A lot of the boys backstage laughed when Rey Mysterio walked into WCW at the Great American Bash in 1996. There had been some small wrestlers in the company, sure, but none that looked like Mysterio. He looked like a teenager back there amongst the giants. Those same wrestlers who were snickering behind Rey's back were also applauding him following his superlative loss to Dean Malenko. The two men put on a near-20 minute clinic and Rey left the audience (in the stands and in the back) gobsmacked. It wouldn't be the first time or last time Rey had proved the doubters wrong by letting his performances speak for him. Rey had a decent run in WCW, capturing the Cruiserweight Championship numerous times and putting on many blistering matches. He made the jump to WWE in 2002 after his Time Warner deal had expired. Most expected him to be a flop, considering his unconventional ring style and diminutive stature. Once again, Rey proved the doubters wrong. He modified his ring style, hit the gym and made an instant impact. Rey would hover around the cruiserweight and tag scene for a couple of years before a programme with Eddie Guerrero in 2005 convinced management that he had headline potential. Following his World Heavyweight Championship win at WrestleMania 22 in 2006, Rey had a magnificent run in the company. He won the big belt a further two times and cemented his status as the most successful masked wrestler in history. Rey definitely overachieved in the big man world of WWE and helped open the door for other smaller grapplers.
