Dynamite comes in small packages: 10 of the best wrestlers under 200 pounds

While there will always be a place for huge athletes like Andre the Giant, Big Show, and the Undertaker, you don't have to be huge to be a great wrestler.

The bigger wrestlers may garner more attention, but it is the smaller, quicker athletes that put on the truly amazing spectacles. In fact, it is believed by most pro wrestling aficionados that the smaller wrestlers are, in fact, superior in many ways their massive cohorts.

With 205 Live being part of the WWE's big push for the indie audience and promotions like Ring of Honor which feature smaller wrestlers almost exclusively, the future has never looked brighter for the 'undersized' wrestler.

Here are ten of the best wrestlers in the world, and they are all under 200 pounds each.

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#10 Billy Kidman

Starting off our list is Billy Kidman. The smaller sized star started his career in WCW, where he joined the popular Raven's Flock faction. While his 'gimmick' left much to be desired--he walked around dressed like a hobo and scratched himself--his fantastic work rate and deep move list quickly propelled him higher on the card than even Raven himself.

Kidman ended up feuding with no less than Hulk Hogan himself. After he made the transition to WWE, he gradually made the transition from wrestler to a trainer. Still, his career includes multiple cruiserweight title reigns as well as multiple tag team championships.

Here he is taking on both Hogan and his nephew, Horace.

#9 Matt Sydal

St. Louis has produced a lot of great wrestlers, like Randy Orton, but it is also the hometown of Matt Sydal.

Sydal is known for his incredible aerial abilities, and extreme technical proficiency. With victories over such luminaries as Sheamus and Jack Swagger, Sydal has proven he can and will hang with the 'big boys.'

Currently wrestling for GFW/Impact, Sydal has won that promotion's 'big belt,' the Grand Championship. Matt Sydal literally has too many moves to list, so here's a video of his top thirty.

#8 Rocky Romero

Rocky Romero has been wrestling for decades.

Trained by the legendary Antonio Inoki, Cuban-born Rocky Romero competes on wrestling's grandest stages and its highest levels.

Whether working in a tag team like Forever Hooligans and Roppongi Vice or going it alone, wrestling's original Rocky always puts on a dazzling show. As generous in real life as he is vile in the ring, Rocky has helped many younger wrestlers, like Trent Barreta, hone their skills and improve their game.

Romero's trademarks are stiff shots and lots of submissions with a definite MMA vibe. He can also fly if he wants to, and has an excellent presence in the ring.

All that, and he can rap, too!

Here's Rocky and Trent taking on the Young Bucks in a dazzling match.

#7 Rockstar Spud

Rockstar Spud caught the eye of Impact wrestling in the UK and never looked back.

Small even for a cruiserweight, Rockstar Spud has a personality as big as a mountain. Above average, but not great technically, Spud uses psychology and his larger than life charisma to enthral audiences all over the world.

He was signed to Impact wrestling for years but never garnered a major push by the company. Unfortunately, his diminutive stature has held him back in the United States, as old prejudices against Junior heavyweights still persist. He was recently released by GFW/Impact, but with his great mike skills and fantastic attitude backstage, it won't be long before you see Rockstar Spud in another promotion.

Here he is taking on Keiji Muto's protege, the Great Sanada.

#6 Davey Richards

From time to time, a wrestler will emerge from the ranks who can literally do it all. Do you want high flying action? Davey Richards has you covered. Do you prefer a sound technical game? That's Davey all night long. How about submissions, or high flying moves? Again, Davey has all the skills required.

Whether he's working alone, or with longtime partner Eddie Edwards -- also a great juniorweight wrestler -- Davey Richards has proven he can work a five-star match with almost any opponent.

Richards is also one of the strongest cruiserweights in the business, with a chiselled physique that puts John Cena to shame.

Here's Davey strutting his stuff vs. Cowboy James Storm.

#5 Eddie Edwards

Diehard Eddie Edwards holds gold everywhere he goes.

It just wouldn't be fair to mention Davey Richards without also acknowledging his hetero life mate Eddie Edwards. As the American Wolves, they have won tag titles all over the globe, but like his partner, Eddie is a great singles wrestler too.

Not quite as strong as Davey, Eddie is the faster of the two. His look might be a tad more marketable since he is nearly six feet tall, but Eddie has been known to refuse contracts from different promotions unless they also sign Davey Richards.

Eddie's spouse Alisha Edwards is a wrestler too and has been turning a lot of heads of late, including -- according to rumour -- the WWE.

Here he is facing Jerelle Clark for the MWF TV title tournament.

#4 Rey Mysterio Jr.

Rey Mysterio was once known as The Hummingbird until he took over the Mysterio mask from his uncle.

During the Monday Night Wars, a big advantage WCW had over rival WWE was their cruiserweight division. A great platform for the masked luchadors, who tend to be smaller than American wrestlers, the cruiserweight division featured five-star matches on almost every occasion. Without a doubt, the standout of the cruiserweights was Rey Mysterio.

Humble, but high flying, and with an uncanny sense of balance, Rey has held titles in every promotion he ever wrestled for. Mysterio broke out of the cruiserweight ranks when he joined WWE after WCW's collapse and even captured both of their 'big belts,' the World Heavyweight Championship and the WWE championship. In fact, Mysterio is a grand slam champion in the WWE, as he has also held the tag titles and the Intercontinental championship.

Rey is still actively wrestling at a high-level today, in spite of multiple knee surgeries. Here is Mysterio facing the late, great Eddie Guerrero for the WCW Cruiserweight title, a match considered by many to be the best match ever, period. Don't blink or you'll miss the amazing action!

#3 The Briscoes

The Briscoes are synonymous with Ring of Honor

People just seem to love Dem Boys!

The above quote by Jay Briscoe sums up their career nicely. Even when attempting to play the heel role, the chants of DEM BOYS will echo throughout the arena. Simply two of the finest technicians in the game, the Briscoes can also fly, brawl, go hardcore, and utilize submissions when they want to.

No relation to Jack and Gerald Brisco, Dem Boys carved out a niche in ROH and became quite comfortable there. Jay even spent two years without being pinned or tapped out--a feat that has yet to be duplicated, though Asuka is on her way to beat that streak.

Dem Boys are listed as a team because even though they have been singles champions they are thought of as a unit. Much like the Steiner Brothers, Jay and Mark refuse to sign contracts unless their brother is included in the deal.

Here they are taking on the Young Bucks in ROH:

#2 The Young Bucks

The Young Bucks seem to always have gold around their waists.

Simply put, the Young Bucks are the best tag team in the world right now, and they did it all on their own. Eschewing the 'big leagues' of the WWE and TNA, the Bucks have become quite wealthy by owning their own brand.

Wherever they go, it's going to be a superkick party. Currently the leaders of the Bullet Club faction in New Japan and ROH, the Bucks are ostensibly heel wrestlers but are so over with the crowds they get cheers anyway.

Here are the Bucks taking on RPG Vice in an excellent match. See if you can count the superkicks.

#1 Dean Malenko, the Man of a Thousand Holds

Vince McMahon has made some questionable decisions about talent before. He turned Mexican superstar Konnan into the ridiculous Max Moon. Former NWA standout Terry Taylor, who was mentioned in the same circles as Ric Flair, was forced to don the terrible Red Rooster gimmick. Hector Guerrero was placed in a turkey suit and called the Gobbledygooker.

But when Dean Malenko jumped ship from WCW to WWE, along with Chris Benoit, Perry Saturn, and Eddie Guerrero, Vince told him "Don't change anything about yourself. You're perfect just the way you are."

Truer words were never spoken. If there's a move in pro wrestling, Dean knows it, and six ways to counter it. Surprisingly powerful given his small frame, Malenko has utilized powerbombs, top rope gutbusters, and vertical suplexes as part of his arsenal.

Dean Malenko is credited with creating the WCW cruiserweight division and handled most of the booking duties therein. Though his in-ring days are behind him, Malenko will always be remembered as perhaps the greatest technical wrestler of all time.

Once, Chris Jericho and others challenged Dean to show off all 1000 of his moves at a training centre. Allegedly, Dean got very, very close to the target number before the intoxicated wrestlers watching the lost count. A second generation star, Dean took after his father, the late, great Professor Boris Malenko.

Here he is taking on Eddie Guerrero in an amazing contest.

Dynamite comes in small packages, indeed!

Edited by Lennard Surrao