The Great Khali has accused WWE of intentionally trying to kill his character after the company believed he was planning to leave. He spoke about the issue on the Chris Van Vliet podcast.
Khali said WWE moved him from being a dominant monster to a comedy wrestler after they found out he wanted to leave. He said the point was to damage the character fans first knew him for.
He said when he started wrestling, all of India watched wrestling. He believes WWE knew how much power he had with Indian fans and tried to take the aura away from him before he walked out.
Khali admitted he really did want to leave because he wanted to focus on his own ventures. He said WWE first tried to pay him more to stay, but when they still believed he wanted out, the character went in a direction he hated.
The “Punjabi Playboy” run and the Tooth Fairy segment with The Rock were both examples of what he meant. He said those moments felt like attempts to kill his character. He called them “too much” and said he felt they were trying to destroy what he had built.
Khali also mentioned his movie work as another possible reason for the tension. He said WWE first allowed him to do the movie Get Smart, then later tried to block it. He said his agent had already received permission.
Khali stopped short of blaming Vince McMahon directly. He said McMahon was always good to him and that someone around him may have been involved.
Despite the comedy material, Khali said Indian fans never stopped supporting him. He said they understood him and kept backing him. He said no matter what WWE put on television, his own people loved him.
The Great Khali Confirms Retirement From Full-Time Wrestling
Khali has confirmed he is retired from full-time wrestling. He spoke about his retirement on the Chris Van Vliet podcast.
He said his knees are the main reason he can no longer compete full-time. He plans to get knee replacement surgery but is busy and has not done it yet. He said he wants to do one knee first and then decide about the other.
Khali said he is not in constant pain while sitting and can still train. But standing for too long, walking and using stairs are where the problem shows up.
He did not completely rule out a future WWE appearance. He said if WWE asked him to come for one day, like a Royal Rumble spot, he might consider it. But he made it clear he would never work full-time again.
Khali has not wrestled since the Greatest Royal Rumble in 2018. He did make an appearance at WWE Superstar Spectacle in 2023. His full-time wrestling days are officially over.
FAQs
Q. Why did The Great Khali say WWE changed his character?
A. Khali said WWE believed he wanted to leave the company.
Q. What did The Great Khali accuse WWE of doing?
A. The Great Khali said WWE tried to destroy his character.
Q. Why did The Great Khali retire from full-time wrestling?
A. He retired because of knee problems.
Q. Could The Great Khali return to WWE for one match?
A. Yes, The Great Khali said he might return for a one-time appearance.
Q. When was The Great Khali’s last WWE match?
A. His last WWE match was at the Greatest Royal Rumble in 2018.
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