"It's not the size of the dog in the fight; it’s the size of the fight in the dog.”Clichéd though it may be, the above aphorism has been validated time and time again inside the squared circle. Not convinced? Look no further than Daniel Bryan.

The three-time World Champion — listed at an unexceptional 5-foot-10 — has consistently fought through criticism that he’s “too small.” Despite being outweighed and having far less of a reach than many of the Superstars he has beaten — a list that includes juggernauts Ryback, Big Show and Mark Henry — WWE’s “Yes!” man routinely kicks his opposition down to size.

Tenacious, at times ruthless, and tougher than a $2 steak, Bryan epitomizes the “undersized” Superstar, but he’s hardly the first grappler of average height to leave a mark on the wrestling canvas. Check out these 10 other mat men who might not have been able to step over the top rope, but nonetheless broke down barriers and raised hell inside the ring.

TAZZ

Beat him if you could, survive if he let you. Hailing from the same Brooklyn, N.Y., neighborhood streets that bred gangsters Al Capone and Crazy Joe Gallo, Tazz packed plenty of fight in his small frame. Billed at only 5-foot-9, the 240-pound animal rose to prominence in the original ECW. “The Most Miserable Man on the Planet” became the pride of the organization’s notoriously rabid fanbase while claiming the only weapons he needed were his own two hands.

In 1995, The Human Suplex Machine broke his neck in a brutal tag match, and — to the shock of hospital staff — walked into the ER on his own accord. Hoisting rivals nearly twice his size, the Kings County native employed innovative maneuvers that became known as “Tazzplexes,” but it was a suffocating finisher that became his calling card. The Katahajime judo choke — or Tazzmission — was so debilitating, the hold popularized tapping out on the canvas well before the rise of MMA, making each of his opponents, “just another victim.” 


MAD DOG VACHON

Maybe it was the cold, bitter winters of Quebec. Maybe it was little brother syndrome. Maybe it was his working-class upbringing. Whatever the cause, Maurice Vachon was one of the most intense competitors in in the AWA. Don’t let the elegant French-Canadian name fool you. This dangerous brawler was as slapdash in the ring as a plate of poutine. Gnawing on competitors across North America and gaining a reputation for his vicious, animalistic style, Maurice quickly became Mad Dog.

A stocky 5-foot-7 with a patchy grizzle of a beard, Vachon possessed a blend of amateur experience and pure tenacity. After defeating the Indian wrestling champion in less than a minute at the 1948 Olympic Games, Vachon became a five-time AWA Champion. He might have been stout, but his opponents quickly learned Mad Dog matched his bark with plenty of bite.

PERRY SATURN 

Even as a boy, Boston thug Perry Saturn knew he was a fighter. Enlisting in the U.S. Army at only 17, he became an Airborne Ranger before ever stepping on the wrestling canvas. Adopting the surname of a Roman god, Saturn learned the ropes from the dangerous Killer Kowalski at the WWE Hall of Famer’s legendary training school before arriving in ECW. There, he teamed with freak of nature John Kronus and as The Eliminators, they became one of the ring’s most feared tag teams, pairing daring aerial tactics with smash-mouth martial arts.

As a member of Raven’s Flock in WCW, Saturn rebelled and took out his former cult leader — and all of his opponents — with high-impact brawling, not to mention pretzel-like twisting with The Rings of Saturn. After jumping ship to WWE during a pivotal moment of the Monday Night War, Saturn picked up the European and Hardcore Championships, earning him the rare distinction of having held titles in all three major organizations.

KEVIN SULLIVAN 

What is it about Beantown that encourages brutality? From Southie to Charlestown, this rough and tumble city has long boasted gutsy sports teams like the Red Sox, Bruins and Celtics, and its rowdy natives are no exception. Perhaps that’s why a stocky 5-foot-9, 250-pound tough guy with a blonde mullet called Kevin Sullivan became one of the most unpredictable and ruthless forces to ever Devil Stomp into a ring.

Most remembered by fans of the YouTube generation as the wacky leader of The Dungeon of Doom, Sullivan was an unapologetically scrappy competitor whose Army of Darkness in Florida was one of sports-entertainment’s first truly terrifying groups. His reckless fights against The Nasty Boys in WCW and vicious attacks in Smoky Mountain Wrestling have become the thing of legend. Don’t let his frame or bizarre tirades fool you, Sullivan was one filthy brawler.

DANNY HODGE 

Considered by many longtime ring observers as pound-for-pound the toughest man to ever don a pair of trunks, 5-foot-10 Danny Hodge blew away competition in the amateur ranks in both wrestling and boxing before making his name in sports-entertainment. He went 46-0 at the University of Oklahoma and won three consecutive NCAA titles, and most accounts suggest he would’ve left the 1956 Olympics with a Gold Medal had it not been for a controversial pin counted by an Eastern Bloc referee. After graduation, Hodge captured the national Golden Gloves boxing championship in 1958.

From there, the only place to go was the squared circle and, specifically, the Mid-South territory. With legendary tendon strength and an ability to pulverize apples with a simple squeeze of his hand, Hodge was an imposing foe for Hiro Matsuda, Angelo Savoldi and other contenders to the NWA World Junior Heavyweight Championship. An auto wreck ended his career in 1976, but tales of his feats survived long after, eventually approaching Paul Bunyan lore in their fantasticalness.

DEAN MALENKO 

Billed somewhat generously at 5-foot-10, “The Man of 1,000 Holds” is best known for his finesse and technique and, as his moniker would imply, his vast knowledge of wrestling maneuvers. Yet, to think that scientific mat skill and sheer meanness are mutually exclusive qualities would be a grave mistake — one that too many of Malenko’s opponents had the misfortune of making.

In between the brilliant counter-holds and intricate mat work, the callous Iceman would relentlessly target an appendage. With his opponents downed and trapped in the corner of the ring, Malenko stomped away with “Stone Cold”-like fury. He was cruel, even, using a sinful selectiveness to toy with less skilled opposition. While seated on the top turnbuckle, he’d frequently hoist prey onto his shoulders, leap high in the air and then, upon landing, drop them gut-first onto his knee.  In a world of giants, Malenko’s frame suggested a minnow-like meekness, but inside the ring, he was all shark.

RAY STEVENS

The legendary “Crippler” Ray Stevens was not exactly a physical specimen to behold. Standing just taller than 5-foot-8 and weighing roughly 225 pounds, “The Blond Bomber” sported a paunchy midsection that was owed to more than a few six-packs of beer. The fireplug build did nothing, however, to detract from his performance in the ring — a maniacal intensity that appeared effortless.

There’s no two ways about it: Stevens was an unforgiving individual. He came to fame on the West Coast and in the AWA’s Midwest region, and by the time he traveled to WWE’s home base in the Northeast in 1982, he was nearing the twilight of his career.

That didn’t stop him from shocking audiences with his brutality. During a particularly vicious spree, he got into the habit of piledriving defeated opponents on the concrete floor. The most harrowing blitz occurred at the expense of “Superfly” Jimmy Snuka, whom Stevens bloodied and beat with not one, but two piledrivers on the unprotected arena floor.

DYNAMITE KID

Embittered, yet obscenely skilled, the 5-foot-9 Dynamite Kid had the type of hair-trigger temper and nasty demeanor that made fellow wrestlers not only want to avoid interacting with him in the ring, but also in the locker room. Undeniably talented, the ornery Englishman was something of a virtuoso between the ropes, cultivating a style that spurred countless imitators, none of whom captured his same fierceness.

It didn’t matter if Dynamite Kid was facing somebody in his same weight class, like a young Bret Hart or Ricky Steamboat, or a larger heavyweight, such as Bad News Brown or Jim Neidhart. Either way, his was an attack that was stubbornly persistent. Stylistically, his offense was learned and precise. It was not uncommon for his forearm strikes to lacerate, and his explosive snap suplexes played havoc with opponents’ spinal health. Just like a stick of TNT, when Dynamite Kid went off, the impact was felt by everybody in the vicinity.

RON GARVIN 

At only 5-foot-8, Ron Garvin looked considerably smaller in NWA and WWE rings because the 1980s started the trend of taller wrestlers becoming the norm. Still, before even having national television exposure, Garvin clashed with the likes of “Macho Man” Randy Savage, Jake “The Snake” Roberts, “Cowboy” Bob Orton and the best big man ever, Andre the Giant.

In the NWA, “Hands of Stone” Garvin reached the pinnacle of his career. At an unbelievably fit 42 years old, he defeated “Nature Boy” Ric Flair for the NWA World Heavyweight Championship in spectacular fashion with a top rope sunset flip inside a steel cage. Twenty-eight years after his 1962 debut, Garvin became a WWE Superstar. Even though “Rugged” Ronnie Garvin never again reached main event status, his matches against Greg “The Hammer” Valentine were so physical, they will still make you wince.

NUNZIO

Call him Little Guido, call him Nunzio, just don’t call him anything that will make the 5-foot-7, hot-tempered Italian plant his disproportionately large boot in your face. Debuting in ECW as the core of the comedic F.B.I. (Full Blooded Italians), the “pugnacious paesan” teamed with the likes of J.T. Smith, Tracy Smothers and Tommy Rich, none of whom were Italian. But it would be a mistake to dismiss Guido as a goofball comedy act.

Progressing into a more serious competitor, he was dubbed “The Sicilian Shooter” as he utilized his amateur wrestling and mixed martial arts background. After winning two ECW Tag Team Championships, Guido debuted in WWE as Nunzio, the Italian cousin of redneck Jamie Noble (I couldn’t make this up). Again, he defied expectations, as the undersized brawler battled uphill to overcome serious opposition while capturing the WWE Cruiserweight Championship in Rome, Italy. Viva Italia

It's a conversation that every member of the WWE Universe has had with like-minded fans of sports-entertainment - and it's one that sometimes get contentious. A seemingly simple question - Who's next? - can elicit so many different and equally passionate responses from a wide range of squared circle followers.

WWE.com's editorial team joins in on that debate, today wrangling with the question: Who's next in line to become WWE Champion? And ours is a very specific point of contention, as we are focusing only on Superstars who have never before claimed WWE title glory.

Check out our picks, then be sure to make your voice heard by voting in our poll.

1.) Goldust~ Yes, Goldust. Who cares if he's 44 years old? Wrestling isn't a young man's game anymore. Wrestling is the best wrestler's game. The face-painted alter ego of Dustin Rhodes is in better physical condition, a better in-ring competitor and a better master of the microphone than he was when he debuted 24 years ago.

His tag team matches with his brother, Cody Rhodes, steal every show they are on. With 20 championships in WCW and WWE to his credit, this territory-tested Attitude Era icon is more popular than he has ever been with the WWE Universe, and he always evokes "Goldust" chants.

The "Star Wars" Darth Maul-inspired war paint reflects a more experienced, more mature and much more serious Goldust than the androgynous Hollywood-hatched character that debuted in WWE 16 years ago. Goldust can beat Randy Orton for the WWE Championship if given the opportunity. That may be a bold prediction, but one year ago, very few would have predicted that Daniel Bryan would ever beat The Viper.

Dustin Runnels, son of former 3-time NWA World Heavyweight Champion, Dusty Rhodes, was born and bred to follow in his father's footsteps and be the "bull of the woods." Goldust's storybook comeback will end with the WWE Championship replacing the blond wig and ornate robe, completing the metamorphosis of a once-in-a-life-time talent.

2.) Cody Rhodes 

Cody Rhodes is the first wrestler I can remember watching become great.

Cody & Goldust claim WWE Tag Team Titles

Before him, I’d either catch onto an emerging talent in the middle of their break out, or keep an eye on a promising upstart who never quite lived up to his potential. With Cody, I was there from day one, watching Raw on July 2, 2007, when the son of a son of a plumber turned up in an oversized dress shirt and just stood there as Randy Orton slapped his dad right across the face.

Had I been asked this question back in those days when Cody was stepping out in emerald green trunks alongside Hardcore Holly, I don’t know that I would have picked him to become a future WWE Champion. Next to Legacy cohorts like Ted DiBiase and Manu, Rhodes lacked presence and seemed even younger than his early twenties. But that is what has allowed him to get so good.

Most second- and third-generation Superstars spend their careers trying to convince everyone that they deserve what they’ve been handed. Rhodes’ young legacy has been defined by the opposite. He was never unduly rushed into the spotlight. He pushed and shoved his way there. And each step in Rhodes’ unexpected evolution — from entitled second-generation snob to self-obsessed sleazeball, from demented masked super villain to mustachioed rogue — has been thrilling to watch.

Cody’s latest left turn on his road to self-discovery — a working-class hero with deep family roots — has been his best yet. He’s maturing rapidly alongside his ultra-talented brother, Goldust, and he has added so many interesting facets to an already brimming skillset.

I don’t know that Cody Rhodes will become WWE Champion in a year. I don’t know that he’ll do it in two years. But he will. He’s gotta. He’s come too far not to.

3.) Ryback 

I know what you're thinking: "The Big Guy"?! Isn't he the dude who has spent more time flattening local competitors, commentators and stagehands than he has asserting his dominance in the ring? Yeah, and he's still the same punishing contender who Shell Shocked then-WWE Champion CM Punk on top of Hell in a Cell just one year ago.

Watch CM Punk get Shell Shocked on top of the Cell | Photos of their clash

Paul Heyman's guidance has yet to pay dividends for The Human Wrecking Ball, but it also takes time for a manager and a Superstar to gel, especially when said manager is distracted by his festering hatred for an old client. (Hello, Punk.) With the score seemingly settled between those two friends-turned-rivals, I believe it's the perfect time for Heyman to focus on what really counts: Getting Ryback back into the WWE Title picture, where he rightfully belongs.

To most WWE fans, the 6-foot-3, 291-pound physical specimen may have seemingly lost his way, but don't think for a second that his deep hunger has subsided. Ryback bench-presses a remarkable 550 pounds and carries an even bigger chip on his shoulders than the weight he hauls every day in the gym.

There's no question why he won Newcomer of the Year at the 2012 Slammy Awards. Superstars with as much freakish talent and drive to become as great as Ryback are a rare breed. It's only a matter of time before the only "Gold" that hangs over his head decorates a WWE Championship, and not the sound emanating from a chorus of unfair chants



4.) Bray Wyatt

“We’re here.”

Since the menacing Bray Wyatt and his followers first materialized out of my recurring night terrors and appeared on the WWE landscape, no Superstar – from Kane to The Miz, from CM Punk to Daniel Bryan – has been safe from The Wyatt Family’s path of destruction.

With the massive Erick Rowan and Luke Harper following their enigmatic leader with brutal fervor, these newcomers are primed to continue turning WWE upside-down, a mission which could carry the self-proclaimed “Eater of Worlds” to the very top of the WWE mountain. 

As the unquestioned shepherd of his flock, Wyatt has proven that, in addition to his sinister charisma, he’s a dominant force in the ring. At a rough-and-ready 6’3’’, 285-lbs, the sermonizing Superstar boasts rare athleticism and agility for such a physically imposing competitor, moving like a man half his size.

Wyatt gets the most out of these substantial natural gifts with rock-solid technique, and an arsenal loaded with both power and finesse moves. His devastating finishing move, Sister Abigail, is dangerous enough to keep Superstars wide awake at night – or put them to sleep in the ring.

Thus far, no one in WWE has shown the ability to slow the runaway train that is The Wyatt Family. With a few more statement wins over top contenders, Bray could – and should – quickly find himself in the WWE Title hunt. Once he gains that opportunity, I can’t imagine anyone denying the Superstar who looks like something straight out of a horror movie.

As the list of unfortunate Superstars who have “followed the buzzards” continues to grow, it becomes more and more apparent that the path for “The Man of 1,000 Truths” is leading him to the top of WWE and the most prestigious title in sports-entertainment. Bray Wyatt and his family are here, indeed. 

5.) Antonio Cesaro 

It’s easy to write off Antonio Cesaro as a muscle-bound brute, yet that might be the biggest mistake a WWE fan can make. Sure, this 6-foot-5, 232-pounder might be the strongest man on the roster, but Cesaro is about more than just dizzying Swings. A connoisseur of fine coffees and a noted master of five languages, the Swiss-born world traveler has the experience and more than enough brains to match his famous brawn and intensity.

A decade-plus veteran of the squared circle before ever stepping foot in a WWE ring,Cesaro once trained with revered British star Dave Taylor and cut his teeth across Europe before making his way across the pond. In the United States, Cesaro has battled in nearly every notable independent organization, including Ring of Honor, Chikara, Pro Wrestling Guerrilla, IWA Mid-South and Japan’s Pro Wrestling Noah – many of which contributed to the resumes of champions like CM Punk and Daniel Bryan. But Cesaro hasn’t just participated in these companies, he has thrived in them with a dynamic mat style that blends strength, grappling and Thesz-era hooking. Whether performing as a lauded hero, a despised villain, in a tag team or even under the hood of an ice cream mask, Cesaro has developed cult-like followings wherever he’s laced up a pair of boots.

The cultured strongman proved he could score in the big time as well. Upon his WWE arrival in spring 2012, he wasn’t pinned in a match for two and a half months. After suffering his first pinfall defeat, Cesaro followed it up a week and a half later by winning the United States Championship, which he held for eight months. How’s that for a rebound?

While backstage during a recent Raw, Cesaro chatted about Japan, his favorite competitors and how he has adapted his style in WWE. Clearly, he loves the history, making a statement and most importantly, improving in the ring. And this future champion is only getting better.

6.) Roman Regins 

A lengthy reign as one-half of the WWE Tag Team Champions was only the beginning for the scary strong Roman Reigns. A Superstar with unlimited potential, The Shield's intimidating enforcer has spent the better part of his first year pushing around everyone in his way, and clearing the path for compatriots Dean Ambrose and Seth Rollins.

The Shield's road of wreckage

Reigns has the ability to shine on his own, however, and I'm willing to bet the big man's day will come very soon.

Between the ropes, the black-clad terror has matured since his WWE debut, morphing into something much more than a power-move monster. Reigns now possesses a move set that can put him in contention for WWE's top prize. Still, those power moves certainly will help his cause, as Reigns has, in my opinion, delivered the most vicious spears the WWE Universe has seen in the past decade.

There's a lot of talk these days about what the "face" of WWE might look like. Some say it's current WWE Champion Randy Orton, while others still hold strong to the conviction that the scrappy Daniel Bryan is the true face of the company.

However, for my money, when you're talking about a guy with the right look – that perfect mix of old school intimidation and new school cool; a guy with just the right amount of in-ring ability; a guy possessive of a presence?

It's Roman Reigns

7.) Big E Langston 
I don’t understand how anybody can watch Big E Langston wrestle and not peg him as a future WWE Champion. Less than a full year into his career on the WWE main roster, the former NXT Champion has consistently exhibited poise beyond his years, even giving decorated veterans like CM Punk a run for their money.

Quite possibly the single strongest individual on a roster packed with powerhouses, Langston — a freakish combination of Ron Simmons athleticism and Goldberg intensity — effortlessly maneuvers 300-pounders. Despite his relative inexperience, he understands how to use his monstrous frame. When he has an opponent grounded, Langston doesn’t simply apply a hold. Instead, he mauls them, locking on a maneuver but also putting all of his body weight on the unfortunate soul.

Big E's insane workout routine

The paradoxical Langston is not your grandfather’s juggernaut. He’s immense, sure, but he also boasts good speed and superb conditioning. His arsenal is rather unpretentious, but it’s expanding by the day. In addition to the clubbing forearms, gut punches and bulldozer clothesline, Langston has incorporated powerbombs and, recently, a fearless spear through the ropes, which tackles opponents off the ring apron.

The only obstacle standing between Langston and WWE’s top prize is strategic refinement. The aforementioned spear is remarkable, but risky — the sort of maneuver that, if miscalculated, can change the tide of a match in a hurry. Similarly, he lays it all on the line when he leaps high up in the air for his big splash — a captivating move that crashes and burns almost as often as it lands.

Langston’s “go big or go home” mentality is part of what makes him so special. Once he better understands how to selectively channel that exuberance, Langston’s biggest problem will be picking out the custom plates for his WWE Championship

Last December during a WWE Live Event, Tyson Kidd sustained a severe knee injury - including tears in his right ACL, meniscus and MCL - that threatended to sideline the mat technician for as long as a year. Thanks to renowned orthopedic surgeon Dr. James Andrews and the same tenacity that earned Kidd a "workhorse" reputation among his peers, the Hart Dungeon-trained grappler has stepped back into the square circle sooner than many expected, dazzling the WWE Universe on RAW in tag team action alongside his wife, Natalya.

Before taking us through his entire recuperation with an exclusive video series on the WWE App and WWE.com, Kidd recapped his tough road to recovery, described his "Total Divas" experience and looked ahead at what he calls his "second chance."

WWE.com: Tyson, first off, welcome back to WWE.

TYSON KIDD: Thank you very much. Those words mean so much to me. It's been almost a year in the waiting to hear those words.

WWE.com: What was it like to not only return to action, but to do it alongside your wife?

TYSON KIDD: It was a very unique experience. Obviously, we've done mixed tags before with The Hart Dynasty and things of that nature, but now our relationship is very open and public thanks to "Total Divas." I think the only way it could have been better would be if Nattie and I got Fandango and Summer Rae in a double Sharpshooter to top things off [laughs]. But, looking back, it was as close to perfect as anything I could have ask for.

WWE.COM: After your sugery in January, you went into rehab with an optimistic outlook. Was there ever a time during your recovery that doubts started to creep in?

TYSON KIDD: At around the midway point, I thought my knee would never be the same again. After about three or four months, I could go to the gym normally and I could start to run on a treadmill, but I knew I couldn't wrestle and take impact. I coudln't jump off the one foot and stick a landing. I knew it wasn't there. But I remember thinking, "Is my knee ever going to be 100 percent?" 

I went so long - 17 years - without getting hurt. And I always thought one of two things would happen I got hurt: It was either going to hinder the hell out of me forever, or I'd heal fast from it. And during rehab, I remember thinking, "Uh oh. This is going to be the 'hindering me forever' type of scenario." Then, month five kicked in, and all of sudden I had these dramatics improvements.

I got medically cleared to train in the ring at the seven-month mark on August 5th in Green Bay, which is actually where I got hurt last December. So I really came full circle. It was bizzare.

WWE.COM: Have you had to alter your in-ring style in any way in light of your injury?

TYSON KIDD: I orginally thought I would, but I'm very, very stubborn. I'd been doing cardio since week six of my rehab, and after two minutes in the ring the day I got cleared, I was done. It felt like I'd wrestled a 30-Minute Handicap Match. I was dying. I mean, this sounds bad, but in terms of my conditioning and my wind, I may as well have been sitting on my couch for eight months. There's only one way to train, and that's being in the ring. And even in practice, it's not the same as performing in front of a crowd. You're constantly feeding off their energy and their reactions and trying to feel them out. It's a different aspect than practicing in the ring on your own. That's been my limitation. But the only way to improve is to run that tank on empty, and then refill again. If you're afraid and don't let yourself get to empty, you'll never build your conditioning. I learned that from my Japanese trainer, Tokyo Joe, a long time ago.

But I'm not going to let my knee alter anything I do in the ring. My move set is part of what makes me unique and there's no way I'm going to throw that away out of fear.

I'm thinking, I might be brave where I'm sitting right now, but that fear switch is long gone. WWE and Dr. Andrews took such amazing care of me, and the way technology is today, it makes me feel invincible. If I tore my other knee tomorrow, I already know the process.

This has prepared me almost for anything, to be honest. That might be a bad thing, I don't know. Sometimes I'm too hard-headed for my own good, and this could be one of those times.
WWE.COM: What support have you received from your fellow Superstars since your injury?

KIDD: I don’t really want to put anybody on the spot — but I’ve received a lot of texts and phone calls from guys. There were quite a few, but I’ll throw Mark Henry out there as a guy that’s actually called me. With most guys, we just text. I’m not really a phone guy. But Mark actually called me a couple of times and Rey Mysterio as well, just seeing if I was OK. When I was in physical therapy I texted Rey, because he tweeted something about needing surgery, and then he called me right away.

WWE.COM: Another Superstar who’s shown support for you has been CM Punk, even giving you a shout-out as a “workhorse” back in January. Did that stick with you during your rehab?

KIDD: Absolutely. When I got hurt, before I got the MRI, I was going down to the school at NXT [now the WWE Performance Center] and doing some pre-surgical therapy on my knee. Punk was down there too, rehabbing his knee. I told him about my MRI, and the same day I got the MRI I went to my doctor, and Punk told me to text him as soon as I was done to let him know how it went.

Punk and I have always gotten along and he’s always been friendly to me. I met him in Ring of Honor on the independent scene in 2003. When he said that workhorse thing, it blew up my Twitter, and now I have people tweeting me every day using #workhorse. That was definitely going through my head the whole time.

I remember thinking, “if my knee is never the same again, but I tried my hardest, then that’s just how it is. But if my knee isn’t the same again because I didn’t try my hardest, then that’s me letting everyone down — including myself.” And that’s just not the kind of person that I am. 

WWE.COM: And while this is all going on, you were also involved in the first season of “Total Divas” and actually got married to Natalya on the show. What was that like?

KIDD: It’s funny. These cameras are in your house and you know they’re there. I don’t know if this because I’ve been in sports-entertainment for almost 18 years now, but after a couple of hours, I honestly forget the cameras are there. The next thing I know, I’m watching “Total Divas” back and I see things like my mom playing with my hair while we’re eating and I’m like, “I honestly don’t remember that happening.” I’m not saying they’re sneaky — I know they’re there — but they’re so good at what they do that you just feel so comfortable.

I love that. It wasn’t being on the road, but I still felt like I was in the mix even though I was hurt, and it made me want to get back out there even more. “Total Divas” kind of fell in my lap. Obviously, it’s Nattie’s story and I’m part of it, but the fact that I was at home injured and was still able to contribute to something within the company meant the world to me.

Watch Tyson & Nattie’s wedding highlights | More “Total Divas”

WWE.COM: What do you hope to accomplish now that you’re back in action?

KIDD: My main goal is to leave everything I have out there in that ring at every arena.

This is a second chance for me. I’ve had a lot of time to reflect, and a lot of time to think about things that I’ve liked so far and things I’ve let fall to the wayside. I won’t waste a single opportunity — even the ones that don’t look like opportunities at first.

This injury has given me the chance to sit back and study the product for almost a year, and I feel like I’m more aware of everything now. But I’m done watching from home. 

It didn't take long for new champions John Cena and Randy Orton to get targets on their backs. Although Cena thwarted Damien Sandow's Money in the Bank championship cash-in, The Viper was knocked out cold by Big Show. Is The Authority's vision for the future in danger? Here are five things to look for on Monday's RAW at 8/7 CT on USA Network.

1.) Who can stop The Wyatts?

Both CM Punk and Daniel Bryan suffered brutal attacks at the massive hands of The Wyatt Family last week. Potentially still reeling from the assaults, will either be in any condition to seek retribution from the ruthless clan this week? After defeating The Prime Time Players on SmackDown, the creepy trio looks more unstoppable than ever.

2.) What must The Authority do to maintain its empire?

 The Authority got what they wanted when Randy Orton claimed the WWE Title at WWE Hell in a Cell thanks to referee Shawn Michaels. But Big Show promptly put an end to the party the next night on Raw. Firing Big Show couldn’t stop him from interfering in WWE. Is a lifetime ban enough to keep The World’s Largest Athlete from showing up on this week’s Raw?


3.) The Authority's newest weapon


Last week, Kane removed his mask and pledged allegiance to Stephanie McMahon. With The Shield already at The Authority’s disposal, adding The Big Red Monster may add insurmountable might to whatever task they may be called upon to do.


4.) Can Cody & Goldust eclipse The Shield's regin?

When not busy doing The Authority’s bidding, The Shield chalked up one of the top five WWE Tag Team Title reigns of all time. Since winning their jobs back, WWE Tag Team Champions Cody Rhodes & Goldust have competed with a newfound vigor. Which team will be next to challenge the Rhodes brothers for their titles?

5.) Who will Cena face next?

The Champ is here and he’s fired up! He rolled with the punches and defended his World Title against Damien Sandow on Raw, then he teamed with Cody Rhodes & Goldust to take down Sandow & The Real Americans on SmackDown. With his sooner than expected return, Cena proved without a shadow of a doubt he lives for a challenge. Who will be the next to test him?

As the road to Survivor Series heats up, be sure to catch Monday’s Raw at 8/7 CT on USA Network