_(cropped).jpg) Khali in 2014 | |
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Citizenship | India (until 2014) United States (from 2014)[7] |
| Born | Dalip Singh Rana[2][5] (1972-08-27)27 August 1972 (age 53)[2] |
Spouse | |
| Children | 2 |
| Professional wrestling career | |
| Ring names | |
| Billed height | 2.15 m (7 ft 1 in)[3] |
| Billed weight | 157.5 kg (347 lb)[3] |
| Billed from | Punjab, India[3] |
| Trained by | All Pro Wrestling[2] |
| Debut | 7 October 2000[2][4] |
| Retired | 27 April 2018 |
| Political party | Bharatiya Janata Party (2022–present) |
Dalip Singh Rana (born 27 August 1972), better known by his ring nameThe Great Khali, is an Indian-born American formerprofessional wrestler, promoter, and actor. He is best known for his tenure withWWE, where he became the first Indian-bornworld champion. Standing over 7 feet tall due toacromegaly, Khali gained attention for his imposing stature and was prominently featured in WWE storylines throughout the mid-2000s to early 2010s.
Rana began his professional wrestling career in 2000, competing in the United States forAll Pro Wrestling (APW), followed by appearances inWorld Championship Wrestling (WCW),New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW), and other international promotions. He signed with WWE in 2006, where he was involved in high-profile feuds withThe Undertaker,John Cena,Batista, andTriple H, and participated in major events such asWrestleMania andSummerSlam. Outside the ring, Khali appeared in films includingThe Longest Yard (2005) andGet Smart (2008), and finished as runner-up on the reality television showBigg Boss 4 in 2011.
In 2015, Rana foundedContinental Wrestling Entertainment (CWE) based inJalandhar, Punjab. Khali was inducted into theWWE Hall of Fame in 2021 and continues to make occasional appearances for the company.
Rana was born into aHinduRajput family to parents Jwala Ram and Tandi Devi in the village ofDhiraina, located in theSirmaur district ofHimachal Pradesh.[8][6][9] He was one of seven siblings in a financially struggling household and worked various odd jobs in his youth to support his family.[10]
Rana hasacromegaly, a hormonal disorder that results in abnormal growth, includinggigantism and pronounced facial features such as jaw protrusion.[10] While working as a security guard inShimla, he was noticed by a police officer[specify] from the neighbouring state ofPunjab. The officer, known for mentoring athletes within the Punjab Police, facilitated Rana's recruitment into the Punjab Police force in 1993, where he began training in sports and physical fitness at a more serious level.[11][12]
Competing under the ring name Giant Singh, Rana began his professional wrestling career withAll Pro Wrestling (APW), based in the San Francisco Bay Area. He made his debut in October 2000.[2]
APW trainee Brian Ong died on 28 May 2001 after sustaining a serious injury a few days prior in a training session following a botchedflapjack maneuver from Singh. Although Singh was not held personally liable, Ong's family filed a lawsuit against APW in which he was found to be a contributing factor. A jury found the promotion liable for recklessness and awarded the Ong family $1.3 million in damages.[2][13]
During this period, Rana also briefly signed a contract withWorld Championship Wrestling (WCW), where he spent time in training and development. However, his tenure was cut short when WCW was acquired by its rival, theWorld Wrestling Federation (WWF), in March 2001.[14]
Later in 2001, Rana received an offer to joinNew Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW), where he once again competed under the ring name Giant Singh. Teaming with fellow giant wrestlerGiant Silva, the duo formed what was billed as the tallest tag team in professional wrestling history, with an average height of 7 feet 1 inch and a combined weight of 805 pounds. They debuted at theTokyo Dome in October 2001, introduced as Club 7 byMasahiro Chono, and won a two-on-four handicap match.[15] Singh suffered his first recorded loss atWrestling World 2002 in January during a tag team match.[16] His most notable loss during this period came in August at theNippon Budokan, where, after a falling out with Silva, he was defeated by his former tag team partner in a singles match.[2]
From 2002 to 2006, Singh continued to wrestle internationally, competing in Mexico forConsejo Mundial de Lucha Libre (CMLL) and in Japan forAll Japan Pro Wrestling (AJPW).[17]
On 2 January 2006, Rana became the first Indian professional wrestler to be signed to a contract byWorld Wrestling Entertainment (WWE).[18] He was assigned to their developmental territory,Deep South Wrestling, where he competed under his real name.[2][1]
The Great Khali made his television debut accompanied byDaivari on 7 April episode ofSmackDown!, where he attackedThe Undertaker, beginning a storyline rivalry.[19] Two weeks later, he competed in his first televised match, decisively defeatingFunaki.[20] In May, Khali continued to be presented as a dominant force, defeatingWorld Heavyweight ChampionRey Mysterio in a non-title bout.[21] On 21 May atJudgment Day, he gained a notable victory over The Undertaker.[22] Khali was scheduled to face The Undertaker in aPunjabi Prison match atThe Great American Bash on 23 July but was replaced byBig Show after being deemed medically unable to compete. Despite Khali's interference during the match, The Undertaker secured the win. Khali experienced his first televised loss on 18 August episode ofSmackDown! in aLast Man Standing match against The Undertaker.[23]
Khali moved to theRaw brand on the 8 January 2007 episode ofRaw.[24] Khali began a short feud withKane on 23 February episode ofSmackDown!, culminating in a victory atWrestleMania 23 on 1 April.[25][26] On 30 April episode ofRaw, he entered a storyline involvingJohn Cena'sWWE Championship, earning a title match by defeatingShawn Michaels on 7 May episode ofRaw.[27][28] Khali was defeated by Cena atJudgment Day on 20 May.[29] The next night onRaw,Ranjin Singh was introduced as Khali's new manager and translator.[30] Their rivalry continued atOne Night Stand on 3 June, where Khali once again lost to Cena in aFalls Count Anywhere match.[31]
On 11 June episode ofRaw, Khali was drafted to theSmackDown! brand as part of the2007 WWE Draft.[32] Khali won the vacant World Heavyweight Championship by emerging victorious in a 20-manbattle royal on 20 July episode ofSmackDown!.[33] He went on to successfully defend the title againstBatista and Kane in atriple threat match atThe Great American Bash on 22 July,[34] and again against Batista atSummerSlam on 26 August, retaining the championship despite losing the match by disqualification.[35] Khali's reign ended atUnforgiven on 16 September, where he lost the title to Batista in a triple threat match also involving Rey Mysterio.[36] The following month, he challenged Batista for the championship in a Punjabi Prison match atNo Mercy on 7 October, but was unsuccessful.[37]
In late 2007 and early 2008, Khali was involved in a storyline withFinlay, frequently attempting to intimidate or attackHornswoggle, only to be thwarted by Finlay. He participated in theElimination Chamber match atNo Way Out on 17 February but failed to earn a World Heavyweight Championship opportunity atWrestleMania XXIV. Instead, at WrestleMania on 30 March, he competed in a 24-man battle royal for a chance at theECW Championship but was unsuccessful. Khali then entered a brief feud with Big Show, culminating in a match atBacklash on 27 April, where Big Show secured the win.[38]
In July, Khali began a rivalry withTriple H over the WWE Championship. On 25 July episode ofSmackDown!, he won a battle royal to become the number one contender for the title atSummerSlam.[39] At SummerSlam on 17 August, Khali was defeated by Triple H.
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In October, Khali became involved in a brief comedic storyline with stunt performerJohnny Knoxville. During an interview featured on Knoxville's website, Khali took offence to some of his remarks and issued a threat of retaliation.[40] He later invited Knoxville to appear on an episode ofRaw, only to attack him during the segment. Following this, Khali adopted a more lighthearted on-screen persona and gradually became afan favourite. Alongside his manager Ranjin Singh, he began hosting the weekly "Khali Kiss Cam" segment, during which Singh would invite seemingly random women from the audience to enter the ring and kiss Khali.
Khali began a feud withDolph Ziggler in mid-2009, which led to a match atThe Bash on 28 June. He was defeated following interference from Kane, sparking a subsequent rivalry between the two.[41] This culminated in matches against Kane atSummerSlam on 23 August andBreaking Point on 13 September, both of which Khali lost.[42][43] Shortly afterward, he was written off television to undergo knee surgery.[44] While recovering, Khali made a surprise appearance alongside on 2 November episode of Raw, joiningSharon andOzzy Osbourne as a guest judge for the "Raw's Got Talent" segment.[45][46] He returned to in-ring competition in December. On 19 April 2010 episode ofRaw, Khali appeared as "Khaluber" (parody ofMacGruber) teaming with guest hostWill Forte (as MacGruber) in a handicap match againstVladimir Kozlov, which they won.[47][48]
AtWrestleMania XXVII on 3 April 2011, Khali won a pre-show battle royal.[49] He was later involved in a storyline withJinder Mahal, which led to the two forming an on-screen alliance. The partnership lasted until September, when they failed to capture theWWE Tag Team Championship, leading to the end of their alliance.[50] The following year, Khali competed in the World Heavyweight Championship Elimination Chamber match atthe namesake event in February but was unsuccessful.[51] AtWrestleMania XXVIII, he took part in a 12-man tag team match, which his team lost.[52] He competed in the inauguralAndré the Giant Memorial Battle Royal atWrestleMania XXX on 6 April 2014, but did not win.[53] Khali's contract with WWE expired on 13 November 2014, after which he departed the company.[54]
In February 2015, Khali founded Continental Wrestling Entertainment (CWE), a professional wrestling promotion and training academy based in Jalandhar, Punjab.[55] The promotion held its first event on 12 December 2015. Among its trainees,Dilsher Shanky andKavita Devi later signed with WWE, marking CWE as a significant stepping stone for Indian talent.
Since 2017, Khali has made occasional appearances for WWE. He returned atBattleground on 23 July 2017, assisting WWE Champion Jinder Mahal in defeatingRandy Orton during a Punjabi Prison match.[56] In April 2018, he took part in theGreatest Royal Rumble match inJeddah, Saudi Arabia, but was eliminated.[57] In recognition of his contributions to the company, he was inducted into theWWE Hall of Fame in 2021.[58] Khali made another special appearance atWWE Superstar Spectacle in 2023.
From October 2010 to January 2011, Khali appeared as a contestant on the Indian reality television showBigg Boss (season 4), where he finished as the first runner-up. Due to his size, the show made special accommodations for him, including a custom-built bed.[59] In 2011, he made guest appearances on international television, including a brief cameo in episode 18 of NBC'sOutsourced, and as Atog, a rock-smashing giant, in the Disney Channel seriesPair of Kings.[60]
Khali has also made appearances on various Indian comedy and talk shows, includingAap Ki Adalat,Comedy Nights with Kapil,Comedy Nights Bachao, andThe Kapil Sharma Show.
In addition to television, Khali has acted in several films, both in Hollywood and Indian cinema. He made his film debut in 2005 as Turley inThe Longest Yard, followed by roles inGet Smart (2008),MacGruber (2010), and the Indian filmsKushti (2010),Ramaa: The Saviour (2010), andHOUBA! On the Trail of the Marsupilami (2012). In 2023, he appeared in the Bangladeshi action thrillerMR-9: Do or Die.
Rana married Harminder Kaur in 2002.[61] The couple has two children: a daughter, born in February 2014, and a son, born in November 2023.[62][63]
He has been described as deeply spiritual and a follower of Indian spiritual leader Ashutosh Maharaj.[64][65] Known for his disciplined lifestyle, Rana meditates daily and abstains from alcohol and tobacco.[66][67] He originally suggested the ring name "Khali" as a reference to the Hindu goddessKali, associated with eternal energy,[18][68] but later stated that WWE gave him the full ring name "The Great Khali".[69]
Rana has followed a rigorous training regimen, including weightlifting twice a day. In the early stages of his career, he maintained a mostly vegetarian diet, later adding chicken and other meats to meet his nutritional requirements.[70][71][72] On 26 July 2012, he underwent surgery to remove abenign tumour from hispituitary gland, a condition linked to his diagnosis ofacromegaly.[73]
He became a naturalised citizen of the United States on 20 February 2014, and also holds anOverseas Citizenship of India card.[7][74][75] On 10 February 2022, Rana joined theBharatiya Janata Party (BJP).[75][76]
0:13 where says 'I am a Rajput' in Hindi
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
,Cagematch,Wrestlingdata,Internet Wrestling Database
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