The annual
Pro Wrestling Illustrated 500 issue is now out on news stands and has been out for a few weeks in digital form. It’s always fun to see this list every year. But this year I was a little sad when I checked out the list. This was the first year since 2003 that there were no photos I took in the list. Because of that I decided to post some old photos I have of some of the wrestlers in the top 100. So enjoy a look back at some of the top stars of today.
![IMG_2589 IMG_2589](//lh6.ggpht.com/-ergkHLTeFnQ/UF0nFhXO9ZI/AAAAAAAAVN4/HjYPWK1EgIs/IMG_2589_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800)
#1
CM Punk. In 2004 Punk teamed up with Ace Steel to take on
Dan Maff & BJ Whitmer in a Chicago street fight. Punk & Steel won the match. His ranking that year in the PWI 500 was #89. Chicago Ridge, IL.
![IMG_1050 IMG_1050](//lh3.ggpht.com/-19EfZTll9_g/UF0nHeio4mI/AAAAAAAAVOI/BaTwW7h_h2Q/IMG_1050_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800)
#2
Bobby Roode. VS
Booker T from 2008. That year Roode was #89 on the list. Spencer, IA.
![IMG_5768 IMG_5768](//lh5.ggpht.com/-w4DYIRX1y4I/UF0nLCALVhI/AAAAAAAAVOY/k-hFht262nM/IMG_5768_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800)
#4
Daniel Bryan. In 2005 Bryan was known as Bryan Danielson and he wrestled in a match against Claudio Castignoli who is now known as
Antonio Cesaro in the WWE. Danielson was # 76 on the list in 2005. Hammond, IN.
![IMG_6171 IMG_6171](//lh6.ggpht.com/-igZTo6b1hDE/UF0nQI0oiuI/AAAAAAAAVOo/sgSiSwJno6g/IMG_6171_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800)
#6
Jun Akiyama. VS
TAKA at Korakuen Hall. Tokyo, Japan. In 2005 Akiyama was ranked #76 on the list.
![IMG_2549 IMG_2549](//lh5.ggpht.com/-dcUMFu2FySc/UF0nSJ7zCtI/AAAAAAAAVO4/PKaMsYVo3ks/IMG_2549_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800)
#7
Davey Richards. If you are a fan of Richards then check out his hard hitting match against
Low Ki from the 2006 IWA Mid South TPI. Midlothian, IL.
![IMG_0852 IMG_0852](//lh4.ggpht.com/-wgsbObQmDSQ/UF0nT4kP47I/AAAAAAAAVPI/uugv8nQ58wU/IMG_0852_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800)
#12
James Storm. VS
Rhino. Spencer, Iowa.
![169-6989_IMG 169-6989_IMG](//lh4.ggpht.com/-yhNjUtNb2IE/UF0nV-8nY0I/AAAAAAAAVPY/cJ7yecUlQvI/169-6989_IMG_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800)
#13 Austin Aries. VS Adrian Serreno. Minneapolis, MN.
![IMG_5132 IMG_5132](//lh5.ggpht.com/-X20GWSWH2_8/UF0nXhwJMuI/AAAAAAAAVPo/IwckwHzZx2o/IMG_5132_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800)
#20
Kevin Steen. At the 2005 IWA MS TPI Steen went to the final round but lost to Matt Sydal. Hammond, Indiana.
![173-7368_IMG 173-7368_IMG](//lh3.ggpht.com/-5A3EIlXp6Ns/UF0nae9M3nI/AAAAAAAAVP4/5zYRCiPi2z8/173-7368_IMG_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800)
#27
Mr. Anderson. Not long before Andeson went to OVW he took on rookie
Thoruf Marius (Erick Rowan in FCW) in 2003. Maple Grove, MN
![228-2900_IMG 228-2900_IMG](//lh4.ggpht.com/-5sbbihpWlMQ/UF0ncNtyUvI/AAAAAAAAVQI/_AMoLyFPRzQ/228-2900_IMG_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800)
#28
AJ Styles. VS S
hifty. Maple Grove, MN.
![IMG_3231 IMG_3231](//lh5.ggpht.com/-kn_Gc_bh5cA/UF0nd-rgA8I/AAAAAAAAVQY/OSa08T6UZqA/IMG_3231_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800)
#32
Rodrick Strong. Strong went to the finals of the 2006 IWA MS TPI against
Arik Cannon and Low Ki. Midlothian, IL.
![IMG_0916 IMG_0916](//lh4.ggpht.com/-g5dNXRi60gw/UF0nf1RDH_I/AAAAAAAAVQo/ZNFJpLw_vbE/IMG_0916_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800)
#39 Jay Lethal. VS AJ Styles. Spencer, IA.
![IMG_5868 IMG_5868](//lh5.ggpht.com/-SFHFzRlZb5c/UF0nhqEFZ9I/AAAAAAAAVQ4/AcOUkqWsp8g/IMG_5868_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800)
#44
Colt Cabana. At the 2005 IWA MS TPI Cabana got a shot at the heavy weight title against champion
Jimmy Jacobs. Hammond, IN.
![IMG_5470 IMG_5470](//lh4.ggpht.com/-1ztOEjPNwgQ/UF0njtAIbiI/AAAAAAAAVRI/2AwDROMJR7k/IMG_5470_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800)
#46
Seth Rollins. At the time of this photo Rollins was known as Tyler Black. Hammond, IN.
![228-2828_IMG 228-2828_IMG](//lh6.ggpht.com/-2URMm-ElY6g/UF0nm1vRmHI/AAAAAAAAVRY/zBkjjT9IrY0/228-2828_IMG_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800)
#48
Chris Daniels. In 2004 The Fallen Angel showed up in Midwest Pro Wrestling to take on
Arik Cannon. Maple Grove, MN.
![IMG_2108 IMG_2108](//lh6.ggpht.com/-dy_wvrMZQ-g/UF0non1iojI/AAAAAAAAVRo/SNeXslbOgUo/IMG_2108_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800)
#51
Somoa Joe. As the ROH champion Joe defended the title against
Homicide. Chicago Ridge, IL.
![IMG_7601 IMG_7601](//lh5.ggpht.com/-crBEzYzPl0Y/UF0nq0zk5ZI/AAAAAAAAVR4/kovMD4Lbdcc/IMG_7601_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800)
#54
Michael Elgin. Back in 2006 a young Elgin made his way to the midwest for the NIW Impact Invitational. Cottage Grove, MN.
![IMG_1101 IMG_1101](//lh5.ggpht.com/-ViyJ516HDvI/UF0nt550mFI/AAAAAAAAVSI/CGJ6oZXaSwE/IMG_1101_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800)
#59
Johnny Gargano. VS
Mat Fitchett. Minneapolis, MN.
![IMG_8798 IMG_8798](//lh3.ggpht.com/-lK7N-FWYYFA/UF0nv8SmizI/AAAAAAAAVSY/ElKSeY4-6Hg/IMG_8798_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800)
#61
Takashi Morishima. Defending his ROH title against
Austin Aries. St. Paul, MN.
![IMG_3749 IMG_3749](//lh4.ggpht.com/-0gvUJipY5LI/UF0nx_sLw-I/AAAAAAAAVSo/FoRjgrP87TE/IMG_3749_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800)
#62
Adam Pearce & #64
Carl Anderson. Pearce & Anderson team up to take on
Arik Cannon & Baby Slim at an NWA Midwest show in Cottage Grove, MN back in 2006.
![280-8006_IMG 280-8006_IMG](//lh4.ggpht.com/-XJYIDZry5vQ/UF0nzjzEp3I/AAAAAAAAVS4/-jn0gi6P9zc/280-8006_IMG_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800)
#63
Jay Briscoe & #65
Mark Briscoe. VS
CM Punk & Colt Cabana for the ROH tag team title. The Briscoe’s lost the titles at the end of this match in Chicago Ridge, IL.
![IMG_1944 IMG_1944](//lh6.ggpht.com/-GUcp_fyaQUc/UF0n1v2y6SI/AAAAAAAAVTI/9dS_4D-buu0/IMG_1944_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800)
#82
El Generico. VS
Chris Bosh. Midlothian, IL.
![IMG_5564 IMG_5564](//lh4.ggpht.com/-i45dPs-suzc/UF0n3T15uuI/AAAAAAAAVTY/J1zEAW9uJD4/IMG_5564_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800)
#96
Evan Bourne. Before he was in the WWE Bourne wrestled as Matt Sydal. In this match from the 2006 Ted Petty Invitational for IWA Mid South Sydal beat
El Generico.
![IMG_8161 IMG_8161](//lh6.ggpht.com/-N1I-aIDD21k/UF0n5IbY6lI/AAAAAAAAVTo/L2WdUDU0Kuc/IMG_8161_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800)
#97
Rhett Titus. Back in 2007 Titus was in an opening match against Michael Elgin at an ROH event in St. Paul, MN.