Welcome to the first annual Declaration of Independents Top 250. This list was compiled strictly on the opinions of Sean McCaffrey, Brian Myers, Louie Ramos and Michael Zevon. There were many arguments and debates on who should be ranked and where they should be placed and we are sure that once you read this, you will experience the same. Marc Adler and Joel Grayson both had to pull out of attempting to rank the wrestlers due to how difficult it can be. How do you judge one wrestler over another when they all bring so many different tools to the table?

It took hours upon hours, days upon days, beer upon beer, and well, a whole lot of “burning” to complete the list. Wrestlers were ranked and re-ranked, then re-ranked again. There are a lot of independent wrestlers who did not make our first annual Top 250 rankings. This was not done to discredit what they have done. We just did not see enough of them or we didn’t think they had done enough to push someone else off the list.

This list of course is based on opinion and in no way shape or form represent any official rankings of independent wrestlers. Everyone on this list was SEEN by a staff member of the Declaration of Independents at least 1 time during the last year.

To be ranked on the DOI 250, this criteria had to be met: Wrestled in the Northeast area at least once. The Northeast includes promotions in NY, NJ, MA, DE and PA. If it was only a one time deal in the Northeast, the rating will reflect that, and it will be mentioned in the comments.

- NWA TNA guys do not get ranked by what they did in TNA, but what they have done in the Northeast. If they have wrestled in both, comments may mention it.
- Solid work rate. This includes ring psychology, footwork and technical wrestling.
- Crowd reaction – Can the wrestler get the crowd popping? Can he draw heat? Or is it a good time to go buy a hotdog and a beer.
- Mic Skills – Can he cut a promo?
- Win/loss record- This was only used to decide tie breakers, and factored in the least in the rankings. Whether or not someone won a belt was given thought as well.

Inside this edition you will find the listings for 250 wrestlers in order with profiles on the top 100. To see the profiles for wrestlers ranked 101-250 all you have to do is go to our website at www.declarationofindependents.net

Please remember this is NOT an official rankings. This is based strictly on opinion.

We hope you enjoy the Declaration of Independents Top 250 for the year 2003.

1.Christopher Daniels – The Fallen Angel competed in ECWA, PWF, ICW, USA Pro, NJPW, IWC, FWA, ROH and NWA-TNA. Only competes against the best and only puts forth great matches. Won prestigious ECWA Heavyweight Title when pinned Red in a Five Way Match (Low Ki, American Dragon, & Mike Kruel were the other three participants)

2. Low Ki – Dominates everywhere he goes. One of the most amazing wrestlers of our time. No one is more focused on what needs to be done to get to the top. Lives one of his catch phases: “Respect, Honor, Discipline, Dedication…These will carry me to my destiny.” And is destiny is as bright as anyone in professional wrestling. Competes in ROH, PWF, ECWA, Zero One, NWA-TNA, 3PW. Recent injury and frequent tours of Japan kept him out of the number 1 spot since we were focused on the Northeast.

3. Homicide – The most under rated wrestler out there today. Every move he makes is a crisp as you will see. He tells a story in the ring every match. Has worked and dominated in USA Pro, ICW, Ring of Honor, Big Japan, MLW, JCW, JAP, 3PW, CZW, ACW, PWF, PWA winning a number of titles along the way. Could have been ranked higher – only reason he wasn’t was due to the success of the men listed above him. He is also responsible for a ton of the next crop of superstars that are coming out of the Northeast. Many of whom you will see on this list.

4. Paul London - Dominated the Indies in a short amount of time. Always has the match of the night it seems no matter where he’s at. Won the prestigious Super 8 tournament. Wrestled an hour straight at the ROH anniversary show. Had a fantastic match with American Dragon and AJ Styles as well. He’s one of the reasons why ROH is one of the best Indies today. Made his debut in TNA and challenged for the X title. A Paul London Vs Angle is a smart marks dream match.

5. A J Styles -"The Phenomenal" AJ Styles has become a certified pro wrestling superstar. Was crowned the first NWA TNA X-Division Champion. Won the hearts of TNA fans through his daredevil style of in ring work. Shockingly turned down a WWE contract. Won the ROH Tag-Team Championships with Red by defeating the Prophecy. Wrestles for ROH, NWA Wildside, NWA TNA, 3PW, USAPW, and more. Uses the "Styles Clash" as his finisher. Just recently scored the biggest victory of his entire career defeating Jeff Jarrett for the NWA TNA World Heavyweight Championship ending his 8-month reign.

6. Samoa Joe – 6 Feet 2 Inches and 280 pounds of destruction. The current Ring of Honor champ. Defeated Xavier for title. A member of Steve Corino’s elite group in ROH. Wrestled in PWF, UPW, PCW as well as many others. A regular in Zero One. One of the stiffest competitors in the game today. A strong style wrestler with one of the most deadly choke sleepers of all time.

7. Xavier – The All Around Best proved why they call him that. Had a fantastic year. Working in USA Pro, Ring of Honor amongst others. Was Ring of Honor champ for a better part of the year only dropping the belt to Samoa Joe a short time ago.

8. American Dragon Bryan Danielson – One of the stiffest and one of the purest wrestlers around today. This graduate of Shawn Michaels wrestling academy has amazed many with his iron man matches. Only works with the best and always gives out his best.

9. Amazing Red – Has worked in USA Pro, ICW, MLW, All Japan, PWA, PWF, Ring of Honor, ECWA, UWF, NWA-TNA and many more. Held tag team titles in ROH with A.J. Styles. Defeated Kid Kash for the NWA-TNA X-Title. Feuded with Christopher Daniels, Elix Skipper and Low-Ki in TNA. His matches with Low-ki will go down in history as some of the greatest encounters of all time. Wrestles under a mask as Fuego Guerrero sometimes.

10. Steve Corino – The King of Old School had a great year all over the world. Frequent tours of Japan kept him from moving up higher on this list. Competed in Ring of Honor, ICW, PWF, Zero One to name a few. His match against Homicide at the ROH 1 Year Anniversary show provoked a riot by the fans in Queens, NY. Legal troubles surfaced recently that can inhibit his ranking in 2004.

11. Simon Diamond – The Godfather of Cool had a great year. Had tremendous success as a tag team wrestler with Striker in USA Pro as they are the tag champs there. Great mic skills, tons of charisma and an excellent wrestler to boot. Does anything for the promotion and to make sure the fans have a good time.

12. Mafia – ½ of Da Hit Squad. Widely recognized as the best tag team on the Indy circuit. Held a number of belts with Monsta Mack, traveled to Japan with his trainer Homicide and returned a singles wrestler. Not just any singles wrestler either. He has dominated in his singles matches in Ring of Honor, USA Pro and JAP where he won the heavyweight title!

13. Slyk Wagner Brown - The head trainer of Killer Kowalski's training school among other things, Slyk has been lighting up the independent scene. He recently had a memorable match with Mafia for the JAP World Title. Slyk has really broken out this year, and is challenging for World Titles in almost every promotion he's in, from WXW to CSWF to JAP. Just made his Ring of Honor debut, and there is no telling what he can accomplish with his abundance of talent and mic work. Don't hate… Appreciate!

14. Doug Williams – Williams is a monster in the ring. One of the best mat wrestlers out there. Had some amazing matches in Ring of Honor and his finisher is one of the most violent suplexes you will ever see.

15. Grim Reefer - One of the premiere workers on the Indy scene today. the current USA Pro Xtreme champion is proving why he is Xtreme every night he steps into the arena. With his impeccable balance and his different array of high flying and scientific moves Reefer looks to be the next star to get superstar status on the Indy scene. Reefer has competed in CZW, ICW, NYWC and USA Pro to name a few. Has an outstanding match with Johnny Storm in ICW a few months back.

16. Jerry Lynn - Lynn has been the most consistent performer for NWA TNA this past year. Always known as a hard worker Lynn also works throughout the US in several promotions. His shining moment came in TNA when he defeated AJ Styles for the coveted X-Division Championship. A respected veteran who has worked for WWE, WCW, and ECW (where he had his most success).

17. Deranged – He has really stood out in 2003 as one of the biggest up and comers on the independent scene. Is a member of Special K, teams with Azrieal on occasion. Has huge victories this year over the Amazing Red, The Backseat Boys and Da Hit Squad among others. The originator of the flipping powerbomb has made waves in such promotions as JAP, Ring of Honor, USA Pro, CZW, JCW. Teams with the Dirty Rotten Scoundrelz on occasion. Look for Deranged to be a force to be reckoned with in 2004.

18. Spanky - All of "Spanky" Brian Kendrick's hard work has finally paid off in the last year. Originally trained with Shawn Michaels TWA, Spanky ad more than a breakout year. Wrestled for Zero-One in Japan and was well received by the Japanese fans. Was a main event status worker with ROH and was a big part of there success as a company. Debuted with the Smackdown brand on WWE TV. Has a major role within the cruiserweight division where he often uses his "Slice Bread No. 2" finisher.

19. John Walters - Walters dominated Chaotic Wrestling and also worked a Raw/Smackdown double shot. Walters also made his debut in ECWA/ROH and JCW. Walters has been having good matches no matter where he goes. Look for Walters to be one of the top Indy wrestlers as time goes on. He might even be in the WWE by the time this list comes out next year.

20. CM Punk - One of the most popular workers on the Indy scene today. Punk shines in several feds all across the county including ROH, IWA Mid-South, TNA, MLW, JCW, & CZW. Worked a highly touted program with Raven in several promotions (that continues to this day). Dropped his IWA World Title to Chris Hero in an amazing 2 out of 3 falls match up that went 92 minutes long.

21. Jody Fleisch – A member of Special K in Ring of Honor. This British superstar has left fans with their mouths hanging open with his tremendous high spots.

22. Raven – Released by the WWE very early in 2003. Quickly debuted in NWA TNA making a huge impact on the World Title scene. Known for his outstanding mic skills and in ring psychology. Debuted in Ring of Honor by starting a huge feud with CM Punk. Has had somewhat of a career rebirth. Recently defeated Balls Mahoney for the USAPW Heavyweight Championship. Made his way to the Indy scene and has made a major impact. Became the USA Pro champ in short time. Currently working in Ring of Honor and NWA-TNA. Has a new Flock with Wayne and Mikey Whipwreck watching his back in USA Pro.

23. CW Anderson – The Enforcer worked a number of feds on the Northeast including USA Pro, Ring of Honor, PWF and did a lot of Japan work too. Had an amazing wrestling match with Xavier during a USA Pro show. Is a part of Steve Corinos group of elite athletes in Ring of Honor. Helped incite a Riot at ROH”s 1 Anniversary show.

24. Justin Credible – After he left the WWE, it seemed like he had a whole new life. Looked amazing in a match with Pat Gunner in PWA. Won the ICW heavyweight title in a match with Homicide, Jerry Lynn and Steve Corino. Debuted in USA Pro and looked sharp in a bloody match with Raven. Currently working in NWA-TNA also.

25. Michael Shane - Exploded into the big time with several breakout performances in ROH this past year. Trained at the Texas Wrestling Academy with his uncle WWE legend "HBK" Shawn Michaels. Wrestles a very arrogant and cocky style and is a member of Steve Corino's "Group" in Ring of Honor. One of the most underrated talents today, always gives a tremendous effort.

26. Quiet Storm – One of the best smaller wrestlers of all time. He is crisp in the ring no matter who he works with. Was the Gauntlet champion in USA Pro and had memorable matches throughout the year in Ring of Honor and ICW. Made his way to Japan in the last few months and will return with unbelievable experience. His Storm Cradle Driver is one of the most deadly finishers on the Indy scene today. Diving head butt from the top rope is picture perfect.

27. Livewyre - Maybe the Brock Lesnar of the Indies. Livewyre has dominated the Indies and has blazed his way to OVW in a years time. He's easily become one of the best Indy wrestlers in the past year. Livewyre won the NYWC World title in his swan song match, against Dickie Rodz, in a fantastic match. He also had a great feud with Jay Lethal in JCW. Also appeared in ICW and USA Pro among others. Good luck to Livewyre as he goes to OVW. Hopefully choking out Triple H is in his future!

28. Chance Beckett – This relative unknown busted into Indy stardom after wrestling in 3 hard fought matches at this year's Super 8. Although he would eventually lose to Paul London in the finals many believed Chance to have stolen the show with his performance. Beckett has been ECCW's (Canada) best kept secret. He was trained in the Hart Family Dungeon (a prestigious place to say the least). In months to come I'm sure you'll be hearing plenty of Chance Beckett.

29. Mike Kruel - The former New York State amateur wrestling champion has become one of the most technically sound performers today. Kruel's intense offense of painful submissions is highly recognized across the northeast. Trained by his father former top Indy wrestler, Bodyguard For Hire. Works for USAPW, JAPW, ECWA, NWS, and more. Kruel's career is skyrocketing every time he steps foot in a ring and it's only the beginning for this talented young man.

30. Striker - Has really shown why he is ready to be a WWE Superstar in the near future. A wrestler who has the 5 tools to be a star in this business has had nothing but success this year. is a former PWF Tag Champion with Josh Daniels. Along with Simon Diamond beat the DRS for the USA Pro Tag team championship and is also the current ECWA Tag Team champions with Ace Darling. Doing a European tour this year has really made Striker a superstar. Look for Striker to continue his dominance in 2003.

31. Kid Kash- The NWA-TNA superstar has blazed all over 3PW and various other Indies. Was the longest raining X-Division Champion of the year before dropping the strap to Red. Puts on great high risk style performances week in and week out. Currently feuding with his former valet Trinity.

32. Reckless Youth - The King of The Indies has always lived up to his name. Has worked injured, and had a match of the year candidate with John Walters. One of the best all around Indy wrestlers today. Not big on the mic, but doesn’t need to talk, because his ring psychology and ability to adapt to others wrestlers style is amazing.

33. Frank Kazarian - Had maybe the best match at this years Super 8 with Paul London. Has been a force to be reckoned with. “The Future” recently debuted on NWA-TNA. Currently works in PCW as well. A superb wrestler.

34. Jay Briscoe - This hard-hitting young man broke through with several 5 star matches with Ring of Honor. Not always a winning effort but Jay always has your respect when he is done. One half of the Briscoe Brother tag-team. This standout hasn't even reached the age of 20.

35. Balls Mahoney – The chair swinging freak dominated the NY wrestling scene as the USA Pro champion. Made appearances in a few other feds including PWA. Gives 100% each match and seems to have an endless supply of blood.

36. Dixie – Had a tremendous feud with his brother Insane Dragon for most of the year in JAP. Teamed up with Deranged to form the H-Effect. A member of Special K in Ring of Honor and helped the Dirty Rotten Scoundrelz win the USA Pro tag team titles from the S.A.T. Has hooked up with JCW and look for Dixie to have a fantastic 2004.

37. Trent Acid - One half of the highly popular tag-team of the Backseat Boyz. Trent has worldwide credentials as he has toured Japan on several occasions. Has been very successful in CZW. Competes in CZW, ROH, MCW, Big Japan, ICW, and many more. Can wrestle almost any style ranging from hardcore to technical. Trent is always a show stealer chock full of charisma.

38. Julio Dinero - Julio Dinero, the former ECW Superstar, has worked all over the country. Also made an NWA-TNA debut. Salvaged a bad CSWF show with his antics. Gave Jonah the best match in his career over in JCW. His mic skills and ring work are very impressive.

39. Matt Stryker- The ROH regular appeared on a few Velocity matches. Often confused with the other Striker, due to both of them being fantastic wrestlers. Matt Stryker is a solid wrestler and can easily have the match of the night no matter where he’s at.

40. Monsta Mack – ½ of one of the greatest tag teams in the history of Indy wrestling – Da Hit Squad. Team split up to pursue singles careers but look for them to get back together in the near future. His Mack Terminator is one of the sickest things you can see. Hearing about it does not justify it at all. Is working in USA Pro, ICW, Ring of Honor and made his way to Japan with his partner Mafia and his trainer Homicide.

41. Aaron Stevens - Aaron Stevens has blazed through Chaotic Wrestling, and recently got a OVW/WWE contract as this issue went to press. His feud with John Walters was great. He's also appeared on Smackdown wrestling Team Angle with John Walters. A solid all around wrestler and 2004 will be his year if all goes well.

42. Ace Darling - Ace Darling made his return to ECWA in February. He's been solid in JCW as well. He's one of the best indy wrestlers and has been on the indies for years. He can either go face or heel, but is more entertaining as a heel. His mic work is great as well. He's definitely a ring psychologist and can always steal a show.

43. Jay Lethal – Jay Lethal made major noise in Jersey this past year. His matches in JAP with Rain, Dixie amongst others were off the hook. He has been feuding with John Shane’s stable in JCW which included Livewyre and his mother has even gotten into the mix. He should advance a lot over the next year and look for him to be much higher on this list come 2004.

44. Prince Nana – The man everyone loves to hate. Nana is a solid heel who is always sure to catch heat from the fans. Believe it or not he is a legit prince from Ghana in Africa. Works for many promotions including ICW, ECWA, ROH, and many more.

45. Terry Funk – The hardcore legend has been working in 3PW and JAP where he made his way to Woodbridge, NJ to take on Jerry Lawler during one of the best cards of the year in JAP. Match was full of psychology and a lot of blood but what else would you expect from Funk?

46. Rob Eckos - One of the more all around fine tuned wrestlers around today. Eckos has no problem fitting into any promotion. His graceful ring work and heel psychology coupled with his great and sometimes over the top and hilarious mic work is amazing. Has held many titles, most notably becoming the SSCW World Champion. He even won this belt with a broken ankle! Eckos has also competed in ECWA, JCW, JAP, NWS, 3PW among others. Keep an eye out for Eckos, because he's one of the best today, and he'll tell you about it too!

47. Johnny Ova - Johnny Ova is very ovaaaaaa with fans and promoters alike. Johnny Ova as his alter ego, Joey Maxx, is also part of a successful tag team with Johnny Maxx in ECWA. Ova is one of the top cruiser weights around, and shows that you don't need to do a million flips do be considered a cruiser weight. Is the current JCW Cruiser weight champion. Has had a feud and a half with Dan Barry. Look for Johnny to be in one of the top matches of the night, no matter what promotion he's in.

48. Ron Killings - Had a career year. Shocked the world by defeating Ken Shamrock for the NWA TNA Championship. Changed his name from "K-Krush" to "The Truth" Ron killings. Has very good mic/rapping skills & works the crowd well. Is cooling down since dropping the title to Jarrett.

49. Dan Barry - Everyone’s Favorite Wrestler and one of the DOI’s, Dan Barry has accomplished a lot in a small amount of time. His Irish Car Bomb is a move that needs to be seen. Currently the NYWC Cruiserweight champion. Has had 5 star matches with Johnny Ova and Grim Reefer. Another wrestler who’s due to break out soon, as he’s worked USA Pro, JCW and soon SSCW, as the deadline passed for this list.

50. Josh Daniels - Maybe the indy Chris Benoit. Josh is pure wrestling and no crap. Doesn't really rock the mic much, as he's a pure technical wrestler. Watch him explode soon, as he's been having great matches in JCW to NWS to 3PW. Josh Daniels vs Chris Daniels, for a bottle of Jack Daniels, would be a dream match.

51. Johnny Storm - The Wonder Kid, Johnny Storm has wrestled all over the country including PA. Also debuted on TNA in the past year. Can be a great heel or a face if he tries, Storm has a lot of character. Look for Johnny to make a comeback to TNA in the upcoming weeks.

52. Chris Hero - A very popular star with the IWA -Mid South. Defeated CM Punk in a 92 minute 2 out of 3 falls match up to win the World Title. Claims to hail from Metropolis. Works in many promotions including tours of Germany and Austria. Trained by Dory Funk Jr.

53. Mikey Whipwreck – The former ECW triple crown champ made major strides getting back into the picture of the Northeast Indy scene. Trained the S.A.T., Red, Quiet Storm, Brian XL, Chris Devine and Wayne the Convenience Store Guy – all major players on the Indy scene. Feuding with his former students Jose and Joel Maximo all over after he flipped on them at the ROH 1 Year Anniversary Show. He also teamed up with Wayne in a TLC match against the S.A.T. in USA Pro and won the NYWC belts with Wayne. Teamed up with Quiet Storm in his debut in USA Pro against the Dirty Rotten Scoundrelz.

54. Mark Briscoe - Sidelined for most of the year due to his age. Mark is finally ready for the big time. Showed the world what he was capable of doing during a vicious battle with his brother in NYC for Ring of Honor. Comprises one half of the Briscoe Brothers tag-team.

55. Azrieal - Has really come into his own over the last year. One of the main standouts in Special K (ROH). Azrieal was trained by Homicide and you can see his style is very different from others. He is a light heavyweight who is very versatile. Not only can he fly in the air, but he can grapple with the best of them. He has one of the best Armbar submissions in wrestling today. He has had outstanding matches with such wrestlers as Paul London, The Backseat Boys and Slyk Wagner Brown. Look for Azrieal to continue his blend of strong style/submissions in 2003 and beyond.

56. Chris Sabin - Is on the verge of a great year. Had standout matches for ECWA as part of the prestigious "Super 8". Debuted in NWA TNA where he quickly became an impact player defeating Red for the X-Division Title. Calls himself "The Future".

57. Colt Cabana - Trained at the Steel Dominion. Cabana has become an ROH favorite. Teams with CM Punk to form "the Second City Saints". Nicknamed "Classic Colt". Is also an IWA -Mid South regular.

58. Brian XL – Made his long awaited return to the squared circle after an absence. Looked bigger and stronger when he came back. Has worked in PWA, USA Pro, ICW and some other feds as well. His match with Deranged was an awesome showing. Was making major strides in Ring of Honor before he left. Look for him to return to the spotlight of the Indy scene now that he has some work under his belt.

59. EC Negro – ½ of The Dirty Rotten Scoundrelz. Quickly exploded on the tag team scene with partner K.C. Blade. Excellent wrestler, excellent bumper, excellent mic skills and ring psychology. Competed in USA Pro, JCW, JAP, PWA and won tag titles in all four. Also competed in SSCW, BWO, UWA and ICW and had some spots in Ring of Honor. One of the best role players in wrestling today. Major feuds with the S.A.T., Los Boriquas, Shaolin Wrecking Crew and have worked with Simon Diamond, Striker, Justin Credible, Mikey Whipwreck and Quiet Storm as well.

60. Havok - ½ of the Solution, Havok brings pure power and strength and uncanny wrestling ability for a big man. Has looked impressive in many tag matches, including a fantastic match with AMIL, Boogie Knights and Wayne/Mikey in WXW, ICW, NYWC respectively. It's only a matter of time before The Solution start making a major run in the indies and becoming one of the top teams. Will he ever get his revenge on Los Problemas member uno? Time will tell.

61. Papadon - ½ of the Solution, Papadon has made a name for himself. The Solution are one of the best tag teams on the indy scene today, and more promotions are starting to take notice. Has competed in JCW, JAP, SSCW, USA, NYWC, ICW, WXW among others. The Solution are on the brink of being the next tag team to blow up and dominate the indies, similar to Da Hit Squad. Still waiting to see if The Solution will ever confront Los Problemas, after Los Problemas blatantly ripped off their style and ring work in JCW.

62. KC Blade – ½ of The Dirty Rotten Scoundrelz. As good as a bumper his partner is, K.C. Blade is better. Has that mentality to put over his opponent to the next level and make them look like champs. Cuts promos without saying a word. Competed in USA Pro, JCW, JAP, PWA and won tag titles in all four. Also competed in SSCW, BWO, UWA and ICW and had some spots in Ring of Honor. One of the best role players in wrestling today. Major feuds with the S.A.T., Los Boriquas, Shaolin Wrecking Crew and have worked with Simon Diamond, Striker, Justin Credible, Mikey Whipwreck and Quiet Storm as well.

63. Alex Arion - The ROH regular, and Super 8 participant, "The Golden Greek" has had an impressive year. Not much of a talker, but doesn't need to. His ring work is solid as hell, and can go the limit with anyone. Superbly conditioned, and it shows, as his matches are very fluid and a treat to all wrestling fans.

64. Mace – ½ of the Christopher Street Connection. Wrestled singles work and brought in Eddie Guapo for a brief stint in the New Christopher Street Connection. Brought back his partner Buff-E at the Ring of Honor 1 Year Anniversary Show. The CSC have been dominating the tag scene since their return. One of the great gimmick performer of his time. Was the Doghouse/LIWF Triple Crown Champion when it closed down.

65. Boogalou - Matches brutality with wrestling and does it very well. Boogalou is a WXW regular and has shined in the other promotions he's wrestled in as well. Boogalou also showed his lighter side in recent WXW shows, by even dancing! His character is a street-thug, but don't let that distract you from his pure wrestling ability.

66. Gary Wolfe - The 3PW World Heavyweight champion always matches up explosiveness with high impact intensity. Has looked solid in a lot of matches and always goes all out. The former Pitbull is always full of energy and had a great match with Christian York over in 3PW. Look for Gary Wolfe to always make an impact, no matter what promotion he's in.

67. Crowbar - Devon Storm did a lot in this past year and worked in a lot of promotions. A great talent, and a master of ring psychology. Can go toe to toe with anyone. Wrestled a barbaric match against Danny Doring in 3PW. Another guy the WWE missed the ball on, but another reason why the indies are so great.

68. Jose Maximo - ½ of the Spanish Announce Team. Widely known as one of the better tag teams on the Indy scene today. Innovator of tag team moves. Feud with Dirty Rotten Scoundrelz was something to remember. Has worked in ECWA, ROH, USA Pro, ICW, PWA, PWF, MCW, NWA-TNA, UWF, MLW and headed to Japan for Zero One. Held many titles throughout the year.

69. Tony Devito - ½ of the Carnage Crew with HC Loc, Devito spent a lot of time in ROH. He also had a memorable match with the Sandman over in SSCW. The former Da Baldie, is a great wrestler and has looked great this past year.

70. Joel Maximo – ½ of the Spanish Announce Team. Widely known as one of the better tag teams on the Indy scene today. Innovator of tag team moves. Feud with Dirty Rotten Scoundrelz was something to remember. Has worked in ECWA, ROH, USA Pro, ICW, PWA, PWF, MCW, NWA-TNA, UWF, MLW and headed to Japan for Zero One. Held many titles throughout the year.

71. Buff E – ½ of the Christopher Street Connection. Retired for a brief time and Eddie Guapo became Mace’s partner until Buff-E reunited with Mace at Ring of Honor’s 1 Year Anniversary Show. Came back to USA Pro and defeated Striker and Simon Diamond in back to back matches. Perform their gimmick better than any tag team out there today. Always gets the crowd invovled.

72. Sonjay Dutt - "The Original Playa from The Himilayas" has looked impressive this year. Works a lot in CZW, and even competed in the highly acclaimed Best of The Best tournament. Sonjay is always entertaining, and at a young age, could be a major force to be reckoned with in the future.

73. Chris Candido - Candido could've been one of the best WWF wrestlers of all time, but was never used properly, and pushed into a stupid gimmick. The WWE's loss is the indy fans gain, as Candido has had solid matches wherever he goes, including USA PRO and IWA. Candido also competes in XPW. No Gimmicks Needed is right, as Candido's wrestling always backs him up.

74. Skinhead Ivan – Ivan is one of the most hated heels in the history of Indy wrestling. Has worked USA Pro, ICW, JAP, WXW, BCW amongst others. Won the Americas title in USA Pro and is a member of Devistation Inc. with Striker in JAP. Had matches with Norman Smiley and Konnan. A good wrestler, but one fact can not be ignored- he is one of the best, if not the best, indy heel talker in wrestling today. He can incite a crowd from 1-100 in seconds.

75. Jerry Lawler - The King has worked all over NJ the past year. The Raw commentator had one hell of a match with Terry Funk over in JAP. He also had an old school classic match up with Simon Diamond. The King always has you rolling in the aisle with his comedic mic skills. Not the best wrestler as he once was, but definitely solid, and has worked a lot in NJ, earning this prestigious ranking.

76. Insane Dragon – Izzy is the brother of Dixie and a former tag team partner of Deranged in the team called Wasted Youth which had amazing feuds with Da Hit Squad. Has made major strides in 2003. Dragon is a JAP mainstay is a part of Special K in Ring of Honor.

77. Low Ryda - ½ of Los Lunatics, and a WXW Tag Champion, Low Ryda continues to dazzle on the indies. He's worked all over including ICW and USA pro. Low Ryda and Eddie Guapo, Los Lunatics, could be an indy tag team to be reckoned with, if more promoters took notice. Look for Low Ryda to always have a great match and tell a story in the ring.

78. Chad Collyer - currently did a few WWE matches and is a ROH regular, Chad is one of those guys who is all about pure wrestling, and no talking.

79. Sandman - Has one of The MiC's favorite entrances ever. Sandman continues to work on the indy scene after ECW's demise. Has worked all over the country, but mostly has worked the Northeast territory. His feud with Raven has rekindled all over, from USA Pro to NWA-TNA. Always entertaining. His ring work might not be the best, but he always gets a huge crowd reaction no matter where he's at.

80. Rain - The JAP Cruiser Champ, has looked mighty impressive. Working in JAP mostly, Rain is another guy that could benefit with more bookings. Can easily steal a show. Worked a great match with Mike Kruel on 4/12 in JAP. The future looks bright.

81. Ghost Shadow – The Inter-Galactic Luchadore had memorable encounters everywhere he worked which included USA Pro, ICW, PWA amongst others. An innovator of high spots and has a deadly finisher in the Mad Scientist Bomb. Helped in the training of Deranged at the Doghouse.

82. Sabu - The Homicidal, Genocidal and Suicidal one did a lot this past year. Don't know why the WWE never picked him up. Sabu won the USA Pro World Title in this period and also competed in a brutal match with Syxx Pac in 3PW. Sabu always gives you your moneys worth and never fails to impress.

83. Dirty Money - Dirty Money also known as Filthy Deniro, is the JCW Television Champion. Dirty Money is a key wrestler in Virginia feds such as NWA Virginia and VCW. Has looked impressive in various matches. With his manager Devin Sturgis, Dirty Money has also been on the winning side too. Now if the Untouchable Kliq was united in the tri-state area, the fans would be in for a major treat. Look for Dirty Money to expand to more promotions, as he's one of the untapped talents today.

84. Johnny Kashmere - One half of the Backseat Boys, Johnny Kashmere had a great year. One of the top tag teams in the indies, as well as CZW, Kashmere has had great matches with a lot of people. Has worked ROH, ICW and a load of others. Look for a bright singles career if Backseat Boys take a break.

85. Mike Mayhem - Mike Mayhem is one of the trainers at Critical Mass, and gave this list a lot more guys to rank, due to his great training skills, as well as wrestling skills. Mayhem has looked impressive everywhere. Doesn't use the mic as much, as he lets his wrestling do his talking for him. Has had a great feud with Reefer, producing great matches all over, and had a great match with Dickie Rodz and Livewyre over in NYWC. Also worked for CZW during the grading period.

86. Damian Adams - Damian Adams is a hell of a wrestler, and always puts on great matches. His recent matches have been fantastic, and what bumped him in the top 100. Currently working in 3PW, NWS, and a lot more, Damian Adams always impresses.

87. Shawn Sheridan - Triple SH, or Showtime Shawn Sheridan, Sheridan has been making a mark everywhere he goes. His fantastic mic skills, coupled with his great ring work, makes him one of the better pure wrestlers and entertainers on the indy scene today. Currently competes in JCW, IHPW, SSCW and others.

88. Mike Tobin – ½ of the Boogie Knights and a founding member of Knightlife along with his partner Danny Drake and Striker. Has been a mainstay in USA Pro and a 6 time tag team champ. Recently feuded with his partner only to make amends after an all out brawl between the two. A feud with the SAT and the DRS seems immanent. Has appeared in USA Pro, ICW, JAP and Ring of Honor. DIG IT!

89. Damian Dragon - Damian Dragon- another underrated wrestler, Damian Dragon joins the DOI 250 at a respectable 89. Damian Dragon has put on enjoyable matches all over JCW. He's also worked for ICW and IHPW, among others. With his manager Foxxy Dreams, known collectively as Disturbed Dreams, look to see Damian Dragon always bust his ass in the ring and give the fans what they want.

90. J-Train – Doghouse product debuted in USA Pro and had an unbelievable stiff match with Grim Reefer that had the Elks Lodge on the edge of their seats. Made his way to Ring of Honor along with his trainer Homicide.

91. David Young - David Young, is now a NWA TNA superstar as well. Gifted in the ring, as well as the mic, Young has looked impressive in recent matches, not only in the Northeast, but all over. He's wrestled in a lot of promotions, and has looked good in doing so.

92. Sharkboy - The man profiled on MTV's Wrestling special, Sharkboy continues to "splash" (love the pun?) all over the indies. Sharkboy has worked in NJ, but mostly works around the middle of the US. Sharkboy also beat both members of the SAT in less than 2 minutes in a recent TNA episode during the past year. Sharkboy is a hair strand away from being in the WWE.

93. Don Montoya - The JCW World Champ, continues to roll in the Indies. Montoya continues to be innovative, even creating new moves, such as the Miracle Ecstasy. The ring veteran always gives you your money's worth, and looked good in a recent feud with Simon Diamond.

94. Chris Divine- ½ of Divine Storm along with Quiet Storm. Chris Divine recently went to Puerto Rico to wow fans there. Watch him continue to make a name for himself upon returning. Worked a number of feds including USA Pro, Ring of Honor and ICW.

95. Danny Doring - Danny Doring, the former ECW superstar, has worked various promotions, including CSWF and 3PW. Doring has a different look from his ECW days, but don't be fooled, he's still a top notch wrestler. He continues to put on great matches, regardless the letters that he's working for.

96. Tim Arson - The Arsonist Tim Arson, has made a splash in the Indies. He had a great match with Reefer over in ICW. The Arsonist also has appeared in USA Pro, WWW, JCW and others. Look for Tim Arson to dominate as time progresses, and call the Blackhearts Sports Entertainment hotline he does at 1-718-707-1122.

97. Roadkill - Roadkill hasn't been seen lately, except at PWA, but Roadkill is still making a name for himself in 3PW among other promotions. Very agile for a big man.

98. Billy Reil – The Human Highlight Reil made a return to the squared circle in a major way over in USA Pro. Joined Knightlife and attacked former real life girlfriend Becky Bayless. Feuded with Kruel for a short time. Worked in ICW, USA Pro, SSCW amongst other feds.

99. Kojima looked really good at a recent MLW show and is more of a mainstay in Japan then in the east coast.

100. Eddie Guapo - ½ of Los Lunatics, and a WXW Tag Team Champion, with Low Ryda, Guapo is one of the more underused and underrated talents on the Indy scene today. Guapo is great on the mic, and a great heel. He had a great match with Striker over in ICW and is currently dominating the tag team scene over in WXW. With more work, Guapo could be one of the more talked about wrestlers in the Indies.

101. B-Boy- one of the better CZW wrestlers, B-Boy always makes you remember his performance at the end of the night.

102. Konnan – Made his way to the East Coast when he debuted for USA Pro in March. Turned his back on the S.A.T. and helped the Dirty Rotten Scoundrelz win the tag team titles in an unforgettable ladder match. Defeated Skinhead Ivan on the same card. Did both with an injured foot.

103. John Curse- the man who's responsible for a lot of great Indy talent today, Curse is a great wrestler and the co-trainer at Critical Mass. Check him out at NYWC shows, for a good show and a good wrestler.

104. Tony Mamaluke - the former WCW superstar, has continued to make a name for himself all over Philly.

105. Chi Chi Cruz- Chi Chi is one hell of a wrestler and has looked good all over the northeast.

106. Joey Matthews- Joey has been taking a lot of northeast work, and has been impressing fans all over the place in recent matches. Had a great push as a tag team wrestler with his former partner Christian York.

107. Danny Drake- ½ of the Boogie Knights, it's great to see Drake back after a neck injury. The Boogie Knights are doing a great job in 2003, but what else would you expect?

108. Sick Nick Mondo- Sick is definitely the right adjective for Nick, as most of his matches are crazy.

109. Sedrick Strong- the recent Super 8 competitor had a great match with Chance Beckett, and even busted Chance's chin open for him. Mostly works in IPW in Florida.

110. RU Starr- likened to a modern day Ric Flair, Ru has worked with OVW, and for a good reason. He can talk, wrestle and get the crowd to hate him after a simple promo.

111. Pat Gunner- the PWA World Champ, Gunner dominated CT and MA Indies. Will he do the same in NY/NJ? I think so, if he gets the opportunity by promoters. This guy has a great look and can kick some serious ass.

112. Low Life Louie Ramos- Louie! Louie! Louie! This has been heard numerous times all over arena's that Louie's in. The current king of the death match, is undefeated in USA Pro and made a few ROH appearances too. Why Louie is not in every promotions hardcore division is a joke, as he's the best hardcore wrestler today. Who else walks around with plungers in their ass and takes 60 staples to the head?

113. H.C. Loc- part of the Carnage Crew, HC Loc has looked impressive in many ROH outings.

114. Nick Berk- the man from Texas is full of adrenaline and ferocity. Can have a good match with a lot of people and the crowd is always pumped to see him go.

115. Mike Quackenbush- The Quack is the innovator of moves and is one of the best wrestlers on the Indy scene today. Hopefully he'll wrestle in NJ more often!

116. Teo Kea- Teo Kea made a northeast appearance in 2002 for MLW. He looked very impressive.

117. Wayne The Convenience Store Guy- From a joke to a good wrestler, Wayne has made a lot of progress as this list went to press. He's had great matches with Johnny Ova and recently won the NYWC Tag Team championships with Mikey Whipwreck, after a great match with the Solution. Mark these words, Wayne will be in a lot more promotions due to his work by the time 2003 lets out.

118. Chris Cage- another Super 8 competitor, Cage gets all his talking done by kicking ass in the ring.

119. Dick Togo- recently made an appearance at an MLW show. Togo still has the gusto he's had a few years back.

120. Crazy Charlie - The Luchadore from Mexico had a couple of PA. matches and really impressed. Carlos Los Loco is a local hero from Tiajuana and will be touring the United States again shortly.

121. Paul E Normous- another guy to receive work with OVW, Paul E Normous looks like a muscled out Little Guido. Expect WWE work in his future.

122. Chino Martinez- The 8 year Indy veteran has had a good career so far, and this grading period reflects that. Chino is winning titles all over the place, including the SSCW Light heavyweight title.

123. Corvis Fear - aka Roach, Corvis has been a solid heel for JAP and IHPW. His feud with Eddie Thomas has been solid, and look for big things by this guy in the future.

124. Eddie Thomas- had a great match over in SSCW. Thomas might be a skinny wrestler, but Thomas is a great wrestler and his matches are always exciting.

125. J-Busta- J-Busta seemingly came out of nowhere to make a big splash on the indy scene. Busta looked very impressive in PWA and WXW appearances. Hopefully extending out to NY/NJ is in his future.

126. Kash - AMIL- this All Money is Legal member has a huge following along with his partner. Picked up a huge win over the DRS at a recent ICW show. Currently working in USA, ICW, WXW among others.

127 Tommy Suede- the WXW Television champion, and for a good reason- he's a great wrestler.

128 Kaoz - AMIL- ½ of AMIL, Kaoz has looked good in recent tag matches, and upended a lot of top notch tag teams. They are currently regulars at WXW.

129 Inferno- Inferno suffered a few injuries in early 2003, and was forced to vacate the IHPW title. An ECWA and JCW regular, expect the former Inferno Kid, to make a big splash upon returning.

130 Dave Greco- always draws massive heel heat. Greco is a solid wrestler in the ring and has gotten better by each match.

131 Malice- the former Wall makes the DOI 250 after extensive indy work over NJ and USA Pro in NY. Looked good in a recent match with Wayne.

132 Tyler Payne- currently a mainstay in NYWC and has wrestled for ECWA. Also has had a few good matches in JCW.

133 Christian York- a 3PW regular, Christian York is still looking for that WWE contract after impressing crowds daily. Former tag team partner of Joey Matthews.

134 Norman Smiley- the master of the Big Wiggle, Norman has appeared in USA Pro, and looked good in a loss to Skinhead Ivan.

135 Brian Wenzel- the IHPW champion, and WXW regular, is all about intensity, and the crowd loves it.

136 Chris Hamrick- Confederate Currency, a XPW regular, and ICW superstar, always has good matches no matter who his opponent is.

137 Shane Douglas- a man who's worked almost every promotion ever, currently joined NWA TNA after appearing in XPW and MLW.

138 Southern Vinny Stylin- Always draws huge heel heat. His ring work is great and is another good representative of Critical Mass.

139 Syxx-Pac- The former WWE/WCW superstar, put on classics with Sabu over in 3PW. Whether he makes more northeast appearances is up to promoters.

140 Mozart Fontaine- another ECWA regular, Mozart has improved show by show, and is a good guy in and out of the ring to his fans.

141 Jeff Jarrett- The former NWA TNA and WCW World Champ makes the rankings after wrestling in NJ at a recent show.

142 Rockin Rebel- not afraid to use the f-bomb in his promos, Rebel is a great ring psychologist to boot.

143 Don Crisis- the real crisis might be his hair, but don't let his hair distract you, the WXW Cruiser Champ has consistently been having good matches.

144 Chris Idol- recently getting more work in JCW, as he's been an IHPW mainstay. Idol is improving every time out, and it's not too far down the road, when everyone knows who he is.

145 Blue Meanie- the former WWE superstar, is currently entertaining many fans in 3PW. He's better off wrestling then appearing in bikini contests!

146 Tony Lazaro- Tony Lazaro retired from wrestling in March of 2003, and the DOI wishes him the best of luck. He worked ROH and was part of the hilarious H-Effect in JAP.

147 Suba- SHOE! SHOE SHOE! Part of the Shaolin Wrecking Crew, Suba always gets the crowd pops and is currently the SSCW Tag Team Champ with his partner Magic.

148 Sean Lei- mostly working in Virginia, Lei has broke out to JCW. Hopefully he'll get more work soon. Needs to stay away from Devin Sturgis!

149 Magic- a man that the DOI respects and one of the funnier guys in wrestling. Magic is part of the Shaolin Wrecking Crew with Suba. One of the few teams that the DRS can't beat cleanly, as illustrated on recent JAP shows. Look for the blow off match on August 2nd!

150 Tony Burma- The former WTF wrestler and NYWC superstar has gotten better every time he's out there. Has wrestled great matches with Dan Barry and Johnny Ova. Wrestles for cruiser belts, but can easily challenge for any title.

151 Benny Blanco- a former doghouse wrestler, Blanco is tearing stuff up over in WXW. Hopefully more promoters use him.

152 Tony Blaze- part of Los Boriquas, Blaze is a JCW Tag Champ, and has looked good in recent matches with the DRS.

153 Spyder- a former NYWC Tag Champ, and ½ of Team Corona, Spyder may be the more consistent half of Team Corona. Also appeared on JCW.

154 Maximillyian- one of The MiC's faves, for the drinking alone! Max is way over in NYWC. Recently had a rough outing in USA Pro, but will redeem himself, because he's been improving match in match out.

155 New Jack- works for 3PW occasionally, New Jack is brutal as ever. Recently joined NWA-TNA.

156 Warpath- the other member of Los Boriquas, Warpath has been giving 100% and has looked good in recent tag bouts.

157 J Silva- the big man from NYWC has looked good in recent matches. His tag team of Orgy of Violence broke up in April, so a singles push seems eminent.

158 Mega- working in many promotions, most notably ECWA, Mega is a monster and can inflict a lot of damage to an opponent.

159 Johnny Maxx- teams with Joey Maxx aka Johnny Ova in ECWA. A solid wrestler with a good look.

160 JD Lishus- retired as this issue went to press, due to a bad back. Looked very good in various promotions such as NYWC and JCW. Hopefully his injury will heal and he can come back.

161 Kevin Matthews- 2 Cocky is breaking out, as he's working in many promotions. Had many good matches with John Walters, and won the SSCW TV title by defeating Dave Webb. Currently on the D/L as he's out with a knee injury. When he comes back, expect him to come back with force.

162 Billy Kryptonite- The Chaotic Wrestling New England champion has looked impressive in recent bouts. Look to see him make a bigger impact as time passes.

163 D-Lo Brown- worked a few NY/NJ/PA shows, and is a solid wrestler. Why the WWE fired him is a question and a half.

164 Johnny Thundar- likened as a thicker Shawn Michaels, Thundar has won many titles in the grading period and even had Francine as his manager at an IHPW show.

165 Tommy Knoxville- Too Toxic has looked impressive in recent shows and the sky is the limit.

166 Dickie Rodz- the former NYWC World Heavyweight Champion, Dickie had a fantastic match with Livewyre in NYWC. The crowd loves him. Another proud Critical Mass product. Also appeared in JCW in a good tag bout.

167 Gangrel- also goes by the name of Vampire Warrior, Gangrel wrestled a classic with Balls Mahoney and has joined NWA-TNA

168 Havoc- There are lots of Havoc(k)'s, but this Havoc is in WXW. Havoc has a huge fro, to go with his huge amount of wrestling skills. Has gotten better in more matches.

169 Antonio Thomas- has looked very well in Chaotic Wrestling, hopefully he'll break out to NJ/NY.

170 Latin Fury Luis Ortiz- a Chaotic Wrestling Heavyweight Champion, Luis has been impressive during the grading period.

171 Vince Vicallo- collected a lot of titles over in Chaotic Wrestling, and has looked improved in more matches. Also won tag gold with John Walters.

172 Ruckus- A CZW regular, Ruckus has been tearing the roof off at recent CZW shows.

173 Troy Nelson- ½ of the IHPW and ECPW Tag Team champions, the Nelsons are the best tag team you never heard of.

174 Matt Nelson- See above and add: I hope they get noticed by more promoters, because these two are one of the top Indy teams, and I'd love to see them work more opponents outside of the Machines!

175 Devious- responsible for a lot of wrestlers starts, DVS is well liked by fans and other wrestlers alike. Expect big things for him and Teckno Heat, aka Team Target.

176 Ryan Wing- likened to Screech from Saved By The Bell, Ryan Wing has won numerous titles over his career, and is another solid wrestler.

177 Ian Rotten- Ian is back and with a vengeance and has been tearing crap up.

178 Nate Hatred- part of the H8 club, Nate is a big part of CZW shows.

179 Johnny Bison Bravado- The Bison can go hardcore or straight up wrestle, depending on the match. He looked good on recent PWA shows, and donated 5 pints of blood after a recent match with Low Life Louie. Not booked in many promotions, and I don't know why.

180- Axl Rotten- worked a brutal bloodbath over in 3PW.

181 Xero-the ECWA big man, had a huge lumberjack match with Mega at a recent ECWA show. Needs to lose a little more weight, because it might be what's holding him back in ring stamina.

182 Nuke- The NYWC regular looks like the long lost twin of Xero, and is constantly improving at every show he's at.

183 Nate Cage- A CZW regular, look for Nate to always impress his fans at any show he's at.

184 Brock Vendetta- this guy is freaking huge and has calves the size of hams. The look is there, and with more work and character development, he could be following Livewyre to OVW.

185 GQ- Very good mat wrestler and could benefit with more mic time. Quietly making an impact.

186 Supreme Lee Great- the former Tough Enough try-out wrestler, has been likened to a Chris Jericho, in terms of look and mic skills. When you can combine good mic skills with good wrestling, you have something good.

187 Lamar Braxton Porter- Lamar has a great look and has looked impressive recently. A product of the NYWC training center/Critical Mass.

188 Mana- the master of the rain dance, Mana is a WXW regular and the crowd loves him. Currently in a feud with Mean Gene Okerer Sinisky.

189 Mike Xylas-currently blowing up now, Xylas has been working a lot of promotions as of late, including IHPW. He's a good worker and can be a welcome edition to any promotion.

190 Scotty Charisma- Does this guy have charisma? Hell yea, the crowd is always behind Scotty in one way or the other. Will 2004 be his year?

191 Biggie Biggs- The Bigg Man has looked well on many IWF and NWS shows in the past year, and has claimed a few world titles as well in his career.

192 Spider- from PWA, Spider has a great look and can chain wrestle as well. Whether he branches out to NJ/NY is still a question that needs to be answered.

193 Wrecka- Had a big injury, and then came back only a month later! A tough guy, and I hope to see him wrestle more often.

194 Billy Bax- an ECWA superstar, Billy Bax is always good for a good night of wrestling and a knee slapping laugh, as seen on recent ECWAtron skits.

195 Tiger Mulligan- currently working in IHPW, Tiger is always in a main event feud. Might be the IHPW World Champion by the time you read this.

196 Malachi- likened to Roadkill in terms of size, appearance and gimmick. Malachi does the Amish gimmick, but don't let that fool you, he can go.

197 Psycho – ½ of the Elm Street Kids. Psycho has tremendous wrestling capabilities and is extremely creative inside the ring. Memorable hardcore match with Low Life Louie at the Elks Lodge in Queens.

198 Billy Dream- likened to Bret Hart in terms of his look and the tights he wears, Billy Dream is very serious about wrestling and is always focused. That includes everyone else on this list too. Dream has looked impressive in recent WXW outings.

199 Untouchable Anthony Michaels- Anthony Michaels has looked very well in recent matches from PWA to WXW. Whether he's tagging up or going mano e mano, Michaels always gives 100%.

200 Pappalishus- Pappalishus rounds off the 200, and has looked good in recent USA Pro shows. His manager Ms. Sinful is always the center of controversy, but keep your eye on Pappalishus as he's looked good in the ring. Recently the center of controversy himself, after a message board post with some pictures.

201 Rayza- ½ of the Elm Street Kids. Rayza has looked good in recent USA shows, and is now starting to break out and wrestle in more promotions.

202 Matt Vandal- Too hot to handle, has looked good in recent shows, and has worked a lot of promotions in the past year for one simple reason- he's good.

203 LA Smooth- a 13 year veteran, and a former WXW Tag Champ, one can not deny Smooth's presence in the squared circle.

204 Dusty Rhodes- Dusty has taken recent bookings in 3PW and IHPW, and still had the crowd behind him like it was 1979. The owner of Turnbuckle Championship Wrestling, Dusty also appeared on NWA TNA.

205 Kevin Knight- the IWF head trainer lands at the 205 spot. Mr. Camp IWF has looked well in recent matches with Biggie Biggs.

206 Kamala- The Ugandan Giant wrestled in JAP and had a brutal match with Jerry Lawler.

207 Japanese Pool Boy- The ECWA Mid-Atlantic Champion might look like a joke, but don't judge the book by its cover. JBP looked very impressive in a match with Chris Daniels at the ECWA Super 8, and has been defending the title consistently since winning it.

208 Jason- Maybe not the best name for a wrestler, as it is ordinary, but had his career highlight happen at a recent WXW show, as he pinned Homicide in the middle of the ring. Can go hardcore, as seen in a recent match with Boogalou.

209 Moondog Molsonn- may not be the most scientific wrestler, but you can't deny his training skills, as he's trained a lot of great wrestlers today. He's always over, and always has the crowd behind him.

210 Abunai- recently unmasked at an ICW show, Abunai hasn't been around as much as he used to. He's also working in Connecticut, for Jason, of ECW fame.

211 Teckno Heat- part of Team Target, Teckno Heat might have a break out year in 2004, as he's laying a solid foundation here in 2003. Expect big things from Team Target.

212 Mean Gene Sinisky- the guy has a freakish look, something that can always be used in wrestling. Gene is a big guy with a slicked black hair mullet with menacing eyes. Recently broke his hand, but Gene should be back soon and taking names in WXW.

213 Stormin Norman- Stormin Norman wasn't seen too much during the ranking period, but when he did work, he did enough to impress the DOI, as he's looked good on recent shows.

214 Samu- the Headshrinker is still banging away in WXW. Always entertaining, Samu is a former WWE Tag Team Champion, and kicking ass all over WXW.

215 Perry Saturn- has worked USA Pro since getting let go by the WWE. Had a good match with Balls Mahoney. Currently working NWA TNA.

216 Matt Hype- one of the newer NYWC superstars, Hype has looked impressive in 2 recent matches against formidable opponents. With the way NYWC is producing superstars, the sky is the limit.

217 Laithon- Tower of Torture has been a focal piece in the now business-struggling PWA. PWA put on great shows, and Laithon was one of the reasons why.

218 Don Vega- Vega has looked impressive in recent matches over the NY/NJ/PA area. Not very well known, but can move in the ring.

219 Rik Lesnar- Hailing from Upstate, NY, Rik picked up a win over TNT at a recent SSCW show, with Jason X. Lawrence by his side. It should be interesting if he does more work in the NY/NJ area.

220 Messiah- The man with no thumb, Messiah is back and making a name for himself in XPW among others. With XPW closed, or looking like it's closed down, it should be interesting if he joins another Philly promotion.

221 Tony Flow- part of the Canadian Connection, Tony Flow is always running his mouth on the mic, and drawing good heel heat. He can also wrestle too which is a main positive.

222 Sinister X- the CSWF World Champion has been tolling away in CSWF and USWF. With the rebirth of CSWF, look for new things to come abroad from him.

223 Scott Steiner- although only working one indy show in the past year, SSCW's Helloween, Steiner had a better match there then he's had since rejoining the WWE. His crowd reaction as unbelievable, and here's to hoping he comes back to the Indies again.

224 RuffHouse Riveria- Riveria has looked good in recent shows and has improved his work rate. Keep an eye on him.

225 Cheetah Master- the longtime ECWA mainstay had a few great matches this year, including winning a Loser Leaves Town match with then-ROH Champion Xavier.

226 Demolition Ax- Demolition Ax still is pounding people on the Indies, with new partner Blast. Always gets crowd love.

227 Armand Demuerto- looks like Jeff Hardy, but only with more passion. Armand has looked good in NYWC, and is one of Critical Mass's top students.

228 Joey Braggiol- Mr. Yellow wrestles in ICW and NYWC. Joey has looked good in tag matches and singles matches, and comes from the QWA school. Likened a lot to Josh Deely, but don't be confused, as Joey can get it done in the ring.

229 The Patriot- wrestles a lot like Salvatore Sincere. The Patriot is always a huge face no matter where he goes. Could he be Mr. America?

230 Tommy Force- part of the Canadian Connection with Tony Flow. Looks like he can be a big superstar, and is good on the mic.

231 Giant Silva- Giant Silva defeated 10 men at a recent JCW show, back to back. While his ring skills aren't the best, you can't deny his size and presence.

232 Dave Webb- likened to Rey Mysterio Jr. in look, and he even duplicates his style, even doing the 619. Webb wrestles all over NJ among others. You can catch him on SSCW or NWS shows.

234 TNT- TNT got injured at an SSCW show on March 28th, and has been in-active as these rankings went to press. TNT also wrestles in the NWS, and has a good look for a big man.

235 Tusk- Tusk comes from the Critical Mass Wrestling School, and wrestles like he's John Tenta's biggest fan. He's also got the same size. Taking a big splash from him looks brutal. With more work, he may rise to the top of the NYWC ranks.

236 King Kong Bundy- The former Wrestlemania main-eventer, King Kong Bundy has been doing time in the indies, including USA Pro. Whether it's in the ring or at an autograph session, King Kong Bundy is always professional.

237 Fred Sampson- The Bonecrusher has been winning matches all over NJ, from IWF to NWS. A big guy that can move, is always a positive thing in wrestling.

238 Chief Dudley- Also known as, Dances with Dudley, Dudley has been making a name for himself on NYWC shows. The former ECW superstar has picked up some major victories, and has looked good in doing so.

239 Reno The Black Pearl- a WXW mainstay, Reno The Black Pearl looks like a bigger Rock, in facial and muscle tone. With more training, Reno will make a big splash on the indy scene, sooner than later.

240 Masked Maniac- the master of the penis pull, and hilarious promos, Maniac joins the DOI 250. While his matches aren't always the best, they always have the crowd going, and has defeated many big names in his career. Lots of indy workers would be blessed to have his mic skills.

241- Danny Demanto- Danny Demanto makes the DOI 250, pulling in at number 241. Danny wrestles all over the east coast from Rhode Island to New York, from New Jersey to Massachusetts. A mentor to such people as Drew Blood and Devan Moore, Demanto cares about the business very much, and had a broo-ha-ha with Damian Dragon at a recent ICW show.

242 Jim Nastic- Mr. Fantastic, simply bombastic, Jim Nastic always has the crowd on their feet. His style and look is like Koko-B-Ware, but don't let that fool you, he can get it done in the ring.

243 Jake Bishop- from WXW, Bishop has a great look and with a push in the right direction, could be on his way up.

244 Ken Scampi- The Fishman wrestles a lot in NYWC and ICW, and has had a lot of crowd support in his matches. Always a go-getter, Scampi looked good in a recent win over Eddie Guapo on 5/16.

245 Hasheem "Chemical Warfare" Ali- the controversial NWS superstar, has looked better in recent matches. Along with his manager Mohammed, Ali is looking to make a huge impression, and has looked good in a win over The Patriot.

246 Drew Blood- runs with Devan Moore and wrestles in a few promotions in the MA and RI territories. He's also worked JCW, and is improving every time out.

247 Devan Moore- wrestling mostly in MA and RI, Devan has a lot of potential and looking to make a name for himself on the indy scene. Regularly teams with Drew Blood.

248 Mr. Ooh La La- a long time ECWA main stay, Mr. Ooh La La is more known for his antics then his wrestling. But how can you overlook a guy that has the crowd in the palm of his hand every time he's on a show? Mr. Oh La La is one of the best indy heels today.

249. Frankie Hawke- Frankie Hawkie is SSCW's newest superstar and is blazing his way up the SSCW rankings after a big win over Bobby Dean. At only a very young age, and with dedication, Frankie maybe be on his way up.

250 JC The Damager- closing off the DOI 250 is JC The Damager. JC The Damager wrestled in a brutal bloodbath in a losing, but very respectable effort with Low Life Louie Ramos on the 3/8/03 USA Pro Show. Can the #250 ranked guy be the next Joe Rules? (10 points to whoever gets that reference)

PLEASE REMEMBER - THIS IN NO WAY REPRESENTS ANY OFFICIAL INDEPENDENT WRESTLING RANKINGS. IT IS JUST THE OPINIONS OF MEMBERS OF THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENTS STAFF.