The Great Khali

At 52 years old, The Great Khali has this physical status:

Dalip Singh Rana (born 27 August 1972), better known by the ring name The Great Khali, is an Indian professional wrestler, promoter, and comedian. Rana, a professional wrestler who has been with WWE from 2006 to 2014, was most popular with the moniker "The Great Khali," as he appeared in WWE from 2006 to 2014.

In July 2007, he became WWE's first Indian world champion in WWE history. He was an officer with the Punjab state police before beginning his professional wrestling career.

He has appeared in four Hollywood films, two Bollywood films, and several television shows.

Early life

In a Rajput family's Dhiraina village of Himalaya Pradesh's Sirmaur district, Rana was born to Jwala Ram and his wife Tandi Devi.

Rana, one of seven siblings in a poor family, had to do odd jobs to help his family make ends meet. He suffers from acromegaly, which can cause gigantism and chin protrusion among other signs. Rana, a security guard in Shimla, first noticed the eye of a police officer from the Punjab Police who had previously worked with many police officers to become international sportspeople, and recruited him into the Punjab Police in 1993. Although Rana was reluctant to leave Himalaya, his brother was also hired in the Punjab Police after arriving in Punjab's Jalandhar, where he trained in local gyms to become a wrestler and was soon accepted for specialized wrestling instruction in the United States.

Personal life

Rana has been described as "highly religious" by the author. Every day, he meditates and "abhors" alcohol and tobacco. He was a pupil of Ashutosh Maharaj, the Indian spiritual guru.

According to reports, Rana suggested the name The Great Khali after the Hindu goddess Kali, who is associated with immortality. In an interview given to India television for their show Aap Ki Adalat, however, he denied the truth and said that the name was given to him randomly by WWE.

Rana's training regiment includes two hours of weight training, morning and evening, every day, but his diet remains elusive, as it was reported that he maintains his weight on a vegetarian diet in some interviews, and in other interviews it was reported that he eats substantial amounts of chicken. He has since stated that he loves vegetarian food but also consumes meat.

Rana underwent brain surgery due to a tumor in his pituitary gland, which was announced on July 26, 2012.

On February 20, 2014, Rana became a naturalized citizen of the United States.

On February 20, 2022, he joined the Bharatiya Janata Party.

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Professional wrestling career

Giant Singh, the Ring name, first became a professional wrestler for All Pro Wrestling (APW) in the United States in October 2000, making his first appearance against the West Side Playaz in October 2000.

Rana came to San Francisco and signed a World Championship Wrestling (WCW) for eight months, before his opponent, the World Wrestling Federation, bought them (WWF).

As Giant Singh, he was granted by New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW) by Team 2000's chief, Masahiro Chono, as well as another key man, Giant Silva. They were the first tag team to win the Tokyo Dome in October, with a total weight of 805 pounds. They were crowned Club 7 by Chono in a handicap match in October when Silva pinned Tanahashi and Inoue at the same time. Singh was pinned with a cradle in a tag team match at Wrestling World 2002 in January 2002. Singh suffered another big tag loss during March after being pinched by Manabu Nakanishi after a German suplex pin, but his most significant loss came in August at Tokyo Nippon Budokan, where he was defeated by Silva in a singles match after losing out.

Beginning in 2002, he competed in the Mexican promotion Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre (CMLL) and the Japanese pro Wrestling (AJPW), before he signed with WWE in 2006.

Rana became the first Indian professional wrestler to be signed to a World Wrestling Entertainment deal on January 2, 2006 (WWE). He was absorbed into their developmental club, Deep South Wrestling, where he wrestled under his real name.

The unidentified Singh debuted on WWE television on 7 April as a villain, causing a no-match ruling due to his manager, Daivari.

The following week on SmackDown!

He was introduced as The Great Khali and Daivari who later revealed that he had a client who would defeat The Undertaker (after Muhammad Hassan and Mark Henry had previously failed). On the 21st episode of SmackDown!, Khali made his in-ring debut defeating Funaki.

Khali was a hand-picked opponent against World Heavyweight Champion Rey Mysterio (Khali had a height advantage of 21 inches and a weight advantage of 250 pounds) and defeated Mysterio in a squash match on May 12th on episode of Smackdown! Khali defeated The Undertaker with a kick to the head in his match against The Undertaker on Judgment Day on May 21, after receiving some illegal assistance from Daivari. Khali went on a spree for several weeks, winning handicap matches, beating wrestlers up, and mocking The Undertaker's iconic pin and victory pose.

At The Great American Bash, Khali then challenged The Undertaker to a Punjabi Prison match. However, Khali was not physically fit to participate in the match and was deemed out by Big Show, who lost despite Khali's interference. Khali was tagged by The Undertaker to a Last Man Standing match at SummerSlam on August 20th after being medically cleared.

The match was moved to the SmackDown!

Khali was defeated by The Undertaker right before summerslam, giving him his first concrete defeat in WWE.

When Daivari defeated Shannon Moore in a fast fight, they officially joined the Great Khali and Daivari on their ECW debuts on October 31. Moore was manhandled by Khali afterwards. Daivari continued his ECW winning streak over the next two weeks with The Great Khali often following up the match with a choke bomb on Daivari's opponent. Following a roll-up from December to Dismember on December, Daivari defeated Tommy Dreamer by a landslide on December 3rd. The dreamer then followed Daivari backstage, but Khali appeared and pinned Dreamer on the steel ramp with a chokebomb, bringing him right back to the dreamer.

Jonathan Coachman announced on January 8, 2007 that Khali had signed with Raw (without Daivari, who remained on ECW) and would face John Cena in the main event, but after the match, Khali defeated Cena by disqualification, leaving Cena vulnerable to a Umaga attack. After comfortably defeating the Highlanders, Khali demanded more action on the 19 February episode of Raw. Khali participated in a Falls Count Anywhere Money in the Bank qualifier match between Kane and King Booker by costing Kane the match, resulting in a feud between Khali and Khamene, who lost the match with a hook and chain at the end of the match. Backstage, Khali attacked Edge, Randy Orton, and Shawn Michaels on the 30th of April's Raw (all three leading contenders to the WWE Championship at the time). Khali also attacked WWE Champion John Cena, tweeting that he wished to Cena's crown. In a number-one contender's match for the WWE Championship at Judgment Day next week, Khali defeated Michaels in a number-one challenge for the WWE Championship. Khali lost for the first time when tapping out to Cena's STFU, but the referee did not notice him because his foot was under the rope and unnoticed by the referee. Khali's new translator and boss, Ranjin Singh, reacted angrily against the result on Raw next night. Khali lost in a Falls Count Anywhere match after being struck with an FU off a crane bed, marking the first time Khali had been tied in a singles match at One Night Standoff on June 3rd.

Khali was drafted to the SmackDown on the 11th episode of Raw as part of the 2007 WWE draft. The brand's first draft pick was chosen by the brand. Khali began a feud with Batista in July and the two were due to clashes at The Great American Bash. However, Edge left the World Heavyweight Championship due to a legitimate injury, and a 20-man battle royal was held for the title on 20 July's SmackDown!, which Khali won after destroying both Kane and Batista in one move, winning his first World Heavyweight Championship. In a triple-thoat match at The Great American Bash on July 22, Khali dominated and defeated both Batista and Kane. Khali introduced the Khali Vise Grip (a two-handed clawhold), which he used to beat Batista, Kane, and Ric Flair.

Khali disqualified at SummerSlam on August 26th when he used a steel chair but kept the rank. After Mysterio won a Championship Competition to become the number one contender, Khali then began a feud with Rey Mysterio, causing him to use his Visa Grip on Mysterio on September 7th. Batista came to the rescue, with SmackDown General Manager Theodore Long informing Khali that he would have to defend the World Heavyweight Championship against Batista in a triple threat match at Unforgiven on September 16, where Khali's 61-day reign came to an end after being injured after receiving a spinebuster. Khali rematch in a Punjabi Prison match at No Mercy on September 7th, which Khali lost because he did not manage to flee the Punjabi Prison before Batista.

Khali was initially put in a program with Finlay often attempting to kill Hornswoggle but Finlay stopped him in late 2007 and early 2008. On February 17, Khali took the SmackDown Elimination Chamber match in No Way Out, which was won by The Undertaker. Khali took part in a 24-man tournament royal on March 30 to determine a challenger for ECW Champion Chavo Guerrero that evening, but the match was won by Kane. Khali then had a brief feud with Big Show, culminating in a match at Backlash on Saturday, which the Big Show won.

Khali feuded with Triple H over the WWE Championship in July, and on the 25th episode of SmackDown involving Big Show, Jeff Hardy, Montel Vontavious Porter, Mr. Kennedy, and Umaga for the right to face Triple H at SummerSlam. Khali lost to Triple H after receiving a Pedigree at SummerSlam on August 17th. When Khali met Jeff Hardy to gain entry into the WWE Championship scramble at Unforgiven on September 7th, he gave him another opportunity to win the championship scramble, but Triple H interfered in the qualification match and helped Hardy win and barred Khali from title contention.

On October 3rd, daredevil Johnny Knoxville hosted an interview with Khali and his translator on his website, but when Knoxville inquired about Khali's "taliwacker" he became outraged and threatened to tip the interview table into Knoxville, Knoxville. Khali later invited Knoxville to attend the Raw 13 October episode, where Khali, WWE Diva Beth Phoenix, and Hornswoggle blasted Knoxville. When Khali and Ranjin Singh hosted the weekly Khali Kiss Cam, where Singh would summon ostensibly random people from the audience to kiss Khali, he became a fan favorite. The Great Khali fought with Dolph Ziggler in May 2009, winning by disqualification after Ziggler attacked him with a steel chair. As a result, Khali came out to the ring during and after Ziggler's matches in an attempt to gain revenge and to discourage Ziggler from cheating. Khali suffered to Ziggler by counting out and disqualification after Ziggler made it appear that Khali struck him with a steel chair over the next two weeks. After Kane returned and attacked Khali, Khali defeated Ziggler by pinfall at The Bash on June 28th. Ranjin Singh was later revealed to be Khali's brother, though Kane's rivalry resulted in fixtures at SummerSlam on September 23 and Breaking Point on September 13, which Khali lost.

Khali required knee surgery and Kane assaulted him with the ring steps during a match, so Khali could have time off. On Saturday, Khali, as a judge for Raw's Got Talent segment, attacked Chavo Guerrero with a chop, although injured. On December 14, Khali made his official return to Raw, teaming with Christian and Kane to defeat Ezekiel Jackson, Vladimir Kozlov, and William Regal.

On the 2nd episode of SmackDown, Khali would take time with his family and regroup his thoughts back in India, but Khaluber (as MacGruber) defeated Vladimir Kozlov in a handicap match that was decided by intentional countout on April 19th. Khali and Ranjin Singh were both drafted back to the WWE as part of the 2010 WWE supplemental draft. Khali was announced by John Cena to be a part of his squad along with Bret Hart, Chris Jericho, Edge, John Morrison, and R-Truth on August 15th, but The Nexus removed him from the game on September 9th. Following the attack, Khali took a hiatus to compete in Big Boss, in which he finished as runner up.

Khali made his return to the 2011 Royal Rumble but was soon dismissed by Mason Ryan. Miz assaulted Khali with a steel chair during a Raw episode on March 14, 2004, injuring him. On April 3, Khali defeated WrestleMania XXVII in an interbrand dark match match royal fight. Khali was sent back to SmackDown as part of the 2011 supplemental draft on April 26th. Khali made his WWE debut on Thursday night on SmackDown's 29th episode, talking backstage with Jinder Mahal. Khali dressed up as the Tooth Fairy at The Rock's birthday party on May 2nd. On 6 May's episode of SmackDown, Mahal, I'm impressed by how Khali and Ranjin Singh have been partaking in kiddie sports rather than winning matches—we questioned Singh about his Khali mismanagement. Mahal then interrupted a Khali Kiss Cam segment on SmackDown the following week, slapping Khali twice. Mahal interrupted Khali's match against Jey Uso, which culminated in Khali's departure from the ring to face Mahal, who then slapped Khali, forced Khali to re-enter the game, defeat Jey Uso, and then assault Jimmy Uso after the match.

Mahal came out and shoved Ranjin Singh and then Khali, forming an alliance with Mahal and serving as Mahal's bodyguard, assaulting Mahal's after his matches, resulting in his defeat. Ranjin Singh revealed on the 1st edition of SmackDown that Mahal was their brother-in-law and that if Khali did not follow Mahal, he would divorce Khali's sister and put his family into poverty. After Khali pushed Mahal, allowing Kingston to finish the match, Khal, and Mahal's defeat in a losing proposition on 9 September's episode. Khali defeated Mahal on September 23rd episode of SmackDown. Khali was defeated by World Heavyweight Champion Mark Henry, who said after the match "fractured" Khali's fibula with a steel chair, on September 30th.

Khali returned to WWE at the Royal Rumble as the number 15 entrant in the Royal Rumble match, defeating Ezekiel Jackson and Jinder Mahal before being eliminated by Cody Rhodes and Dolph Ziggler on January 29th. Khali returned from SmackDown's 3 February episode, saving Justin Gabriel from Rhodes, Hunico, and Hunico's bodyguard Camacho before being named as the replacement for Mark Henry in the Elimination Chamber's World Heavyweight Championship match at the Elimination Chamber pay-per-view tournament. After being disqualified first by Big Show at the Elimination Chamber on February 19, Khali failed to win the World Heavyweight Championship. On the 23nd of March, Khali was added to Theodore Long's WrestleMania XVIII crew, but the team was defeated by John Laurinaitis' team on 1 April. Khali was discovered in July with a benign tumor in his pituitary gland as a result of acromegaly. Khali returned to the SmackDown tapings on October 16th in a match taped for the Saturday Morning Slam.

Khali defeated a 20-man fight royal on December 26th to become the top contender in the United States Championship. On the 2nd of January 2013, Khali took his first shot at the Main Event, but Antonio Cesaro, the current champion, was defeated by defending champion Antonio Cesaro. Khali was involved in the 2013 Royal Rumble match on January 27 but was disqualified by Daniel Bryan and Kane. Khali started collaborating with Santino Marella in late 2013 and re-entered Hornswoggle after losing Heath Slater and Jinder Mahal on September 27th, but the Warriors were defeated by Cesaro and Jack Swagger on Battleground on October 6th. Khali was a participant in the 2014 Royal Rumble match but was disqualified by The Shield on January 26th.

Khali participated in the André the Giant Memorial Battle Royal at WrestleMania XXX on April 6th but failed to win. On July 20, Khali participated in the Intercontinental Championships royal at Battleground, but The Miz won the match, but The Miz was unbeaten. Khali was defeated by Rusev in what would be his last match in WWE until 2017. His deal came to an end on November 13th, and he left WWE.

Khali returned to WWE at Battleground as a Heel to help WWE Champion Jinder Mahal with the Punjabi Prison match for the WWE Championship on July 23, 2017. Mahal aided Mahal in preventing Randy Orton from fleeing from the cage, ensuring Mahal escaped first and kept the title.

Khali took the honours at The Greatest Royal Rumble Match on Saturday, ranked 45 at the time, but only for less than a minute before being eliminated by Braun Strowman and Bobby Lashley. This was his last match for WWE so far.

In 2021, he was inducted into the prestigious WWE Hall of Fame.

Khali founded the Continental Wrestling Entertainment (CWE), a non-profit organization in Jalandhar, Punjab, in February 2015. He took the CWE World Heavyweight Championship in February 2016. Dilsher Shanky and Kavita Devi, among his students, have been signed to WWE. Shanky is a member of the main roster as of October 25, 2022, while Kavita's deal is terminated. Both of them competed in Khali's promotion and claimed the CWE championship.

With over 4.38 million YouTube followers and 1.31 billion video views, CWE is India's biggest professional wrestling promotion, with over 4.38 million YouTube followers and 1.31 billion video views.

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