The Great Khali Returns At WWE Battleground 2017
The former champion helps Jinder Mahal escape the Punjabi Prison.
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.
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.