Remember when we said that Andre The Giant passed away due to not treating his Acromegaly? That almost happened to The Great Khali while he was signed to WWE.

In 2012, it was discovered that a tumor had developed on Khali’s pituitary gland (the main part of the brain that caused his gigantism), and he needed brain surgery in order to remove it. Khali underwent a lengthy procedure in July of that year at the UPMC Presbyterian Hospital in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, to remove the tumor, which went successfully thanks to the work of neurosurgeon Dr. Joseph Maroon and his team.

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By removing the tumor, Khali actually extended his life expectancy, as it eliminated certain side effects that can often lead to death for people suffering from Acromegaly in their 40s and 50s. After the surgery, Khali was supposed to give a few words to update WWE fans on how he was feeling and when he could get back in the ring. However, he declined to make any comments due to literally not being able to speak properly, as his nasal cavity was packed like a Christmas turkey.

In the years that followed his surgery, Khali would end up leaving WWE in 2014 at the end of his contract, making sporadic appearances in 2017 and 2018. He retired in 2018 after appearing at The Greatest Royal Rumble event in Saudi Arabia, and would later be honored with a spot in the WWE Hall of Fame in 2021. The Great Khali might not have had it easy during his life, but for fighting through everything he has been through, it’s safe to say that he has earned the right to be considered great for the rest of his career.

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