On the November 24th episode of Raw, the night before Survivor Series, AAA Mega Champion Dominik Mysterio entered the ring at Petco Park to confront his opponent, John Cena. After recently losing the Intercontinental Championship in Cena’s hometown, Dirty Dom was eager to reclaim the title in his own hometown of San Diego. Dominik told the Oklahoma City crowd that Cena’s absence was a blessing in disguise, as he planned to end Cena’s retirement tour by defeating him.
Suddenly, Cena’s entrance music played to the delight of the OKC fans. However, it was not the real Cena but a little wrestler dressed as a miniature version of John Cena, complete with a small cameraman lookalike and a rally towel. This tiny Cena needed help getting into the ring and warned Dominik that the real John Cena would defeat him in the upcoming war games, contrary to the plan. The little wrestler took a 619 and a frog splash but was saved by Rey Mysterio. Fans quickly recognized this tiny John Cena impersonator.
“Big Little Brawlers,” a new show premiering in early 2024 on Warner Discovery, introduces fans to the Micro Wrestling Federation (MWF), based in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, and run by CEO Jack Darrell Hilgus. Despite having a small roster, MWF wrestlers, including Andrew the Giant, Chief Littlefoot, and Ivor the Micro, compete with the same intensity found in larger promotions like WWE and AEW. The series highlights their lives inside and outside the ring, focusing on popular stars Pinky Shortcake and her boyfriend Syko.
MWF has been active for over two decades but gained widespread recognition through its reality show. The promotion tours extensively across the U.S., performing multiple shows weekly from their home base, the Microtorium. The show has attracted a loyal fanbase, sometimes achieving higher ratings than other wrestling programs. The first season climaxed with Pinky defeating Syko in a match and Syko proposing to her afterward.
Syko, a leading MWF star and Pinky’s partner, also appeared as “John Weena” on WWE Raw during Dominik’s segment. Pinky is a second-generation wrestler with ties to WWE through her father from the 1980s boom. Syko’s appearance as John Weena was well-received, even recognized by wrestling journalist Sean Ross Sapp. Syko boasts over one million followers on social media, a presence boosted by this WWE appearance.
Although John Weena did not show up at Survivor Series, Dirty Dom fulfilled his promise by regaining the Intercontinental Championship with assistance from The Judgment Day, including the surprise return of Liv Morgan. Fans interested in Syko and Pinky’s story can follow them on social media, and wrestling enthusiasts near Pigeon Forge can catch MWF shows throughout December 2025.
Fan Take: This crossover between the Micro Wrestling Federation and WWE showcases the growing diversity within professional wrestling, offering fans fresh and unique storylines. It highlights how smaller promotions are gaining prominence and how WWE’s inclusion of such talent can enrich the wrestling landscape, potentially attracting new audiences and broadening the sport’s appeal.
