The Great Khali Biography, Wrestling Career & Facts about Him

The Great Khali Quick Facts

Dalip Singh Rana is an Indian professional wrestler famous as his ring name “The Great Khali”. He is also known as Giant Singh. He is also a promoter and actor. His height is about 2.16 meter. He was born on 27 August, 1972 in Dhiraina Himachal Pradesh, India. His father’s name is Jwala Ram and His mother name is Tandi Devi. His wife name is Harminder Kaur and He belongs to Hinduism religion.

 His net worth as of February 2017 is $6 million. In his 17 years career, he has used many ring names and “The Great Khali” is most prominent from all of them. In the beginning, The Great Khali did some odd jobs to fulfil his needs because he has a humble background. He worked in local gym in his busy time and there he made his wrestling skills better.

 For specialized wrestling, he travelled to the USA for better opportunities. Soon, he caught the attention of promoters due to his 2.16meter frame. Initially, he was trained by APW (All Pro Wrestling) California-based promotions. For further experience, he was accumulated by working for NJPW (New Japan Pro-Wrestling) and WCW (World Championship Wrestling). He played his debut match on Television about in 2006 and proved himself the on wrestler from India. During his first promotion that continued till 2014, he fought and beat wrestlers like John Cena, Big Show and Undertaker. He made his return on Pay-per-view event, “Battleground” on “SmackDown” in 2017.

Childhood & Early Life

Ø The Great Khali was born on 27 August 1972 in a small village of India. He has six siblings.

Ø He got little education then he supported his family because they were not rich. For some time, he worked as a laborer. Then they went to Shimla and there he worked as a security guard. There, he was noticed by a former Punjab Police man “Mahal Singh” and he offered him a job in Punjab Police. His brother also got similar job. They together went to Jalandhar and Khali started wrestling which he practiced at a local gym.  

The Great Khali Career

Ø In 1999, Khali went to the USA and started training in APW as California-Based promotions. On October 7, 2000 he teamed up with Tony Jones against “West Side Playaz”.

Ø The Khali was training with Brian Ong on May 28, 2001. On Ong, he performed wrestling move “flapjack”.

Ø Violently whipping his head back against the mat, Ong landed on his coccyx or tailbone. After some days, death of Ong occurred. The family of Ong was rewarded by $1.3 million after the day of deliberation.

Ø The Khali was signed by World Championship Wrestling (WCW) in 2001 after moving to San Francisco. At this time, there was a cut short by the owner of “World Wrestling Entertainment” (WWE) named “Vince McMahon” buying out the promotion.

Ø In NJPW (New Japan Wrestling Pro) The Great Khali used the Giant Sing gimmick as well. The Khali and Giant Silva made “Club7”, the tallest tag team ever in wrestling history. In their debut match on October 8, 2001, they easily defeated to “Yutaka Yoshie, Kenzo Suzuki, Hiroshi Tanahashi and Wataru Inoue”. This tag team split when Silva came back in August 2002 and he defeated Khali in singles match.

Ø He signed a developmental contract with the “World Wrestling Entertainment” (WWE) and WWE sent him to the Georgia-based promotion, DSW (Deep South Wrestling) on January 2006.

Ø After much discussion on what should be his ring name, finally, Rana and the WWE management settled on ‘The Great Khali’, inspired by the Hindu goddess Kali.

Ø Serving as manager of Shawn Daivari, Khali debuted on episode of “SmackDown” on the April 7, interfering in a match between Mark Henry and The Undertaker. Due to this interference he caused a no contest ruling.

Watch: The Great Khali's WWE Debut match SmackDown, April 7, 2006

          

Ø Khali beat The Undertaker on May 21, 2006, in his debut pay-per-view match at the “Judgment Day”’

Ø 2007 was most successful year for him so far. On June 11, 2007 he was drafted to the “Raw” brand. In a 20-person battle royal match, he won the ‘WWE World Heavyweight Championship’ after eliminating Batista and Kane, the other two major contenders for the belt, together. Batista defeated him on the September 16 “Unforgiven” event.

Ø He has appeared on many films and TV shows as a popular personality like “The Longest Yard” (2005), “Get Smart” (2008), “Kushti” (2010), “Outsourced” (2011), and “Pair of Kings” (2012). In 2010, he became the season four runner-up of the Indian reality TV show “Bigg Boss”.

Awards & Achievements

Ø The Khali is a one-time ‘WWE World Heavyweight Champion’. On July 17, 2007, he received the belt, after winning the 20-man battle royal. On 20 July, The “SmackDown” episode was aired.

Ø In 2008 for “Khali Kiss Cam” He was given a “Slammy Award” for the “Damn! Moment of the Yea”’.

Personal  Life & Legacy

Ø On February 27, 2002, The Great Khali married to Harminder Kaur. His daughter was born on February 26, 2014, named “Avleen” after twelve years of marriage.

Ø On July 26, 2012, He underwent a surgery to remove a tumour on his pituitary gland that caused his acromegaly. He displays some of the most, clear signs of the disorder, including, chin protrusion, prominent eyebrows and massive ears.

Ø Because he belongs to Hinduism religion so he neither consumes alcohol nor smokes.