A ranked list of the 20 shortest wrestlers in the WWE of all time

A ranked list of the 20 shortest wrestlers in the WWE of all time

Grace Waruguru
March 15, 2024 at 6:53 PM
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K. Tajiri
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Who are the shortest wrestlers in the WWE? Some WWE stars are small-bodied but boast impressive skills that have helped them dominate the sport. Sports Brief breaks down the world's shortest wrestlers who have left a mark in the sport.

Shortest WWE wrestlers
Tj Wilson (L), Gail Kim (C), and Akira Tozawa (R) are among the shortest wrestlers in the WWE. Photo: @tjwilson711, @gailkimitsme, @realtozawa (Modified by author)
Source: Instagram

Table of Сontents:

Does height affect a wrestler's performance? While height is not necessary in the sport, a wrestler's physique affects their strength and balance as they fight. Who are the shortest wrestlers in World Wrestling Entertainment, and what have they achieved?

Shortest wrestlers in the WWE

According to online sources like PEAKD and The Sportster, these are the shortest wrestlers with successful stints in the WWE.

Name

Height

Billy Kidman

5 feet, 10 inches

TJ Perkins

5 feet, 10 inches

Scotty 2 Hotty

5 feet, 10 inches

Tyson Kidd

5 feet, 10 inches

Tajiri

5 feet, 9 inches

Evan Bourne

5 feet, 9 inches

Jimmy Wan Yang

5 feet, 9 inches

Adrian Neville

5 feet, 8 inches

Taka Michinoku

5 feet, 7 inches

Kalisto

5 feet, 6 inches

Akira Tozawa

5 feet, 6 inches

Spike Dudley

5 feet, 5 inches

Rey Mysterio

5 feet, 5 inches

Drake Maverick

5 feet, 4 inches

Gail Kim

5 feet, 4 inches

Liv Morgan

5 feet, 3 inches

Nikki Cross

5 feet, 0 inches

El Torito

4 feet, 5 inches

Hornswoggle

4 feet, 4 inches

Max Mini

3 feet, 7 inches

20. Billy Kidman - 5 feet, 10 inches

Billy Kidman is among the shortest WWE wrestlers
Billy Kidman in 2021 (L) and to the right is Billy with his arm in a cast after he tore his bicep in 2020. Photos: @thebillykidman (Modified by editor)
Source: Instagram
  • Full name: Peter Alan Gruner Jr
  • Date of birth: May 11th, 1974
  • Nationality: American

Peter Alan, popularly known as Billy Kidman, is a retired professional wrestler who enjoyed a thriving career in the late 90s and early 2000s. He was a member of several squads, including Raven's Flock and The New Blood. The wrestler won the Cruiserweight Championship thrice and the World Tag Team Championship twice.

19. TJ Perkins - 5 feet, 10 inches

  • Full name: Theodore James Perkins
  • Date of birth: September 3rd, 1984
  • Nationality: American
TJ Perkins of WWE
TJ Perkins stands at 5 feet and 10 inches tall. Photo: @megatjp (Modified by author)
Source: Instagram

TJ stands 5 feet and 10 inches and debuted his professional career in 1998. He participated in several promotions, including TNA Wrestling (Total Non-Stop Wrestling) and WWE. The athlete stayed in WWE until February 2019 and won the inaugural Cruiserweight Championship.

18. Scotty 2 Hotty - 5 feet, 10 inches

  • Full name: Scott Ronald Garland
  • Date of birth: July 2nd, 1973
  • Nationality: American
Scotty 2 Hotty of WWE
Scotty 2 Hotty (L) pictured with his two children (R). Photo: @Scotty2Hotty (Modified by author)
Source: Facebook

Scott is an All Elite Wrestling signee whose career with the WWE lasted between 1999 and 2021. He won several titles during his tenure, including the WWF World Tag Team Championship and the WWF Light Heavyweight Championship. Besides wrestling, Hotty is a trained firefighter and an emergency medical technician.

17. Tyson Kidd- 5 feet, 10 inches

  • Full name: Theodore James "TJ" Wilson
  • Date of birth: July 11th, 1980
  • Nationality: Canadian
Tyson Kidd in April 2014
Tyson Kidd attends WWE's 2014 SuperStars For Kids at the New Orleans Museum of Art on April 3, 2014, in New Orleans. Photo: Josh Brasted
Source: Getty Images

At 5 feet and 10 inches, Tyson is a retired professional wrestler and one of the world's shortest wrestlers. Kidd's debut was in 1995, and he retired in 2017 after a spinal cord injury. The athlete is a producer with the WWE and is an inductee of the Canadian Wrestling Hall of Fame (2016).

16. Tajiri - 5 feet, 9 inches

  • Full name: Yoshihiro Tajiri
  • Date of birth: September 29th, 1980
  • Nationality: Japanese
Yoshihiro Tajiri of the WWE
Japanese wrestler Yoshihiro Tajiri is 5 feet, 9 inches. Photo: @AllThingsWrestling (Modified by author)
Source: Facebook

Japanese wrestler Yoshihiro Tajiri is a wrestler and promoter who gained global attention for his work at Extreme Championship Wrestling and WWE from 2001 to 2008. Tajiri performed under the stage names Aquarius and Kikkoman and also masked the character Tigre Blanco.

15. Evan Bourne - 5 feet, 9 inches

  • Full name: Matthew Joseph Korklan
  • Date of birth: March 19th, 1983
  • Nationality: American
Evan Bourne in October 2011
Evan Bourne celebrates during the WWE Monday Night Raw Supershow Halloween event at the Philips Arena on October 31, 2011, in Atlanta, Georgia. Photo: Moses Robinson
Source: Getty Images

Evan Bourne, whose full name is Matthew Joseph Korklan, is an American professional wrestler signed with All Elite Wrestling. He was part of the WWE from 2007 to 2014, winning the WWE Tag Team Championship once (2011). Bourne won the Impact Grand Championship and Impact X Division Championship.

14. Jimmy Wan Yang - 5 feet, 9 inches

  • Full name: James Carson Yun
  • Date of birth: May 13th, 1981
  • Nationality: American
Jimmy Wan Yang
Jimmy Wan Yang is among the shortest wrestlers in the WWE. Photo: @fuegodelsol, @JavierSalazar_ (Modified by author)
Source: UGC

How long was Jimmy Wan Yang in WWE? The wrestler stayed with the outfit from 1999 to 2010. He is popularly known as Jimmy Wan Yang. The American WWE legend also enjoyed an acting career. His daughter, Jazz Yang, has followed in his footsteps and partnered with him in some matches.

13. Adrian Neville - 5 feet, 8 inches

  • Full name: Benjamin Satterley
  • Date of birth: August 22nd, 1986
  • Nationality: English
Adrian Neville shortest wrestlers
Engish wrestler Adrian Neville is currently signed with AEW Wrestling. Photo: @Adrian Neville - WWE, @WWENxt (Modified by author)
Source: Facebook

Adrian Neville, known fully as Benjamin Satterley, is an English pro wrestler signed with All Elite Wrestling (AEW). The athlete made history when he won the first double AEW championship. He clinched the All-Atlantic Championship and the AEW World Trios Championship.

12. Taka Michinoku - 5 feet, 7 inches

  • Full name: Takao Yoshida
  • Date of birth: October 26th, 1973
  • Nationality: Japanese
Taka Michinoku shortest wrestlers
Taka Michinoku is among the shortest wrestlers in the WWE. Photo: @TheAttitudeEra (Modified by author)
Source: Facebook

50-year-old Taka Michinoku is a pro wrestler and former mixed martial artist. Taka was in the WWE between 1997 and 2001 and was the first ever WWF Light Heavyweight Championship. He is the leader of Kaientai Dojo, a wrestling promotion outfit he founded in April 2002.

11. Kalisto - 5 feet, 6 inches

  • Full name: Emanuel Alejandro Rodriguez
  • Date of birth: November 14th, 1986
  • Nationality: American

Kalisto, known fully as Emanuel Alejandro Rodriguez, is among the shortest wrestlers in WWE, standing at 5 feet and 6 inches. The athlete was part of the outfit from 2013 to 2021, winning the NXT Tag Team Championship (2014) and the WWE United States Championship twice. Kalisto recently changed his name to Samuray Del Sol "Manny."

Kalisto of WWE
Samuray Del Sol "Manny," formerly known as Kalisto, is an American pro wrestler who is 5 feet and 6 inches. Photo: @samuraydelsol (Modified by author)
Source: Instagram

Top 10 shortest wrestlers

The top 10 shortest wrestlers have made significant moves in the wrestling scene. Here are the top wrestling professionals who rank among the shortest.

10. Akira Tozawa - 5 feet, 6 inches

  • Full name: Akira Tozawa
  • Date of birth: July 22nd, 1985
  • Nationality: Japanese
Akira Tozawa of WWE
Akira Tozawa is a Japanese pro wrestler performing under the Raw brand. Photo: @realtozawa (Modified by author)
Source: Instagram

Japanese pro wrestler Akira Tozawa performs under WWE's Raw brand. He is a 16-time WWE 24/7 Championship winner and a former WWE Cruiserweight champion. The 38-year-old is a member of the Alpha Academy alongside Chad Gable, Otis, and Maxxine Dupri.

9. Spike Dudley - 5 feet, 5 inches

  • Full name: Matthew Jonathan Hyson
  • Date of birth: August 13th, 1970
  • Nationality: American
Shortest wrestlers WWE Spike Dudley
Spike Dudley was one part of the Dudley Brothers in the WWE. Photo: @sniffing69mew (Modified by author)
Source: Facebook

Matthew Jonathan Hyson, popularly known by his ring name, Spike Dudley, performed with WWE from 2001 to 2005. The 5''5 athlete was part of the Dudley Brothers, who won the Tag Team Championship in 2005. He left the WWE in 2005 and made sporadic appearances in several contests until 2015.

8. Rey Mysterio - 5 feet, 5 inches

  • Full name: Óscar Gutiérrez Rubio
  • Date of birth: December 11th, 1974
  • Nationality: American
Rey Mysterio in September 2023
Rey Mysterio poses for a photo before the game against the St. Louis Cardinals on September 23, 2023, at Petco Park in San Diego, California. Photo: Matt Thomas
Source: Getty Images

Mysterio Junior is among the shortest wrestlers ever, currently performing under the Smackdown outfit. He started fighting in 1989 and significantly contributed to the rise of the cruiserweight championship division. The athlete is an inductee of the WWE Hall of Fame and the AAA Hall of Fame.

7. Drake Maverick - 5 feet, 4 inches

  • Full name: James Michael Curtin
  • Date of birth: January 30th, 1983
  • Nationality: English
shortest wrestlers Drake Maverick
Drake Maverick is an English retired pro wrestler whose height is 5 feet, 4 inches. Photo: @ProWrestlingWorld (Modified by author)
Source: Facebook

Drake is a retired WWE fighter who works with the WWE as a writer on Raw. During his first ten years, Maverick worked in the British Independent Circuit, winning titles like the One Pro Wrestling (1PW) and Revolution Pro Wrestling (RPW).

6. Gail Kim - 5 feet, 4 inches

  • Full name: Gail Kim
  • Date of birth: February 20th, 1977
  • Nationality: Canadian
Gail Kim is among the shortest wrestlers
Gail Kim is a Canadian pro wrestler whose height is 5 feet and 4 inches. Photo: @gailkimitsme (Modified by author)
Source: Instagram

Canadian pro wrestler Gail Kim won the WWE Women's Championship in her debut match. Standing at 5 feet and 4 inches, Kim is one of the shortest WWE female wrestlers. She is signed to TNA Wrestling and works as a producer and performer.

5. Liv Morgan - 5 feet, 3 inches

  • Full name: Gionna Daddio
  • Date of birth: June 8th, 1994
  • Nationality: American
Liv Morgan in October 2023
Liv Morgan speaks to the media during a press conference before the NASCAR Cup Series Bank of America ROVAL 400 on October 08, 2023. Photo: Jared C. Tilton (Modified by author)
Source: Getty Images

Liv Morgan, known fully as Gionna Daddio, is one of WWE's shortest wrestlers, standing at 5''3. She performs under Raw and is also a successful actress. Liv formed a tag team with Raquel Rodriguez, and the pair have won two WWE Women's Tag Team Championships (As of March 2024).

4. Nikki Cross - 5 feet, 0 inches

  • Full name: Nicola Glencross
  • Date of birth: April 21st, 1989
  • Nationality: Scottish
Nikki Cross of the WWE
Niki Cross is 5 feet tall. Photo: @wwenikkicross (Modified by author)
Source: Instagram

Nikki is a Scottish female wrestler who is performing under the Raw brand. The 5-foot-tall athlete has won the WWE Raw Women's Championship once and the Tag Team Championship thrice. Additionally, Nikki boasts 11 final WWE 24/7 championships.

3. El Torito - 4 feet, 5 inches

  • Full name: Mascarita Dorada
  • Date of birth: February 19th, 1982
  • Nationality: Mexican
Shortest wrestlers El Torito
El Torito is a Spanish wrestler who is 4 feet tall. Photo: @WWE__History (Modified by author)
Source: Twitter

El Torito, Spanish for the Little Bull, is a Spanish pro wrestler and one of the shortest wrestlers in history. His debut was in 2000, and his tenure at the WWE was between 2013 and 2016. The fighter's real name remains undisclosed as he performs under a mask.

2. Hornswoggle - 4 feet, 4 inches

  • Full name: Dylan Mark Postl
  • Date of birth: May 29th, 1986
  • Nationality: American
Hornswoggle in October 2017
Dylan Postl during a photoshoot. Photo: David E. Klutho (Modified by author)
Source: Getty Images

Dylan Mark Posti goes by the ring name Hornswoggle and is among the shortest pro wrestlers on the scene today. The 4''4 athlete debuted in the WWE in 2006 and won the Cruiserweight Championship in its first stint. The athlete also competed in Impact Wrestling.

1. Max Mini - 3 feet, 7 inches

  • Full name: TzukoMax Mini
  • Date of birth: December 31st, 1974
  • Nationality: Mexican
Max Mini
Max Mini is the shortest wrestler at the WWE all time, standing at 3 feet and 7 inches. Photo: E. Charbonneau (Modified by author)
Source: Getty Images

Who is the shortest in the WWE? Max Mini is a masked professional wrestler who worked for the AAA and WWF, making notable appearances in various contests and promotions. His professional debut was in 1994.

Who is the shortest Olympic wrestler?

42-year-old Clarissa Kyoko Mei Ling Chun is an American national and former wrestler. The Iowa Hawkeyes Women's Wrestling coach was the first female wrestler from Hawaii to win an Olympic medal. The Hawaii Sports Hall of Fame inductee stands at 4 feet and 9 inches or 1.5 meters.

Final word

Sometimes, looks can be deceiving, and the shortest wrestlers can paint the illusion that their size does not match their skill. However, their record of achievements and championships is a testament to the fact that they are among the best in WWE history.

READ ALSO: Who are the 10 tallest wrestlers in the history of WWE?

Sports Brief published a listicle of the top 10 tallest wrestlers in the WWE. These individuals have an impressive height that could likely intimidate their opponents. Who are some of these athletes?

Giant Gonzalez is the tallest WWE wrestler, standing at 8 feet. He retired from wrestling in 1995 and died in 2010. Andre the Giant follows him at 7 feet and 4 inches. Check out the article above for the list of the tallest wrestlers in WWE.

Authors
Grace Waruguru photo
Grace Waruguru
Grace has over 4 years of experience in article writing and digital media content creation for various local and global brands. She holds a Bachelor's degree in Communication (Public Relations) from Daystar University, Kenya.