10 Wrestlers Whose Weight Problems Became Gimmicks

9. American Balloon

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XdWi3S54LlI Many U.S.-based fans may not be familiar with the work of American Balloon, and indeed, many Japanese fans may not be - his run in DDT, Zero-One, and other promotions in the mid-2000s has long since ended, and while he has returned to the ring in recent years, he has yet to make the splash in California indies that he did in Japanese ones. Still, for a time in 2006 and 2007, Balloon was getting quite a bit of press online - not just because of his body type, but because of how his girth belied his talent. Wrestling with the likes of current Japanese superstar Kota Ibushi, Balloon proved his technical prowess and displayed a high-flying acumen that was truly stunning. Still, rather than cover up his body, he made it part of his gimmick, wearing clothes that exposed everything and even taking a name that painted a very clear picture. And it worked - had he not, it's possible that we wouldn't still be talking about him today.