Seven years ago, with the morning air unusually thick, Último Guerrero ran another of his training sessions for aspiring wrestlers. As sweat dripped from the faces of the aspiring luchadores, it was impossible to determine who would become a star. But it was undeniable who refused to quit.
Drill after drill, session after session, one determined young man refused to accept any other fate than his destiny. For Microman, only one option existed: He was going to be a pro wrestler.
“I always wanted to wrestle,” says Microman, speaking through a translator. “I know I needed to train and push myself, and I still do. This is my dream.”
Wrestling’s next biggest star could be its smallest competitor. Microman makes his debut Tuesday night for Major League Wrestling on Reelz, wrestling a trios match during the 10 p.m. ET showing and a tag match at 11 p.m. ET for MLW: Underground. Unlike any other wrestler currently active, he plans to showcase a unique style.
Standing just over three feet tall and weighing 62 pounds, Microman—who, per lucha custom, does not reveal his true identity—is promoted as the “World’s Greatest Wonder." Under that lucha mask is a 24-year-old eager to make his own path in life.
Microman is the son of KeMonito, who has drawn fame as a manager and mascot in Mexico’s long-standing CMLL promotion. Despite the strong parallels in their work and the fact that they are blood, Microman and his father have struggled to form much of a relationship. In fact, Microman never wanted to be a mascot or manager. His goal is to wrestle.
“I never wanted to be a mascot like my dad,” says Microman, who gently reminded the interviewer that he prefers not to speak about his father. “People look at us like we are the same, but we are very different—in our styles and our companies. I am making my own path.”
In MLW, Microman wrestles opponents that are two or three feet taller than him. His style is better suited for tag matches, and he brings an unmistakable burst of energy and joy the moment he steps into the ring. His favorite wrestler is Mascarita Dorada, who starred all over the globe, including in WWE, and he is hoping to leave a similar impact on the industry.
“I’m excited to be part of MLW and represent all of Mexico,” says Microman. “Whenever you see me, I hope you see that I am representing MLW and Mexico with great pride.”
Much of Microman’s life remains a mystery, but he did share his joy of studying computer science in school. Yet that was not what motivated him at night, nor was it the inspiration that gave him the extra strength necessary during those laborious training sessions with Último Guerrero.
“I needed to prove myself to Último Guerrero,” says Microman. “He pushed me, and I never gave up. He saw this future in me, and he believed in me. He didn’t want to be a mascot. I didn’t want to be that, either. I am here to wrestle. I know I am smaller than anyone else, and I have heard hurtful comments about it. But I stay strong. That is why I decided to call myself Microman.”
A whole new world opens when the painfully shy Microman places on his luchador mask, one filled with a new spirit and purpose.
“I love wearing a mask,” he says. “Even when I was young, I loved the idea of it. That is part of our culture in Mexico. You never know that luchador’s identity. It is a mystery.
“Even my mother was scared at first of me wrestling. She did not want me to do this. But now she has given me all her support. When she sees me in the mask, she believes, too. I feel like a comic book superhero. That is when I come alive. I get super powers.”
Microman intends to show that true strength comes in all sizes.
Once he steps into the ring, he wants to people to believe he is among the toughest 63 pounds of life in the world.
“I was born to do this,” says Microman. “I was born to be Microman.”
