The Great Khali has made a notable claim about the direction of his WWE career, alleging that the company shifted him into a comedic role to diminish his character once he expressed a desire to leave.
Speaking on Insight with Chris Van Vliet, the Hall of Famer suggested that Vince McMahon changed his presentation after learning of his intentions. “After WWE finds out Khali wants to leave, so then he made me a comedy wrestler, because he wants to kill my character,” Khali said.
Khali pointed to his massive drawing power in India as evidence of what he was capable of at his peak. “When I start wrestling in WWE, all of India watches wrestling. Everyone, kids, women, men, young and old,” Khali said, reiterating his belief that his exit talk prompted the creative shift. “So he’s thinking he wants to leave, so he made me a comedy wrestler.”
Khali did indeed take on a more lighthearted role in the latter stages of his WWE run, which featured segments like the “Kiss Cam.” Despite his frustration with that chapter, Khali has otherwise remained overwhelmingly positive about his time with the company, crediting WWE with changing his life and stating that he has no interest in speaking ill of the promotion.
If you use any of the quotes from this article, please credit Insight with Chris Van Vliet with an h/t to WrestlingNews.co for the transcription.
