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Sports Desk • Wrestling

The Great Khali

The Great Khali is the ring name of Dalip Singh Rana, an Indian-born former professional wrestler, promoter, and actor.

Updated September 11, 20261 min readCited sources

The Great Khali is the ring name of Dalip Singh Rana, an Indian-born former professional wrestler and actor best known for his WWE career. He became the first Indian-born world champion in WWE history and was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2021.

What it is

The Great Khali (born 27 August 1972 in Dhiraina, Himachal Pradesh, India) is a former professional wrestler who stood 7 ft 1 in and weighed 347 lb. His exceptional height is linked to acromegaly. He began wrestling in 2000, worked for New Japan Pro-Wrestling, and signed with WWE in 2006, where he was presented as one of the company's largest and most imposing performers.

Why it matters

Khali's main achievement was winning the World Heavyweight Championship in 2007, making him the first Indian-born world champion in WWE. He was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2021. His signature moves include the Punjabi Plunge and Khali Vise Grip. He retired from full-time wrestling in November 2014 but returned for limited appearances. For Canadian readers, Khali is relevant through WWE's international popularity and the global reach of professional wrestling media in Canada.

Key details

Beyond wrestling, Khali has appeared in films and television, including roles in *The Longest Yard*, *Get Smart*, and *MacGruber*. After retiring, he returned to India and remains publicly active. His career helped expand WWE's audience in South Asia.

In short

  • First Indian-born world champion in WWE history (World Heavyweight Championship, 2007).
  • Inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2021.
  • Known for his immense size and signature moves: Punjabi Plunge and Khali Vise Grip.
  • Also acted in Hollywood and Bollywood productions.
Canadian angle

Khali is primarily relevant to Canadian readers through WWE’s international popularity and the global reach of professional wrestling media in Canada.

Quick questions

Who is The Great Khali?
The Great Khali is the ring name of Dalip Singh Rana, an Indian-born former professional wrestler and actor best known for his WWE career.
What is The Great Khali’s real name?
His real name is Dalip Singh Rana.
Was The Great Khali the first Indian WWE champion?
Yes. He became the first Indian-born world champion in WWE when he won the World Heavyweight Championship in 2007.

Sources

  1. WWE — https://www.wwe.com/superstars/the-great-khali
    Supports: Height, weight, hometown, signature moves, Hall of Fame induction, and career highlights including World Heavyweight Champion.
  2. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Great_Khali
    Supports: Birth name, birth date, Indian-born background, acromegaly note, and overview of wrestling career.
  3. Wikipedia (French) — https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Great_Khali
    Supports: Career timeline including debut in 2000, work with New Japan Pro-Wrestling, and WWE contract in 2006.
  4. News18 — https://www.news18.com/news/sports/the-great-khali-on-his-birthday-facts-about-the-mammoth-wrestler-2286075.html
    Supports: Indian background and World Heavyweight Championship win in 2007.