11 Things WWE Wants You To Forget About The Great Khali

3. The Brian Ong Incident

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Pro-wrestlers do everything in their power to protect their opponents in the ring; it's utterly paramount to the profession. But occasionally, things go awry, and sadly, sometimes it results in tragedy.

One can't even begin to imagine the anguish Dalip Singh endured after inadvertedly causing the death of fellow trainee Brian Ong back in 2001, so we're not here to point fingers. But it's eminently understandable why many had concerns with his WWE arrival, and why the company have naturally been keen to sweep the incident under the rug.

Whilst sparring in All Pro Wrestling's Boot Camp, Ong suffered fatal head injuries after being on the receiving end of a flapjack from The Great Khali. Ong, who had endured a previous concussion, had been sent back to the ring on the misguided belief that he was medically fine to continue, a decision which ultimately ended his life.

The family of Ong sued APW for their recklessness, winning $2,011,860 in damages. A heavy windfall, but one which only filled a fraction of the hole left by Ong's passing.

Editorial Team
Editorial Team

Benjamin was born in 1987, and is still not dead. He variously enjoys classical music, old-school adventure games (they're not dead), and walks on the beach (albeit short - asthma, you know). He's currently trying to compile a comprehensive history of video game music, yet denies accusations that he purposefully targets niche audiences. He's often wrong about these things.