10 Wrestlers Who Got Smaller To Get Bigger

2. Akira Tozawa

Akira Tozawa Transform
Dragon Gate/WWE

Akira Tozawa is today one of WWE's most prominent cruiserweights, a former divisional champion equally celebrate for both his technical and aerial prowess. At the onset of his career however, the Japanese high-flyer would have struggled to make 305 Live, let alone 205 Live.

Simply put, the man formerly known as Big Over was big all over - by intent. Whilst working in Dragon Gate, Tozawa's popularity grew as his pants did, piling on the pounds to a form a team with fellow rookie Yuki Ono known as the Metabolic Brothers. Success, however, wouldn't follow; injuries to Ono forced his partner to renounce the feast. He vowed to drop weight through a programme known as the 'Akira Tozawa Diet 7 Match Series', a gruelling regimen which saw him spar with Dragon Gate's finest.

It worked wonders. Six years on, a ripped and ready Tozawa was invited to take part in WWE's Cruiserweight Classic, earning himself a contract with the biggest league in town in the process.

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Akira Tozawa
 
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Editorial Team
Editorial Team

Benjamin was born in 1987, and is still not dead. He variously enjoys classical music, old-school adventure games (they're not dead), and walks on the beach (albeit short - asthma, you know). He's currently trying to compile a comprehensive history of video game music, yet denies accusations that he purposefully targets niche audiences. He's often wrong about these things.