The Great Khali Returns At WWE Battleground 2017

The former champion helps Jinder Mahal escape the Punjabi Prison.

by Andy H Murray
Jinder Mahal The Great Khali
WWE.com

Former World Heavyweight Champion The Great Khali returned to WWE for the first time in three years at last night's Battleground pay-per-view.

The comeback took place during WWE Champion Jinder Mahal and Randy Orton's Punjabi Prison match. 'The Viper' looked to be on the verge of dethroning the champion after overcoming both Mahal and the Singh Brothers, but Jinder's music suddenly hit. Khali emerged from the back, shook Orton loose from the structure, and choked him out as Mahal escaped.

The pay-per-view's closing scene saw Mahal and Khali celebrate with the WWE Title on the ramp, while Randy sold the assault. There's no word on whether or not Khali's return was a one-off, but his appearance drew a decent response from the Philadelphia crowd.

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The former champion's last WWE appearance came in October 2014. He was released the following month, and has since stayed occupied through his Continental Wrestling Entertainment training school in India. The Punjabi Prison gimmick was originally designed for him in 2006, and while illness prevented Khali from competing in the original incarnation that year, he did wrestle Batista inside the structure at No Mercy 2007.

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Andy has been with WhatCulture for six years and is currently WhatCulture's Senior Wrestling Reporter. A writer, presenter, and editor with 10+ years of experience in online media, he has been a sponge for all wrestling knowledge since playing an old Royal Rumble 1992 VHS to ruin in his childhood. Having previously worked for Bleacher Report, Andy specialises in short and long-form writing, video presenting, voiceover acting, and editing, all characterised by expert wrestling knowledge and commentary. Andy is as much a fan of 1985 Jim Crockett Promotions as he is present-day AEW and WWE - just don't make him choose between the two.