE Championship atJudgment Day.[42][43] At Judgment Day on 20 May, Khali lost viasubmission for the first time whentapping out to Cena'sSTFU, though Khali's foot was under the rope and unnoticed by the referee.[44] The next night onRaw, Khali expressed outrage over the outcome via his new translator and manager,Ranjin Singh.[45] AtOne Night Stand on 3 June, Khali lost to Cena in a Falls Count Anywhere match after he was hit with anFU off a crane bed, thus marking the first time Khali had been pinned in a singles match.[46]
On 11 June episode ofRaw, as part of the2007 WWE draft, Khali was drafted to the SmackDown! brand as the brand's first draft pick.[47] In July, Khali began afeud withBatista and the two were scheduled for a match atThe Great American Bash.[48] However, because Edgevacated the World Heavyweight Championship due to alegitimate injury, a 20-manbattle royal was held for the title on 20 July edition ofSmackDown!, which Khali won after eliminating both Kane and Batista in one move, winning his first World Heavyweight Championship.[49] Khali dominated and defeated both Batista and Kane in atriple-threat match at The Great American Bash on 22 July.[50] Khali debuted a newfinisher called theKhali Vise Grip (atwo-handed clawhold) which he used to wear down Batista, Kane, andRic Flair.
AtSummerSlam on 26 August, Khali lost by disqualification when he used a steel chair, but retained the title.[51] Khali then began a feud with Rey Mysterio after Mysterio won a Championship Competition to become the number-one contender, leading Khali to apply hisVise Grip on Mysterio on 7 September episode ofSmackDown! until Batista came to the rescue, withSmackDown General ManagerTheodore Long informing Khali that he would have to defend the World Heavyweight Championship also against Batista in a triple threat match atUnforgiven on 16 September, where Khali's 61-day reign ended after receiving aspinebuster.[52] Khali challenged Batista to a rematch in aPunjabi Prison match atNo Mercy on 7 October, which Khali lost by failing to escape the Punjabi Prison before Batista.[53]
In late 2007 and early 2008, Khali was put in a program withFinlay usually trying to assaultHornswoggle, but with Finlay stopping him. Khali participated in the SmackDownElimination Chamber match atNo Way Out on 17 February, which was won by The Undertaker. AtWrestleMania XXIV on 30 March, Khali participated in a 24-man battle royal to determine a challenger forECW Champion Chavo Guerrero that evening, but the match was won by Kane. Khali then had a short feud with Big Show, culminating in a match atBacklash on 27 April, which Big Show won.[54]
In July, Khali feuded withTriple H over the WWE Championship and on 25 July episode ofSmackDown he won a battle royal also involving Big Show,Jeff Hardy,Montel Vontavious Porter,Mr. Kennedy, and Umaga for the right to face Triple H atSummerSlam.[55] At SummerSlam on 17 August, Khali lost to Triple H after receiving aPedigree. Khali was given another opportunity to win the WWE Championship when he faced Jeff Hardy to gain entry into thechampionship scramble atUnforgiven on 7 September, but Triple H interfered in the qualification match and aided Hardy with a chair shot to Khali, helping Hardy win and eliminating Khali from title contention.
On 3 October, daredevilJohnny Knoxville aired an interview with Khali and his translator on his website, jackassworld.com, but when Knoxville asked about Khali's "taliwacker" he became upset and threatened to tip the interview table onto Knoxville.[56] Khali later invited Knoxville to attend 13 October episode ofRaw, where Knoxville was attacked by Khali,WWE DivaBeth Phoenix and Hornswoggle. Khali then took on a more fun persona and became afan favourite when he and Ranjin Singh hosted the weekly Khali Kiss Cam, where Singh would summon ostensibly random women from the audience to kiss Khali. In May 2009, The Great Khali feuded withDolph Ziggler, winning by disqualification after Ziggler attacked him with a steel chair.[57] As a result, Khali began coming out to the ring during and after Ziggler's matches, in attempt to gain revenge and to stop Ziggler from cheating.[58][59] Over the next few weeks, Khali lost to Ziggler by countout and disqualification after Ziggler made it look like Khali hit him with a steel chair.[60][61] AtThe Bash on 28 June, Khali lost to Ziggler by pinfall after Kane returned and attacked Khali.[62] It was later revealed that Ranjin Singh was Khali's brother, while the feud with Kane resulted in matches atSummerSlam on 23 August andBreaking Point on 13 September, both of which Khali lost.[63][64]
Khali required knee surgery and Kane assaulted him with the ring steps during a match so Khali could have time off.[65] Whilst injured, Khali made a surprise appearance alongside Ranjin Singh,Ozzy Osbourne and his wifeSharon on 2 November episode ofRaw as a judge for the Raw's Got Talent segment, in which he hit Chavo Guerrero with achop.[66][67] Khali made his official return on 14 December episode ofRaw, teaming withChristian and Kane to defeatEzekiel Jackson,Vladimir Kozlov andWilliam Regal.
On 2 April episode ofSmackDown it was announced that Khali would take time off to spend time with his family and regroup his thoughts back in India, but he made an appearance as Khaluber (Khali dressed asMacGruber) on 19 AprilRaw by teaming up with special guest hostWill Forte (as MacGruber) in a handicap match against Vladimir Kozlov which they won by intentional countout.[68][69] As part of the2010 WWE supplemental draft, Khali and Ranjin Singh were both drafted back to the Raw brand.[70] After returning from his hiatus the previous month, Khali was announced by John Cena to be a part of his team along withBret Hart,Chris Jericho, Edge,John Morrison andR-Truth to faceThe Nexus atSummerSlam on 15 August, but on 9 August episode ofRaw he was assaulted and injured by The Nexus, thus removing him from the match. Following the attack, Khali took another hiatus to compete inBig Boss, in which he was the runner up on.
Khali made his return at the2011 Royal Rumble, but was eliminated shortly byMason Ryan. On 14 March episode ofRaw, after Khali defeatedThe Miz by disqualification, Miz assaulted Khali with a steel chair, injuring him. Khali won an interbranddark match battle royal atWrestleMania XXVII on 3 April.[71] On 26 April, Khali was drafted back to SmackDown as part of the2011 supplemental draft. Khali returned on 29 April episode ofSmackDown, talking backstage withJinder Mahal, who made his WWE debut that night. On 2 May episode ofRaw, Khali dressed up as theTooth Fairy atThe Rock's birthday party. On 6 May episode ofSmackDown, Mahal—unimpressed by how Khali and Ranjin Singh have been partaking in childish activities instead of winning matches—confronted Singh about his mismanagement of Khali. Mahal then interrupted a Khali Kiss Cam segment the following week onSmackDown, slapping Khali twice. On 20 May episode ofSmackDown, Mahal interrupted Khali's match againstJey Uso, which led to Khali leaving the ring to confront Mahal, who then slapped Khali again, which made Khali re-enter the ring, defeat Jey Uso and then assaultJimmy Uso after the match.
On 27 May episode ofSmackDown, after being defeated by Kane, Mahal came out and shoved Ranjin Singh and then Khali used hisVise Grip on Singh, thus forming an alliance with Mahal and acting as Mahal's bodyguard, assaulting Mahal's opponents after his matches. On 1 July edition ofSmackDown, Ranjin Singh revealed that Mahal was theirbrother-in-law and that if Khali did not obey Mahal, then he would divorce Khali's sister and put his family back into poverty. On 9 September episode ofSmackDown, Khali and Mahal went againstWWE Tag Team Champions Air Boom (Evan Bourne andKofi Kingston) in a losing effort after Khali pushed Mahal, allowing Kingston to hit his finishing move onto Mahal and after the match he walked away from Mahal, thus ending their alliance.[72] On 23 September episode ofSmackDown, Khali defeated Mahal. On 30 September episode ofSmackDown, Khali was defeated by World Heavyweight Champion Mark Henry, who after the match "fractured" Khali's fibula with a steel chair.
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On 29 January 2012, Khali returned to WWE at theRoyal Rumble as the number 15 entrant in theRoyal Rumble match, eliminating Ezekiel Jackson and Jinder Mahal before being eliminated byCody Rhodes and Dolph Ziggler.[73] Khali returned on 3 February episode ofSmackDown, savingJustin Gabriel from Rhodes,Hunico and Hunico's bodyguardCamacho, then being announced as the replacement to Mark Henry in the Elimination Chamber match for the World Heavyweight Championship at theElimination Chamberpay-per-view event.[74] At Elimination Chamber on 19 February, Khali failed to capture the World Heavyweight Championship after being eliminated first by Big Show.[75] On 23 March episode ofSmackDown, Khali was added to Theodore Long'sWrestleMania XXVIII team, but they were defeated byJohn Laurinaitis' team on 1 April.[76] In July it was announced that Khali was undergoing surgery for a benign tumor found in his pituitary gland due toacromegaly.[77][78] The Great Khali officially returned to Friday Night Smackdown on 2 November 2012 againstDavid Otunga. Khali returned at theSmackDown tapings on 16 October in a match taped forSaturday Morning Slam.[79]
On 26 December episode ofMain Event, Khali won a 20-man battle royal to become the number one contender to theUnited States Championship.[80] Khali received his title shot on 2 January 2013 episode ofMain Event, but was defeated by defending championAntonio Cesaro.[81] On 27 January, Khali competed in the2013 Royal Rumble match, but was eliminated byDaniel Bryan and Kane.[82] In late 2013, Khali began teaming withSantino Marella and resumed being managed by Hornswoggle after they defeatedHeath Slater and Jinder Mahal on 27 September episode ofSmackDown, but atBattleground on 6 October they were defeated by Cesaro andJack Swagger. On 26 January 2014, Khali participated in the2014 Royal Rumble match, but was eliminated byThe Shield.[83]
AtWrestleMania XXX on 6 April, Khali competed in theAndré the Giant Memorial Battle Royal, but failed to win.[84] Khali participated in theIntercontinental Championship battle royal atBattleground on 20 July, but the match was won by The Miz.[85] On 31 October edition ofSmackDown, Khali was defeated byRusev in what would be his final match in WWE until 2017. On 13 November, his contract expired and he left WWE.[86]
On 23 July 2017, Khali returned to WWE atBattleground as aheel to assistWWE ChampionJinder Mahal in aPunjabi Prison match for the WWE Championship. He helped Mahal by preventingRandy Orton from escaping from the cage, thus Mahal escaped first and retained the title.[87][88][89]
Khali returned on 27 April 2018 atThe Greatest Royal Rumble match, entering at number 45, and lasted for less than a minute, before being eliminated byBraun Strowman andBobby Lashley. This was his final match for WWE so far.[90]
He was inducted into the prestigious WWE Hall of Fame in 2021.[9]
Khali made an appearance at theWWE Superstar Spectacle 2023 event inHyderabad,Telangana,India and stated that he had one final match in him.
In February 2015, Khali opened his own wrestling promotion and school inJalandhar, Punjab, the Continental Wrestling Entertainment (CWE), which held its first event on 12 December 2015.[91] In February 2016, he won the CWE World Heavyweight Championship.[92] His students such asDilsher Shanky andKavita Devi signed with WWE. As of 25 October 2022, Shanky is part of the main roster, while Kavita's contract ended. Both of them wrestled in Khali's promotion and won the CWE championship.[93]
CWE is the largest professional wrestling promotion in India, with over 4.38 million YouTube subscribers and 1.31 billion video views.[94][95][citation needed]
On 28 May 2001, Brian Ong died after receiving aflapjack wrestling move from Singh.[1] Ong had suffered a previousconcussion during the session, but thetrainers gave him a lower evaluation for not avoiding injuries and told him to continue training. In addition, it was proven that Ong did not receive protective gear or supervision byAll Pro Wrestling (APW) staff and this second concussion ultimately proved fatal for him. As Singh inadvertently caused his death, Ong's family brought a lawsuit against APW.[1] APW was found liable for recklessness after less than a day of deliberations, awarding the Ong family for damages of over $1.3 million.[1]
![[icon]](/mt/?noimg=&dark=on&url=http%3a%2f%2fen.wikipedia.org%2fwiki%2fFile%3aWiki_letter_w_cropped.svg) |
From October 2010 until the final in January 2011, Khali appeared on the television reality showBigg Boss, on which he finished as first runner-up. The show made special arrangements only for Khali, including a custom-made bed to fit him.[96] In March 2011, Khali had a brief cameo in episode 18 ofNBC'sOutsourced, and appeared on theDisney Channel TV programPair of Kings as Atog, a rock-smashing giant, in the episode "Fight School".[97]
Rana married Harminder Kaur in 2002.[98] They have a daughter, born in February 2014, and a son born in November 2023.[99][100]
Having been a disciple of Indian spiritual guru Ashutosh Maharaj, Rana has been described as extremely spiritual and religious.[101][102] He meditates every day and abstains from alcohol and tobacco.[103][104] Initially, Rana suggested the ring name Khali after the Hindu goddessKali, who is associated with eternal energy.[21][105] He later clarified that the name The Great Khali was given to him by WWE in an interview given toIndia TV for their showAap Ki Adalat.[106]
Rana's training schedule consists of two hours ofweight training, morning and evening, every day. Until his early thirties, Rana maintained his size on a mostly vegetarian diet, however he has since incorporated chicken and other meats in order to fulfill his protein needs.[107][108][109]
On 26 July 2012 it was reported that Rana underwent a brain surgery due to a tumor on hispituitary gland.[110]
Rana became a naturalised U.S. citizen on 20 February 2014.[111][7] He also holds anOverseas Citizenship of India card.[112]
He joined theBharatiya Janata Party on 10 February 2022.[113]
| Year | Title | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 2005 | The Longest Yard | Turley |
| 2008 | Get Smart | Dalip |
| 2010 | MacGruber | Tug Phelps |
| 2010 | Kushti | Ramakrishna |
| 2010 | Ramaa: The Saviour | Vali |
| 2012 | HOUBA! On the Trail of the Marsupilami | Bolo |
| 2023 | MR-9: Do or Die |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | Aap Ki Adalat | Guest | - |
| 2010 | Bigg Boss | Contestant | Season 4 runner-up |
| 2011 | Outsourced | Fantasy Rajiv | Season 1, episode 18 |
| 2012 | Pair of Kings | Atog the Giant | Episode: "Fight School" |
| Comedy Nights with Kapil | Guest | Season 1, episode 165 | |
| Comedy Nights Bachao | Guest | Season 1, episode 43 | |
| 2023 | The Kapil Sharma Show | Guest | Season 3 |
0:13 where says 'I am a Rajput' in Hindi
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
,Wrestlingdata.com,Internet Wrestling Database
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