The Top Five Biggest Underdogs in Modern WWE History

The underdog in professional wrestling is an angle that has been used for years.  It is notoriously successful, when used in the right way, and has proven to generate serious fan interest.

The formula for a credible underdog is fairly simple, and easy to pattern.

The guy has to be small, that's a given, preferably under 200 pounds, the lighter the better.

He has to have personality, a hook, something to get the fans to care about him, to worry for him when he's getting physically dominated by a wrestler twice his size.  

The more sympathetic of a character he is, the more over he is with fans.  And it really only works if he's very likable.  Fans do not want to see a nice guy get his hide handed to him, especially if he's fighting his heart out, despite his size.

For me, there are five great examples of this character type in the modern era.  

Hey, who doesn't like to root for the underdog?

5: Hornswoggle

Yeah, I know.  You hate him.  

Everyone hates him.  He is the bane of WWE fans' existence.  The more punishment, the more viciousness that could come his way, the better.  Right?

Right.  And, every time he was physically mauled, the crowd stood up and applauded.  

Wrong.  They booed.  They jeered.  Every time Vince McMahon, or anyone else insulted him, threatened him, made fun of him, and Hornswoggle's expression was that of a small child, fans reacted accordingly.

Say what you will while online, rip on the guy all you want.  He is an easy target.  

But, the man behind the character is doing his job as the fun-loving, devilish little joker who wouldn't hurt anyone.  When he's in front of a live audience, and is in his element, Hornswoggle is the likable character who gets physically tossed around like a stuffed animal.

Just like the classic underdog that he is.

4: Spike Dudley

The runt of the Dudley clan displayed more courage and more heart than perhaps any underdog in recent memory.  

His never-back-down attitude placed him in high regard with fans, and he was willing to do anything to get over.

Born and raised in the original ECW, Spike understood that with small stature came a responsibility to sell his heart out, and to go above and beyond when taking high-impact bumps.

That's how he got over, and that's what made him very popular during his stint in WWE.

Every time he was attacked by a wrestler bigger than him, the fans were in the moment, feeling every punch and kick that the smaller Spike took.  

He was very good in what he did, and being one of the best underdogs of all time was just another angle that he excelled in.

3: Crash Holly

When I think of Crash Holly, the first thing I remember is his music.  

Loud, pedal to the metal hard-rock guitar, a riff that once you hear it, it's in your head for all time.  It was a great tune, with all the punch of a Guns n' Roses encore.  

All of that for little old Crash.

Crash is perhaps the most entertaining character on this list.  That smirk, that 'go get 'em' expression that he wore every time he was in the ring, and the way that he looked at the fans, as if to say, I'm not scared of anything.

The unique thing about Crash is that he actually ran heel for a good bit in WWE, but still managed to get over in his underdog role.  He was just that at home in the character.

No matter how tough or how bad he tried to act, fans could not get enough of him as one of the funniest guys on the program.

Crash was one of a kind, the most entertaining little guy of the bunch.  He's very missed.

2: Zach Gowen

It was very hard not to put this kid at No. 1.

Zach had so much heart for the business, a guy who dreamed of being a WWE Superstar since he was very young, and who later worked extremely hard to get there.

And he did it with just one leg.

Gowen is another wrestler that some fans like to bag on, especially since he was booked to go over on fully capable two-legged workers.  As if somehow, that was his doing.

But as with many other instances in WWE, Vince McMahon took a crazy idea and made it reality.  Not only did he make it happen, he made it work.

Zach was loved by the crowd, and when they heard him speak of the immense physical problems he had seen in his young life, he became a very sympathetic character.

Zach loved what he did, and received the chance of a lifetime when he signed with WWE.  He's a good worker, even without the leg, and gave his all whenever he was in the ring.

He's also a great underdog.

1: Rey Mysterio

Rey Mysterio, from the first day he set foot in WWE, has been booked as the underdog in nearly every situation. 

It's for that reason, and because he plays the role so well, that he has topped this list.

Despite his talent, and his considerable skill in the ring, Rey has always been the sympathetic figure in so many matches over the years.  Unless he is facing off against a cruiserweight of comparable size, Rey is always thought of as being outmatched, and out-muscled.

So, why has he always been such a hit, and won so many matches?

Simple.  The guy is a comic book character.

Setting aside his ability to work, and his years of experience, Rey's extremely marketable image is so accessible, so over, that fans of all ages have latched onto him, following his every move.

Then there's the fact that the guy obviously truly loves the business.  Rey is a lifer, and as long as his body can go, he's not going anywhere.

Let's hear it for the underdog.