Panipat, Haryana: Concern among fans of Indian wrestling star The Great Khali eased on Sunday after the former WWE champion confirmed that he was safe following an accident involving his SUV at a toll plaza in Panipat.
The incident took place on Saturday and quickly attracted attention after videos from the scene appeared on social media. Footage showed Khali outside his damaged vehicle at the toll plaza, apparently unharmed, before moving toward another vehicle.
Khali, whose real name is Dalip Singh Rana, later addressed the incident through an Instagram Stories video after receiving numerous calls and messages from friends and well-wishers.
He said he was doing fine and explained that although his vehicle suffered some damage, there was no serious cause for concern. Khali also said he had initially decided not to discuss the incident publicly because he did not consider it significant, but online videos had already drawn public attention to what happened.
Thanking his supporters for checking on his safety, the wrestling star urged them to look after themselves and expressed gratitude for their concern.
A Major Name in Indian Wrestling
At 54, The Great Khali remains one of India’s most recognisable figures in professional wrestling. Standing more than seven feet tall, he rose to international prominence after moving from a career in the Punjab Police into professional wrestling.
Khali began wrestling professionally in 2000 before making his WWE debut in 2007. His arrival on WWE’s SmackDown brand immediately put him in the spotlight, particularly after he was presented as a formidable opponent for established stars including The Undertaker.
Later that year, Khali captured the World Heavyweight Championship after winning a 20-man battle royal that also featured major names such as Batista and Kane. The achievement made him the first wrestler born in India to win a WWE world championship.
His title run was brief, however. He eventually lost the championship to Batista in a triple-threat match at Unforgiven 2007, which also involved Rey Mysterio.
Founded His Own Wrestling Promotion
Khali left WWE in 2014 and went on to establish Continental Wrestling Entertainment (CWE) in Jalandhar, Punjab. The organisation functions as a wrestling promotion as well as a training platform for aspiring wrestlers.
He continued to make occasional appearances associated with WWE after his departure and reached another major milestone in 2021, when he was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame.
Following the Panipat accident, Khali’s confirmation that he escaped without injuries has reassured fans, while images and videos of the damaged SUV continue to circulate online.
