If you follow me on Instagram or Facebook, over the last few days you will have noticed my latest run of illustrations focusing on the superstars of the WWE (or WWF, as it was called in my youth). I wanted to jump back into this style and was looking for some fun subject matter that hasn’t really been explored by the pop-culture vultures. Wrestlers was it.
I haven’t been into wrestling for about 2 decades now, kinda stopped watching around the early 90s. But getting into these illustrations re-opened just how INTO wrestling I was back then. From about ’87 to ’93 it ruled my life, mostly due to my childhood buddy Mike. We drew our own wrestlers, ran our own imaginary federations and watched a ton of the special WWF events. So much fun.
So here are the first illustrations of wrestlers, with many more to come. As always, your thoughts and requests are welcome. Judging by the response, I had no idea so many of you were wrestling fans.
What started as a fun little project might be growing into something more. Currently talking to a few notable people interested in doing something. More soon?
EDIT: As I complete new illustrations I’ll be adding them to this blog post, for easy reference.
Awesome. You need to tweet these to WWE. I know they’ve been contracting work out to outside artists of late. http://www.wwe.com/inside/artist-jill-thompson-on-illustrating-cm-punks-second-city-saint-t-shirt-26107762
Andre the Giant and Hulk… but you probably already knew that.
Great stuff. Love the style. BAM BAM or Junk Yard dog? Love the Hot rod man. Takes me waaaaay back like you said to the WWF days.
Hacksaw Jim Duggan, Rowdy Roddy Piper, and Rick Flair.
If you do feel the need to create some more, here are the ones you should look into;
Bruno Sammartino
Andre the Giant
Ric Flair
Steve Austin
The Rock
Goldberg
The Undertaker
Sting
maybe a quick tutorial on making the characters and how you get that gritty type of gradient ?
I’d LOVE to get involved with a project like this. Old School WWF Wrestling is my jam!!!
Damn these are awesome, definitely takes me back in the days. What about Ravishing Rick Rude, The Rockers and The Honkey Tonk Man.
Junk yard dog… Heck yeah! Awesome stuff. Need a huge poster with all of these on it. Nice work sir.
Superfly Snuka!
I’m a huge wrestling fan as well and I love these, great job! Here are some suggestions:
Andre the Giant
Ric Flair
Sgt. Slaughter
The Undertaker
Shawn Michaels
Never thought you were a fan too, keep them coming, please. :)
nice work, will love to have a tutorial on how you make the texture, love you new style incorporating vector. pease from mtl
Too smooth brother
Awesome work! But, as request, I miss the (old) Undertaker.
Bobby The Brain Heenan and Mr Perfect!
Seriously. You did KoKo B. Ware. I hope it was my suggestion. If not, I will just pretend. Love it!
Dude, if you can somehow pull off a color forms set of this, where i can place these dudes in a ring, even better.
I’d like to see these guys added – Sgt. Slaughter, Kane, Captain Lou Albano, and Mr. Fuji.
Is Bret Hart for sale?
I will purchase all of these when you release the prints! Would love a Shawn Michaels to really complete the set. If you’re going vintage, do HBK from 1992-93. http://bit.ly/14umfhn
Love these. Are they available to buy or print?
These are brilliant. I’d love to see a Big Boss Man, and maybe a Mick Foley.
Amazing !
Are these available for purchase ? (if not) Can I use these images on my website with attribution to your website?
Do you see yourself taking these into animation?
Love it! Razor Ramon & vintage HBK, please?