| The Great Khali | |
| Names: | Giant Singh[1] The Great Khali Dalip Singh[2] |
| Real Height: | [3] |
| Height: | [4] |
| Weight: | 420lb |
| Birth Date: | 27 August 1972[5] |
| Birth Place: | Dhirana, Himachal Pradesh, India |
| Resides: | Atlanta, Georgia, USA[6] |
| Billed: | India |
| Trainer: | APW Boot Camp |
| Debut: | October 7, 2000 |
| Religion: | Hindu |
Dalip Singh Rana[5] (Panjabi; Punjabi: ਦਲੀਪ ਸਿੰਘ ਰਾਨਾ) (born August 27, 1972) better known by his ring name The Great Khali, is an Indian professional wrestler, actor, and former powerlifter who won Mr. India in 1995 and 1996.[7] He is currently signed to World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) on its SmackDown brand. Before embarking on his professional wrestling career, he was an officer in the Punjab state police;[8] he was also a labourer.[9]
In WWE, Singh is a one-time World Heavyweight Champion (his first championship throughout his wrestling career), and has appeared in the films The Longest Yard[1] (2005) and Get Smart (2008).[8]
Under the ring name Giant Singh, Dalip Singh 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 against the West Side Playaz.[1]
In August 2001, Singh was brought into New Japan Pro Wrestling (NJPW) by Team 2000 leader, Masahiro Chono, as Giant Singh, along with another big man, Giant Silva.[1] They were the tallest tag team in pro wrestling history at an average height of 7 ft 2½ in, and a combined weight of 805 lb. The two teamed up for the first time at the Tokyo Dome in October, labeled "Club 7" by Chono, and they defeated Yutaka Yoshie, Kenzo Suzuki, Hiroshi Tanahashi, and Wataru Inoue in a Handicap Match when Silva pinned Tanahashi and Inoue at the same time.[10] Singh suffered his first loss in a tag match at the Tokyo Dome in January 2002 after Hiroyoshi Tenzan pinned him with a cradle.[11] He suffered another big tag defeat during March, being pinned by Manabu Nakanishi after a German suplex pin. His most critical loss came in August at Tokyo Nippon Budokan when, after a falling out, he was pinned by Silva in a singles match.[1]
On January 2, Singh became the first Indian professional wrestler to be signed to a contract by WWE;[9] he was assigned to the Deep South Wrestling developmental territory for training, [1] where he wrestled under his real name.[2] With Daivari by his side, the unnamed Singh debuted on WWE television on the April 7 episode of SmackDown!, attacking The Undertaker and leaving him out cold during his match with Mark Henry, and thus causing a no-contest.[12]
The next week he was introduced as The Great Khali. Daivari explained that he now finally had a client that would destroy The Undertaker (after Muhammed Hassan and Mark Henry had previously failed).[13] Khali made his in-ring debut on the April 21 edition of SmackDown!, defeating Funaki.[14]
On the May 12 edition of SmackDown!, JBL put Khali against World Heavyweight Champion Rey Mysterio. Khali had a height advantage of two feet and a weight advantage of 250 pounds, and gained an easy victory over Mysterio.[15] In his match against The Undertaker at Judgment Day, Khali landed a series of blows to his opponent, and finally defeated The Undertaker with a kick to the head after receiving some illegal help from Daivari during the phase when The Undertaker had him under control.[16] [17] Khali continued on a rampage for several weeks, winning handicap matches,[18] beating superstars up in a display of power,[19] [20] [21] and mocking The Undertaker's signature pin and victory pose.[21]
Khali then challenged The Undertaker to a Punjabi Prison Match.[22] The two were scheduled to meet in such a match at The Great American Bash, but Khali was removed from the match due to elevated liver enzymes and replaced by The Big Show.
Khali later received a clean bill of health, and the August 4 episode of SmackDown would see Khali being challenged by The Undertaker to a Last Man Standing match at SummerSlam.[23] However, the match was moved to the SmackDown! just prior to SummerSlam and was won by The Undertaker, giving Khali his first definite loss in WWE.[24]
By October of that year, news came that Khali would return to WWE, along with Daivari, to join its revived ECW brand. Khali then feuded with Tommy Dreamer, where Khali would assault Dreamer and chokebomb him on a regular basis. Sometimes it would be on the steel entrance stage,[25] a steel chair,[26] or the padded floor outside the ring.[27]
On the January 8 episode of Raw, Jonathan Coachman announced that Khali's 3 month contract with ECW had expired, he had signed with Raw (without his manager Daivari), and would battle John Cena in the main event. Khali won by disqualification after Cena took a steel chair held by Armando Estrada and hit Khali with it. After the match, Khali chokebombed Cena to the mat and left the ringside area, leaving Cena prone to an attack by Umaga.[28]
On the February 19 edition of Raw, Khali demanded better competition after easily defeating The Highlanders.[29] Four days later on SmackDown!, Khali interfered in a Falls Count Anywhere Money In The Bank qualifying match between Kane and King Booker. Khali cost Kane the match,[30] leading to a match at WrestleMania. In his first appearance at the event, Khali defeated Kane at WrestleMania 23 after slamming him with the Khali Bomb. Right after the match, Khali choked Kane with his own hook and chain.[31]
On the April 30 edition of Raw, The Great Khali attacked Shawn Michaels, Edge, and Randy Orton (all three top contenders to the WWE Championship at the time) backstage.[32] He then attacked WWE Champion John Cena as well, sending a message that he wanted Cena's title.[32] The next week on Raw, Khali defeated Michaels in a No. 1 contender's match for the WWE Championship at Judgment Day.[33] At the event, Khali's efforts came up short as he lost via submission for the first time ever, tapping out to John Cena's STFU. However, at Judgment Day, Khali's foot was under the rope when he tapped out, which went unnoticed by the referee.[34] The next night on Raw, Khali expressed his outrage via his translator over the outcome.[35] At One Night Stand, Khali lost to John Cena after he was FU'd off a crane bed. This would be the first time that The Great Khali had ever been pinned.[36]
On the June 11 edition of Raw, as part of the WWE Draft, Khali was drafted from Raw to SmackDown! as SmackDown!'s first draft pick.[37] He would soon enter a feud with Batista in July before The Great American Bash.[38] The two were scheduled for a match on PPV on Sunday, July 22. However, because Edge vacated the World Heavyweight Championship due to an injury, a twenty man Battle Royal was held for the title on the July 20 (taped on July 17) edition of SmackDown!; Khali won after eliminating both Kane and Batista in one move.[39] Khali dominated and defeated both Batista and Kane in a Triple Threat match that same week at The Great American Bash.[40] Khali then debuted a new finisher called the "Khali Vise Grip" which he used to wear down Ric Flair, Batista, and Kane. At SummerSlam, Khali lost by disqualification when he used a steel chair but retained the title.[41]
Khali then began a feud with Rey Mysterio after Mysterio won a "Championship Competition" making Mysterio the No. 1 contender. On the September 7 edition of SmackDown!, after Mysterio defeated Chavo Guerrero in an "I Quit" match, Khali applied his Vice Grip on Mysterio until Batista came to the rescue. After the assault, General Manager Theodore Long informed Khali that he would be defending his World Heavyweight Championship against both Rey Mysterio and Batista in a Triple Threat Match at Unforgiven, which Khali lost to Batista after receiving a spinebuster.[42] Khali challenged Batista to a rematch in a Punjabi Prison Match at No Mercy in which Khali lost by failing to escape the Punjabi Prison before Batista.[43]
In late 2007 and early 2008, Khali was put in a program with Finlay usually trying to assault Hornswoggle but with Finlay stopping him. Khali participated in a number one contender Elimination Chamber match at No Way Out, which was won by The Undertaker. At WrestleMania XXIV, Khali participated in a twenty-four man Battle Royal in which the winner would receive a title match against the ECW Champion Chavo Guerrero later that evening. Then-babyface, Kane won the Battle Royal and went on to win the title. Khali then began a short feud with then-babyface, Big Show. The feud culminated with a match at Backlash where Big Show emerged victorious.[44] .
On October 3rd daredevil Johnny Knoxville aired a segment on Jackassworld.com interviewing Khali with his translator. When Knoxville asked about Khali's "taliwacker" Khali was upset and threatened to tip the interview table onto Knoxville[45] .Khali later invited Knoxville to attend the October 13 episode of Raw, where Knoxville was attacked by both Khali and WWE Diva Beth Phoenix.
The incident with Knoxville (kayfabe) inspired Khali to take on a more "fun" persona; he and Ranjit Chahal began hosting the weekly "Khali Kiss Cam", where Singh would summon ostensibly random women from the audience to kiss Khali. Eventually, this new gimmick turned Khali into a fan favorite.At the 2008 Slammy Awards, Khali and Mickie James kissed on the mouth and walked off backstage hugging and laughing.
On May 28, 2001, Brian Ong died after receiving a flapjack from Singh.[1] Ong had suffered a previous concussion during the session, but the trainers 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 by APW staff. This second concussion ultimately proved fatal for him. As Singh inadvertently caused his death, Ong's family brought a lawsuit against All Pro Wrestling.[1] They were found liable for recklessness after less than a day of deliberations, awarding the Ong family for damages of over $1.3 million.[1]
Singh was born to Jwala Ram (father) and Tandi Devi (mother);[54] he is one of seven siblings[54] – Inder Singh[55] and Mangat Singh Rana.[8] Singh married Harminder Kaur on February 27, 2002.[5] He says he abhors tobacco and alcohol.[9]
Singh suggested the ringname "The Great Khali" after the Hindu goddess Kālī, who is said to be a destructive ruler.[9] Although his parents are of normal stature, his grandfather was well over 6 ft 6 inches.[56]
Singh’s training schedule consists of two hours of weight training, morning and evening, every day. Maintaining his size requires a strict and intimidating daily dietary regimen: one gallon of milk, five chickens and two dozen eggs, along with chapatis, juice and fruit. [57] [58]