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| A still from The Great Khali's WWE Debut against Undertaker - Viral video (below) has been viewed 18 million times |
Professional wrestler Dalip Singh Rana's, better known as Great Khali, contract with WWE came to an end a year ago.
At 42, he is old for the taxing sport. After 14 years of professional wrestling, his body is also not able to take it. During his last bouts, Great Khali would step into the ring with a noticeable limp, which he blames on a botched knee surgery. Despite his Herculean strength, his lower limbs have weakened as he cannot train them adequately.
Towards his closing days, he was sadly no longer a menacing figure, but a wrestler, who was past his prime and was being used as a bit a joke.
Exit from WWE means, Dalip Singh Rana cannot use the name Great Khali anymore, which belongs to the corporation. He fights in different countries occasionally using different names, Giant Singh, for instance.
An American citizen, he runs a profitable liquor store in Houston where his family lives, reports The Indian Express. he has been married to Harminder, for 13 years, and has an 18-month daughter,
He also runs a professional wrestling academy in Jalandhar Continental Wrestling Academy. The response is good, though the talent is uncertain. Despite having an American trainer, it is hard to predict how many of the students will successfully make it to WWE.
It has been a fairy tale ride for Great Khali.
Son of a poor labourer, he cut stone on roads before getting a police job on on the strength of his sheer 7' 2'' and 200 kg bulk. After watching WWE on TV, he famously quit his job and went to the US on scant resources and without speaking a word of English.
Through grit he became a wrestler, who is today recognised anywhere in the world.