10 Secrets Nobody Has Told You About WCW
7. The Training Ground Of The Great Khali
Whereas you may be surprised to realise AJ Styles competed in a WCW ring, it's even more shocking to learn that the future Great Khali spent eight months honing his craft under the WCW banner.
Having made his wrestling debut for US indy promotion All Pro Wrestling in 2000, the hulking frame of the real-life Dalip Singh was quickly signed up by WCW. Following in the footsteps of major stars such as Bill Goldberg and Paul Wight, Singh was assigned to the promotion's Power Plant training facility.
This WCW tenure came towards the end of the company's lifespan, and the 7'1" monster didn't have the opportunity to make an appearance on WCW TV before his time there came to a close. In terms of that "came to a close", Singh remained with WCW up until the organisation was assimilated by the World Wrestling Federation in early 2001.
Following that buyout, the Indian juggernaut headed to Japan and joined New Japan Pro-Wrestling, immediately forming a humongous tag team with the 7'2" Giant Silva. It would take a further five years until Dalip Singh joined WWE and became the Great Khali, with him initially landing in the Deep South Wrestling developmental territory before being fast-tracked to the main roster - where he'd become the World Heavyweight Champion the following year.