Although India has been the WWE’s second-largest market, very few Indian wrestlers have been hired.
And this all despite the rich culture of traditional wrestling in the Indian subcontinent.
Gama Singh was the first Indian who worked with WWE in the 1980s for a long time.
But it’s nothing compared to the Great Khali’s popularity among the wrestling fans, not just in India but throughout mainstream WWE.
Following NXT’s launch in 2013 as a superstar, WWE has chosen to support the quota for many Indian athletes in the subcontinent. Many Indian athletes are, therefore, currently working with WWE.
To know some of them, here are the top 10 famous Indian WWE players:
10. Kishan Raftar
Lovepreet Sangha, known in WWE as Kishan Raftar, is a retired Indian professional wrestler who made history as the second Indian to sign with WWE after The Great Khali.
Sangha debuted in WWE’s NXT brand on September 26, 2015, in a battle royal won by Baron Corbin and Samoa Joe.
He quickly became a notable presence, defeating top NXT talents like Jason Jordan and Chad Gable, and teaming with fellow Indian wrestler Jeet Rama to beat the American Alpha tag team.
Raftar competed in multiple NXT live events and WWE Experience shows between 2015 and 2018, showcasing his skills against rising stars.
He was released from WWE in May 2018 and has not competed since, marking the end of his tenure as a trailblazing Indian wrestler in the global wrestling spotlight.
9. Akam
Sunny Dhinsa, known as Akam in WWE, is a Canadian professional wrestler and former national freestyle wrestling champion, having won the Canadian title in 2011, 2012, and 2013.
He debuted in WWE’s NXT brand in 2015 and rose to fame as one-half of The Authors of Pain (AOP) tag team alongside Rezar. Together, they captured the NXT Tag Team Championship, won the 2016 Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic, and later claimed the WWE Raw Tag Team Championship.
Akam’s signature move, the Pumphandle Death Valley Driver, became iconic during their NXT and main roster runs.
After multiple stints in WWE, including a 2024 return with The Final Testament, Akam and Rezar were released from WWE contracts in February 2025.
8. Shanky Singh
Gurvinder Singh Malhotra, known by his ring name Shanky Singh, is an Indian professional wrestler recognized for his tenure in WWE and Continental Wrestling Entertainment (CWE).
Born on June 19, 1991, in Haryana, India, he joined CWE in 2015 and became a two-time CWE World Heavyweight Champion.
WWE signed him in January 2020, and he competed under the ring name Dilsher Shanky, debuting at the Superstar Spectacle in January 2021, where he teamed with Rey Mysterio and others to win an eight-man tag match.
Shanky is known for his towering 7-foot stature and agility in the ring. He has expanded his profile beyond wrestling, appearing as Zalzala Singh in the 2019 Bollywood film “Bharat” and featuring as a playable character in WWE 2K23.
He was released from WWE in September 2023 but remains a prominent figure in Indian wrestling.
7. Jeet Rama
Jeet Rama, born Satender Dagar, is an Indian professional wrestler best known for his time in WWE’s NXT and 205 Live brands.
Inspired by The Great Khali, he won the prestigious Hind Kesari title before joining WWE’s Performance Center in mid-2015.
Rama debuted in NXT live events, competing in high-profile matches including a No. 1 Contendership Battle Royal for the NXT Championship on November 29, 2015, though he did not win.
He later teamed with Kishan Raftar as The Bollywood Boyz, gaining attention for their tag team chemistry. Rama made his televised WWE debut at Superstar Spectacle in 2021, facing AJ Styles, and competed on 205 Live until his release in November 2021.
In 2025, Rama transitioned into leadership, founding Wrestling Xtreme Mania (WXM) as Chief Operations Officer, aiming to develop Indian wrestling talent and promote the sport nationally.
6. The Singh Brothers
The Bollywood Boyz, composed of Canadian brothers Gurvinder “Gurv” Sihra and Harvinder “Harv” Sihra, are renowned tag-team wrestlers known in WWE as The Singh Brothers.
Gurvinder began training in 2004 and debuted in Ohio Valley Wrestling in 2005. The duo participated in WWE’s Global Cruiserweight Series in 2016 and made their main roster debut on SmackDown in 2017, managing Jinder Mahal to his WWE Championship reign.
They later competed on 205 Live, winning the WWE 24/7 Championship nine times collectively.
Released from WWE in June 2021, The Bollywood Boyz have since returned to the independent circuit, capturing titles such as the WSW Tag Team Championship in 2025.
They remain prominent figures in international wrestling and have expressed interest in a WWE comeback, maintaining strong connections with WWE alumni and fans.
5. Saurav Gurjar
Veer Mahaan (real name Rinku Singh Rajput) and Saurav Gurjar (Sanga) are Indian professional wrestlers best known as the tag team Indus Sher in WWE.
Veer, a former professional baseball player and subject of the film “Million Dollar Arm,” signed with WWE in January 2018 and debuted at NXT in May 2018.
Saurav Gurjar, famed for his role as Bheem in the TV series “Mahabharat,” transitioned to wrestling after winning gold in the State Kickboxing Championship in 2007 and joined WWE in 2018.
Together, Indus Sher debuted on NXT television in March 2018, managed by Malcolm Bivens, and became a dominant force, later aligning with Jinder Mahal and Shanky on the main roster.
The team was drafted to various WWE brands and competed for tag titles, leaving a notable mark on WWE’s tag division before their release in April 2024.
4. Mahabali Shera
Mahabali Shera, born Amanpreet Singh Randhawa, is a pioneering Indian professional wrestler best known for his time in TNA/IMPACT Wrestling and WWE.
He gained fame as part of the Ring Ka King project in 2011, becoming the final RKK World Heavyweight Champion.
Shera also competed in various independent circuits under names like Khoya before signing with WWE in February 2018, where he had a brief stint in NXT before his release later that year.
He returned to IMPACT Wrestling in 2019 and continues to compete there, also holding the OVW National Heavyweight Championship.
As of 2025, Shera remains active in TNA and has joined the GLW roster under AEx Sports, maintaining a strong presence on the global wrestling stage.
3. Kavita Devi
Kavita Devi (real name Kavita Dalal) is a trailblazing Indian professional wrestler and the first Indian woman to sign with WWE.
She competed in NXT between 2017 and 2021, making history as the first Indian female to appear in WWE ring events, including the Mae Young Classic and WrestleMania 34’s Women’s Battle Royal.
Before joining WWE, Devi was a gold medalist in the 75kg weightlifting category at the 2016 South Asian Games and trained at The Great Khali’s Continental Wrestling Entertainment Academy.
She was mentored by Khali and inspired by Jinder Mahal, and also served as a police sub-inspector before transitioning to wrestling.
Devi was released from WWE in May 2021 and has since remained active in Indian sports and public life, including contesting the 2024 Haryana Vidhan Sabha elections.
2. Jinder Mahal
Jinder Mahal, born Yuvraj Singh Dhesi, is a Canadian professional wrestler of Indian descent best known for his WWE career.
He first joined WWE in 2010 and, after a brief stint, returned in 2016 to achieve his greatest success. Mahal made history as the first wrestler of Indian descent to win the WWE Championship in 2017, holding it for 170 days, and later captured the WWE United States Championship at WrestleMania 34 in 2018.
He was trained by several former wrestlers, including his uncle Gama Singh, and became a key figure in WWE’s efforts to connect with Indian audiences.
Mahal also held the WWE 24/7 Championship twice and competed in major global events, including the Greatest Royal Rumble.
As of 2025, he remains a prominent ambassador for WWE in India and is frequently mentioned as a potential returnee to the main roster.
1. The Great Khali
The Great Khali, born Dalip Singh Rana, is an Indian-American professional wrestler, promoter, and actor renowned for his WWE career.
Standing over 7 feet tall, Khali became a household name in India and globally after his WWE debut in 2006. He won the World Heavyweight Championship in a 20-man battle royal on SmackDown in 2007, defeating legends like The Undertaker, Batista, and Kane, and became the first Indian-born world champion in WWE history.
Khali’s intimidating presence and signature Punjabi Plunge made him a unique force in WWE, and he played a key role in major storylines, including helping Jinder Mahal retain the WWE Championship at Battleground 2017.
After retiring in 2014, Khali founded Continental Wrestling Entertainment (CWE), mentoring future WWE stars like Dilsher Shanky and Kavita Devi.
He was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2021, cementing his legacy as a pioneer for Indian wrestlers in global wrestling.