An iconic figure of WWE might show up in the ring again after an eight-year hiatus. The Great Khali was the very first Indian wrestler who got a contract with the Stamford company. The giant of 7 feet tall, had a big impact right away by having a fight with The Undertaker and even beating him at the 2006 Judgment Day pay-per-view. Interestingly, his very first defeat was also against the same opponent during a SmackDown episode.
A look back at The Great Khal’s WWE journey
The year after his draft to RAW, he started a rivalry with Kane, defeating him in their single match at WrestleMania 23. Then he got into a feud with John Cena, the champion at the time, who beat him in their multiple encounters. In June 2007, he captured the vacant World Heavyweight Championship through a 20-man battle royal on RAW, for the first and only time in his career. He lost the title that he held for 3 months at Unforgiven.
From WWE superstar to Indian Wrestling Pioneer
The Great Khali, during his stint with WWE, engaged in several top-notch rivalries and even participated in humorous plots, one of which cast him as the Punjabi Playboy. He left WWE in November 2014 when his contract was not renewed. The Great Khali, after WWE left, began considering the idea of introducing pro wrestling in India, which eventually led to the establishment of the Continental Wrestling Entertainment in 2015. CWE, located in Jalandhar, India, not only produced several talents but also had the Indian female wrestler Kavita Devi and Dilsher Shanky join the ranks of WWE.
The Great Khali’s Return: A New Chapter with CWE
Following his exit from WWE, Khali has occasionally surfaced in various forms, among them a participation in the 2018 Greatest Royal Rumble held in Saudi Arabia, being his last match. His return to the ring with CWE is planned for January 2026. He will reportedly face Parker Bordeaux, a wrestler who has represented WWE and AEW so far, as announced by his academy on social media. The Great Khali was honored with induction to the Hall of Fame Class of 2021 by the company.
