5 rare photos of AEW stars as children

Over the past few years, AEW has managed to assemble one of the greatest rosters in pro wrestling. It's become one of the top landing spots for free agents, and many of the industry's top stars have declared themselves All Elite as a result.

With the physical presence and star power that's on display, it's difficult to picture some of AEW's wrestlers as children. However, a few rare photos exist that shed light on the formative years of the promotion's biggest stars.

While we've grown used to seeing these talents under the bright lights on television, many had humble origins. Some seemed destined to make their living in the ring while others came from unexpected backgrounds.

Seeing some of the industry's top stars at such a young age, it's difficult to imagine them growing up to become pro wrestlers. Here are five images that show our beloved AEW stars as children.

#5. AEW star Hook with his father Taz

Hook is one of the freshest talents on the All Elite Wrestling roster. The Cold-Hearted Handsome Devil was a sensation even before his in-ring debut, and it's easy to see why.

Hook oozes confidence in everything from his entrance music to his moveset. His swagger as he strolls to the ring and leans in the corner captivates fans and enrages opponents even before the bell.

And then there's the way he wrestles. Hook's style inside the ring is vicious and buttery smooth. He decimates opponents with a large array of suplexes, holds and reversals. The best part is how effortlessly he seems to execute every step.

The photo above shows Hook as a child with his father Taz. It really should be no surprise how good the 22-year-old is right now, considering his lineage. The new recruit in Team Taz has given the stable a much-needed boost in the rather crowded All Elite scene.

#4. AEW star Sammy Guevara with Booker T

AEW star Sammy Guevara has consistently been regarded as one of the top performers on the roster. The reigning TNT champion has had a number of great bouts to date, most notably his recent ladder match against Cody Rhodes.

Guevara's importance has even been noted by one of the top heels in the AEW business, MJF, who named Sammy as one of the four pillars of All Elite Wrestling.

Sammy Guevara was heavily influenced by WWE Hall of Famer Booker T. The picture above shows the Spanish God with the six-time world champion. With a legend like Booker as his influence, it seems as though Sammy was destined to make it big in the wrestling industry.

#3. AEW's top villain MJF with CM Punk

MJF has firmly established himself as one of the most talented and dynamic heels not only in AEW, but in the wrestling business as a whole. His recent feud with CM Punk has drawn a lot of attention from fans around the world.

A major reason their rivalry is so popular is the level of talent both possess on the mic. The two wrestlers have given fans some of the best promos in recent times, digging into each other's past and blurring the line between fiction and reality.

One of the most devastating taunts came when CM Punk pointed out that MJF was a fan of the straight edge star in his younger years. The photo above shows Friedman with the Punk when the former was just a child.

No matter his origins, MJF has made the best of what he's been offered so far. It will be interesting to see how his storyline unfolds in AEW going forward. The future for the young superstar seems full of possibilities.

#2. AEW's Bryan Danielson in one of his youngest photos

Bryan Danielson in his formative years

Bryan Danielson is widely regarded as one of the best pro wrestlers in the world. His reputation in the ring has led him to be counted among the greatest talents of all time. The veteran performer has an innate grasp of technical wrestling and is currently doing it better than anyone in the business.

Bryan Danielson has enjoyed a prolific career, going from king of the indies to the main event of WrestleMania, and now to All Elite Wrestling. Part of his training was overseen by the legendary Shawn Michaels, so it should be no surprise that the American Dragon has made such a big name for himself.

The photo above shows Bryan Danielson as a baby. It's hard to imagine that this fluffy little person grew up to be the legendary wrestler we know today.

#1. AEW's Chris Jericho sporting a bowlcut hairstyle in his childhood

Chris Jericho was one of the first big signings Tony Khan made for All Elite Wrestling. It's undeniable that Jericho coming onboard gave the promotion some much-needed legitimacy in its early days.

This has snowballed into the present day as AEW has risen to compete with WWE. Throughout the last three years, Le Champion has had as big an impact in the company as anyone else.

The above picture was shared by Jericho himself on his official Facebook page. Y2J must have been taking a trip down memory lane when he came across the school photo. It's almost bizarre to think that young Christopher Irvine with a bowl-cut would grow up to be the legendary Chris Jericho.