WWE.com

Whether they are called midgets, dwarves, little people, half-pints, juniors or minis, the shorter class of professional wrestling have been entertaining, dazzling, and making audiences laugh for well over a half-century.

Classically called “midget wrestling”, use of little people in professional wrestling can trace its roots back to vaudeville. By the 1950s the attraction became popular in nearly every territory. Although both men and women midget wrestlers would compete in all manner of matches, midget wrestling has always carried with it a certain sideshow appeal, with the midget wrestlers often balancing high doses of comedy with competitive matches.

Although midget wrestling’s popularity has waxed and waned over the decades, the performers themselves have always shown to be as varied as their bigger counterparts. Some utilize high-flying lucha libre styles. Some prefer to wield trash can lids and staple guns. Some are just game to be part of comedy skits.