Six midgets fight during micro wrestling shows

Courtesy Micro Wrestling Federation

Midgets in the Micro Wresting Federation will have 150 to 180 shows this year.

The largest competitor, Meatball, is 4-foot-6 and 275 pounds. The sport is Micro Wrestling.

“Anyone who comes out to see the Micro Wrestling Federation will see the most outrageous show touring the country,” said Jack Darrell, owner of the Micro Wrestling Federation.

“We are like the WWE but half the size,” Meatball said.

Based out of Nashville, Tenn., The Micro Wrestling Federation consists of 10 to 12 midgets, all shorter than five feet.

“Wrestlers pretty much have to have the midget look. They need to be small, have short arms and legs, but also be strong,” Darrell said.

Trained by former wrestler Pat Tanaka, the wrestlers vary in weight and height, but all possess intense and surprising strength.

Most grew up in entertainment families, and have wrestled for eight to 10 years.

When not on the road, the wrestlers attend wrestling school twice a month and practice their moves in various gyms.

“The midgets practice their moves whenever they have a chance, but most of the time we are on the road. This year we will book 150 to 180 shows,” Darrell said.

“The hardest part is the traveling and being on the road,” Meatball said. “Some days we leave right after the show, shower and leave for a 16-hour drive.”

In the past seven weeks the wrestlers have given 70 shows, stretching from California to Kentucky.

“With the long drives and all the time together, we are like brothers,” Meatball said. “To me the MWF stands for ‘Micro Wrestling Family.’”

The wrestlers are from all across America, including North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Kentucky, Tennessee, Illinois and Michigan.

“We most often perform for nightclubs, but we are also popular among motorcycle rallies and tattoo festivals. We do adult shows and a Three Stooges, all ages show,” Darrell said.

“In Athens it will be more risqué, smash each other with baking sheets, galvanized garbage can, pool sticks, et cetera.”

Each show consists of six midget wrestlers and an alternate: Meatball, Justice, Short Dawg, Little El, Demo, JMazing and Blixx.

The midgets only wrestle other micro federation wrestlers, not regular-sized wrestlers.

“Shows begin with an introduction by a 3-foot-7 wrestler, continuing with two single wrestling matches. The second half of the show involves crowd participation and several two-minute round boxing matches,” Darrell said. “The show ends with one of the wrestlers asking for a $20 bill from the crowd. He then staples it to his face and another wrestler rips it off and staples it to his own face.”

Though the stunt may sound painful, the MWF members have spent many years training.

“I’ve been wrestling for eight years. I grew up watching wrestling. I went to one show, and they took a look at me and asked if I wanted to join them. I started with midget boxing then progressed to wrestling, moving from regular wrestling to, a year later, midget wrestling” Meatball said.

According to 3-foot-9, 75-pound wrestler Blixx, 26, the MWF members “strive for a balance of perfection and fun … I began as a manager, walking around the inside of the ring and grabbing the crowds attention. Now I wrestle, and as long as my body holds up, I will do this for the next 10 years.

“It’s a rough sport physically, emotionally, but the crowd’s energy makes it worth it.”