The popularity of World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) has grown by leaps and bounds over the years and the no.1 country that consumes WWE video content in the world is India.
WWE stars with the likes of The Undertaker, The Rock, Stone Cold, Triple H, Big Show, Kane etc are someone who Indian fans have grown watching on the Television.
Meanwhile, there are some Indian wrestlers who have made their way to the WWE fold. Nevertheless, the premier wrestling industry has always made a concentrated effort rope in Indian grapplers given the entertainment sports’ popularity in the country.
One of the biggest untapped markets for WWE is India which has also paved way for the desi wrestlers to make a mark in the world of sports entertainment.
Let's have a look at the 13 Indian wrestlers who made it big in the WWE and plied their trade in a foreign land.
1. Gama Singh
Gadowar Singh Sahota from Punjab, better known as Gama 'pehelwan' started his foray into the wrestling at the age of 9 when he joined his father in Canada. He began his professional wrestling training in the early 1970s under Stu Hart, the legendary wrestler. He started wrestling for the World Wrestling Federation (WWF) in the early 1980s.
2. The Great Khali
The Great Khali was the first Indian professional wrestler to be signed by WWE way back in 2006, instantly making him a fan favourite.
3. Kavita Devi
Kavita Devi is a South Asian Games gold medallist in 2016 and in 2018, and she became the first Indian female wrestler to feature at WrestleMania.
4. Jinder Mahal
Jinder Mahal comes from Canada but Punjab is in his blood, and his WWE debut was back in 2011.
5. The Singh Brothers
The Singh Brothers (formerly known as The Bollywood Boyz) are a professional wrestling tag team consisting of brothers Sunil Singh and Samir Singh. On June 13, 2016, Gurv and Harv were announced as participants in WWE's Cruiserweight Classic tournament.
6. Mahabali Shera
Amanpreet Singh Randhawa formally known as Mahabali Shera is an Indian professional wrestler. In 2011, Mahabali Shera took part in Total Nonstop Action Wrestling's India project, Ring Ka King that put him on the map in Wrestling. Shera signed a contract with WWE in February 2018.
7. Rinku Singh Rajput
Professional wrestler and former baseball player, Rinku Singh Rajput, who signed a contract with WWE in 2018, where he performs on the Raw brand under the ring name ‘Veer’.
8. Guru Raaj
Guru Raaj is India’s first high-flying wrestler in WWE. His real name is Laxmikant Rajpoot. Guru belongs to the Banda district in Uttar Pradesh.
9. Giant Zanjeer
7 feet 2 inches tall, Giant Zanjeer is the largest Indian athlete to appear in WWE after The Great Khali. Giant Zanjeer’s real name is Sukhwinder Singh Grewal. His native place is Jargaon, Punjab. Sukhwinder was selected for WWE Developmental Contract in 2019 after appearing in WWE India Tryout in Mumbai. To participate in the mega event he got himself trained by another Giant Great Khali.
10. Shanky Singh
Gurvinder Singh Malhotra, the famous Indian wrestler in WWE, popularly known as Shanky Singh. Gurvinder is a former CWE World Heavyweight Champion. In 2015, when was just 24, he joined Continental Wrestling Entertainment (CWE). He won CWE’s first royal rumble match on February 28, 2016, in Dehradun, India, against super Khalsa. Later, in the year 2020, he was selected by the WWE. On September 5, 2016, Shanky won the Battle Royal.
11. Akam
Sunny Dhinsa, popularly known as Akam, is a professional Indian-origin Wrestler. He made his WWE debut in April 2015 on NXT. His deadly moves, Pumphandle Death Valley Bomb, made him very popular in no time. In 2011, 2012, and 2013 he won the Canadian national freestyle wrestling championship. The team of Razar and Akam won the WWE Raw Tag Team Title & WWE NXT Tag Team Championship. The duo also won the Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic event in 2016.
12. Kishan Raftar
Indian wrestler, Lovepreet Sangha was once a very popular renowned WWE star. Currently, he is retired from the game. Lovepreet Sangha was popularly called Kishan Raftar in the rings. He was part of WWE’s NXT brand. After The Great Khali, Sangha was the only 2nd Indian pro-wrestler to be a part of WWE. After signing with the WWE. he made his debut on 26 September 2015 in the battle of the royal match. The match was won by Baron Corbin and Samoa Joe. On January 15th, 2016 he defeated Jason Jordan. Following his winning streak, Raftar defeated Chad Gable, Jason Jordan’s partner in the tag team event. Raftar ended his contract with WWE on May 13, 2015.
13. Sourav Gurjar
Saurav Gurjar is best known for his role as the mighty Bheem in the TV show Mahabharat. He earned more fame when he started playing in WWE NXT matches. Gujar began his combat sports career by winning Gold in the State Kickboxing Championship in Indore, M.P in 2007. In the year 2018, he signed an agreement with WWE. Saurav Gujar was popular by the ring name Deadly Danda. In his debut match, he beat an opponent named Puma.
