Great Khali Reveals Vince McMahon Offered ‘Great Gandhi’ as an Alternative Ring Name

The Great Khali has shed some light on how he got his famous ring name — and it turns out he came very close to entering WWE under a very different moniker.

In a recently recorded interview for Insight with Chris Van Vliet, the former World Heavyweight Champion recalled the moment Vince McMahon presented him with his naming options ahead of his WWE debut. According to Khali, McMahon gave him a choice between two names: he could go by Khali, or he could be introduced to audiences as The Great Gandhi.

Khali, of course, went with the former — a decision that proved prescient. The name ‘The Great Khali’ became one of the more recognizable monikers in WWE’s mid-2000s roster, helping establish the towering Indian star as a legitimate monster heel during his run with the company. He debuted in 2006, quickly made an impact by attacking The Undertaker, and went on to capture the World Heavyweight Championship in 2007 — a moment that resonated enormously with fans in India and helped WWE expand its footprint in that market.

The alternative, Great Gandhi, would have carried obvious cultural weight given Mahatma Gandhi’s iconic status in India, though it’s easy to see why a more neutral name ultimately won out.

The full conversation with Van Vliet is set to offer more stories from Khali’s career, and given the peek behind the curtain this particular detail provides into Vince McMahon’s creative process, it figures to be a compelling watch for longtime WWE fans.