The Great Khali was one of the first Indian wrestlers to shine in the World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE). Known as Dalip Singh Rana, he was most notably associated with WWE from 2006 to 2014 where he performed under the name of "The Great Khali". Before embarking on his professional wrestling career, he was an officer for the Punjab Police. He has appeared in four Hollywood films, two Bollywood films and several television shows. Rana was born to Jwala Ram and his wife Tandi Devi in a Punjabi Hindu family of the Dhiraina village of Himachal Pradesh's Sirmaur district. Being one of the seven siblings of a poor family, he had to do odd jobs to make ends meet and suffers from acromegaly, which among other effects causes gigantism and chin protrusion.
The Great Khali was one of the first Indian wrestlers to shine in the World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE). Known as Dalip Singh Rana, he was most notably associated with WWE from 2006 to 2014 where he performed under the name of "The Great Khali". Before embarking on his professional wrestling career, he was an officer for the Punjab Police. He has appeared in four Hollywood films, two Bollywood films and several television shows. Rana was born to Jwala Ram and his wife Tandi Devi in a Punjabi Hindu family of the Dhiraina village of Himachal Pradesh's Sirmaur district.
1. Happy Birthday Great Khali WWE
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When Rana was serving as a security guard in Shimla, he caught the eye of a police officer from the neighbouring State of Punjab that—having previously helped several employees of Punjab Police to become international sportspersons—got him inducted into the Punjab Police in 1993, and (though Rana was reluctant to leave Himachal Pradesh, his brother was also offered a job in the Punjab Police) once he landed in Punjab's Jalandhar, Rana trained in the local gyms to become a wrestler and soon he got selected for specialised wrestling training in the United States. Under the ring name Giant Singh he first became a professional wrestler for All Pro Wrestling (APW) in the United States, making his first appearance in October 2000 when teaming with Tony Jones. (Image credit: Twitter)
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As Giant Singh, he received an offer from New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW) by Team 2000 leader, Masahiro Chono, along with another big man, Giant Silva. They were the tallest tag team in professional wrestling history at an average height of over 7 foot and a combined weight of 805 pounds. Rana became the first Indian professional wrestler to be signed to a contract by World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE). He was assigned to their developmental federation, Deep South Wrestling, where he wrestled under his real name. With Daivari as his manager, the unnamed Singh debuted on WWE television as a villain on 7 April episode of SmackDown!, attacking The Undertaker and leaving him defenceless during his match with Mark Henry, thus causing a no contest ruling. The following week on SmackDown! he was introduced as The Great Khali and Daivari explained that he finally had a client who would destroy The Undertaker. (Image credit: Twitter)
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Khali then challenged The Undertaker to a Punjabi Prison match at The Great American Bash.[30] However, Khali was not medically cleared to compete in the match and was instead replaced by Big Show, who lost the match despite Khali's interference. After he was medically cleared, Khali was challenged by The Undertaker to a Last Man Standing match at SummerSlam on 20 August. The match was moved to the SmackDown! Just prior to SummerSlam and was won by The Undertaker, thus giving Khali his first definite loss in WWE. (Image credit: Twitter)
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In July, Khali began a feud with Batista and the two were scheduled for a match at The Great American Bash. However, because Edge vacated the World Heavyweight Championship due to a legitimate injury, a twenty-man battle royal was held for the title on 20 July edition of SmackDown! which Khali won after eliminating both Kane and Batista in one move, thus winning his first World Heavyweight Championship. Khali dominated and defeated both Batista and Kane in a triple threat match at The Great American Bash on 22 July. Khali then debuted a new finisher called the Khali Vise Grip (a two-handed clawhold) which he used to wear down Batista, Kane and Ric Flair. SmackDown General Manager Theodore Long informing Khali that he would have to defend the World Heavyweight Championship also against Batista in a triple threat match at Unforgiven on 16 September, where Khali's 61-days reign ended after receiving a spinebuster. (Image credit: Twitter)
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Rana's exploits with the WWE have made him immensely popular in India. From October 2010 until the final in January 2011, Khali appeared on the television reality show Bigg 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. In March 2011, Khali had a brief cameo in episode 18 of NBC's Outsourced, and appeared on the Disney Channel TV program Pair of Kings as Atog, a rock-smashing giant, in the episode "Fight School". Rana is a Hindu and has been described as "extremely religious". He meditates every day and "abhors" alcohol and tobacco. He was a disciple of Indian spiritual guru Ashutosh Maharaj. Rana suggested the ring name The Great Khali after the Hindu goddess Kali, who is associated with eternal energy. Rana's training schedule consists of two hours of weight training, morning and evening, every day, but his diet is unclear, as in some interviews it was claimed he maintains his size on a vegetarian diet and in other interviews it was claimed he consumes vast quantities of chicken. He has since clarified that he loves vegetarian food, but also consumes meat. (Image credit: Twitter)
