The Great Khali on WWE Hall of Fame Class of 2021 induction: So glad that I made my country proud

The Great Khali. Picture/ AFP

The Great Khali has been revealed as an inductee in the WWE Hall of Fame Class of 2021. Khali was surprised with the news by his brother and former manager, Ranjin Singh, in an exclusive edition of WWE Now India, published earlier at @WWEIndia on Instagram. The Great Khali will take his place in sports-entertainment history during the 2021 WWE Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony, which takes place in the US on Tuesday, April 6.

Standing 7-foot-1 and tipping the scales at 347 pounds, Khali made his titanic presence felt from the moment he first entered the WWE Universe in 2006, standing toe-to-toe with the legendary Undertaker and bulldozing over The Deadman, a rare sight between the ropes. The Great Khali went on to battle many of WWE's most legendary Superstars, including John Cena, Batista, Shawn Michaels and fellow 2021 Inductee Kane, whom he defeated to pick up his first win on The Grandest Stage of Them All, WrestleMania. The giant's greatest success would come on the July 20, 2007, edition of SmackDown, when Khali outlasted 19 of SmackDown's top Superstars, last eliminating Batista and Kane to win the World Heavyweight Championship.

The Great Khali, originally known as Dalip Singh Rana, also took to his Instagram to share the news. In an emotional post, he wrote, "Humble beginnings and difficult challenges are the foundation of every great accomplishment. I am truly humbled and honoured to announce that 'Am receiving WWE's HALL OF FAME Honour!' I'll be the first Indian world heavyweight wrestling champion to get this reward! I am deeply grateful for this honour🙏. I want to express my sincere appreciation and thanks to all my fans and to our beautiful Nation. Am so glad that I made my country proud on an international platform. Service is not an organisation but an attitude."

"Message to my fans and all young souls - "Have patience, do hard work, Give the world the best you have and the best will come back to you." Thank you for supporting me."

Due to his success in WWE, The Great Khali has become a national hero and a star of the silver screen. Khali has appeared in films like "MacGruber," "Get Smart," and "The Longest Yard." He's also opened up a wrestling school, helping to get the next generation of Indian Superstar hopefuls ready for the ring. The ceremony will feature the inductions of the 2020 class, which includes The nWo, The Bella Twins, JBL, British Bulldog and Jushin "Thunder" Liger, as well as the 2021 class, which features Khali, Molly Holly and Eric Bischoff.

Don't miss The Great Khali taking his place in history during the 2021 WWE Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony, airing in India exclusively on Sony sports channels and WWE Network on SonyLIV.