The Great Khali
Dalip Singh Rana  | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | August 27, 1972[1] Dhirana, Himachal Pradesh, India[1] |
| Professional wrestling career | |
| Ring name(s) | Giant Singh The Great Khali |
| Billed height | 7 ft 3 in (2.21 m)[2] |
| Billed weight | [undue weight? – discuss][2] |
| Billed from | The jungles of Punjab, India |
| Trained by | APW Boot Camp |
| Debut | October 7, 1996 |
Dalip Singh Rana[1] (born August 27 1972) is an Indian professional wrestler and actor, better known by his ring name The Great Khali. He is currently signed to World Wrestling Entertainment wrestling on its SmackDown! brand, where he is the reigning World Heavyweight Champion. Before embarking on his professional sports career, he was an officer in the Punjab state police.
Career
Under the ring name Giant Singh, Dalip Singh became a pro wrestler for All Pro Wrestling in the United States of America, making his first appearance in October 1996, when teaming with Tony Jones against the West Side Playaz.
On May 28, 2001, Brian Ong died after receiving a flapjack from Singh. 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 any 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. They were found liable for recklessness after less than a day of deliberations, awarding the Ong family for damages of over $1.3 million.[3]
New Japan Pro Wrestling
In August 2001, Singh was brought into New Japan Pro Wrestling by Team 2000 leader, Masahiro Chono, along with another big man, Giant Silva. They were the tallest tag team in pro-wrestling history at an average height of 7 ft 2 in, and a combined weight of 805 lb. The two teamed 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. Singh suffered his first loss in a tag match at the Tokyo Dome in January 2002, being cradled by Hiroyoshi Tenzan. He suffered another big tag defeat during March, being pinned by Manabu Nakanishi, and falling to a German suplex hold. 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.
World Wrestling Entertainment
On January 2, 2006, Singh was signed to a contract by WWE and assigned to the Deep South Wrestling developmental territory for training. With Daivari by his side, the un-named Singh debuted on WWE television on the April 7, 2006 episode of SmackDown!, attacking The Undertaker and leaving him out cold during his match with Mark Henry, and thus causing a no-contest.
The next week he was introduced as The Great Khali. Daivari explained that he now finally had a client that would destroy the Underaker (after Muhammed Hassan and Mark Henry had failed previously). Khali made his in-ring debut on the April 21, 2006 edition of SmackDown!, defeating Funaki.
On the May 12, 2006 edition of SmackDown, JBL put Khali against then World Champion Rey Mysterio. Khali had a height advantage of almost two feet and a weight advantage of 250 pounds, and gained an easy victory over Mysterio. In his match against The Undertaker at Judgment Day 2006, Khali landed a series of blows on 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. Khali continued on a rampage for several weeks, winning handicapped matches, beating superstars up in a display of power, and mocking the Undertaker's signature pin and victory pose.
Khali then challenged the Undertaker to a Punjabi Prison Match. 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 (in the storyline Theodore Long replaced Khali with Big Show as punishment for an attack on The Undertaker shortly before the match).
Khali later received a clean bill of health, and the August 4, 2006 episode of SmackDown would see Khali being challenged by The Undertaker to a Last Man Standing match at SummerSlam. However, the match was moved to the SmackDown just prior to SummerSlam and won by the Undertaker, giving Khali his first definite loss in the WWE.
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 choke drop him on a regular basis. Sometimes it would be on the steel entrance stage, a steel chair, or the padded floor outside the ring.
On the January 8 2007, episode of RAW, Jonathan Coachman announced that Khali's 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 choke slammed Cena to the mat and left the ringside area, leaving Cena prone to an attack by Umaga.
On the February 19 2007 edition of Raw, Khali demanded better competition after easily defeating the Highlanders.Four days later on SmackDown, the Great Khali seeked for better competition, interfering in a Falls Count Anywhere, Money In The Bank qualifying match between Kane and King Booker. Khali cost Kane the match, leading to a match at WrestleMania. In his first appearance at the event, Khali defeated Kane at WrestleMania 23 after slamming him with a choke drop. Right after the match, Khali choked Kane with his own hook and chain.
On the April 30 2007 edition of RAW, The Great Khali attacked Shawn Michaels, Edge, and Randy Orton backstage. He attacked WWE Champion John Cena as well, sending a message that he wanted Cena's title. The next week on RAW, Khali defeated Michaels in a No. 1 contender's match for the WWE Championship at Judgment Day. 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. The next night on RAW, Khali expressed his outrage via his translator over the outcome. 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.
On the June 11 edition of WWE Raw, as part of the WWE Draft, Khali was drafted from Raw to SmackDown! as SmackDown's first draft pick. He would soon enter a feud with Batista in July before the Great American Bash. The two were scheduled for a match on PPV on Sunday, July 22, 2007. However, due to Edge vacating the World Heavyweight Championship due to a injury, Khali won a 20-man Battle Royal for the title on the July 20 (taped on July 17) edition of SmackDown!, eliminating both Kane and Batista in one move. Khali dominated and defeated both Batista and Kane that same week at "The Great American Bash". Khali then debuted a move called The Claw which he used to wear down Ric Flair, Batista and Kane. At SummerSlam he fought Batista for the World Heavyweight Championship but was disqualified for the use of a chair, thereby retaining the title.
In wrestling
- Finishing and signature moves
- Khali Bomb (Two handed chokeslam)
- Brain chop
- Khali Vise Grip (Clawhold)
- Chokeslam
- Headbutt
- Big boot
- Clothesline
- Spin kick
- Delayed scoop slam
- Leg drop
- Managers
- Daivari
- Ranjin Singh
Championships and accomplishments
- World Heavyweight Championship (1 time, current)
Filmography
In 2005, Singh starred in the film The Longest Yard as Turley, one of the prison's inmates. On March 16 2007, it was announced that Singh is set to begin shooting Get Smart, a movie based on the 1960s classic TV show, alongside Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson.[5]
Personal life
He married Harminder Kaur on February 27, 2002.[1]
References
- ^ a b c d Cite error: The named reference
IMDbwas invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ a b c WWE: Superstars > SmackDown > The Great Khali > Bio
- ^ Hershlaw.com (second article on page)
- ^ http://www.wwe.com/shows/raw/archive/06112007/
- ^ Khali ready to make giant mark on Hollywood