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All over the world, different fandoms have talented artists creating amazing works for fun and profit. The fandom of professional wrestling is no exception. Here are some slides of fantastic fan art.
#20 The Undertaker
This work, done by a mysterious artist named Flem, is a picture-perfect portrayal of "The Deadman" in his mid-90s costume. The realistically depicted 'Taker is surrounded by gravestones and a nimbus of phantasmal energy which he seems to be summoning from the Earth.
As near as can be told, Flem is no longer producing art, as this was the only image associated with his name. Still, it's a great render of the early '90s Undertaker.
#19 Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn
With its over the top characters, outlandish costumes, and visceral action, pro wrestling's nexus with video games is a no-brainer. Fans often cross over between the two genres, with WWE video games selling millions of copies worldwide.
This cartoon-style rendering of BFFs Owens and Zayn draws inspiration from Wreck-it Ralph, with Owens being the massive Ralph and Zayn representing Vanellope.
This fun, creative, and downright funny work is by Fox.
#18 Wyatt Family crossing Abbey Road
The Beatles had no idea they would stride into history when they released their 1969 album Abbey Road. Even in the days before the internet, the iconic image of all four members simply crossing a street had spawned numerous parodies.
In the age of the meme, the album cover has received a new resurgence, with everything from stormtroopers to Trump's cabinet striding across the legendary road.
This work, which has yet to be claimed by a singular artist, uses a minimalist style at odds with and yet enhancing the bizarre antics of the Wyatt family.
#17 John Cena vs. Cascoon
There are two things the internet seems to love - Pokemon and making fun of John Cena.
This meme by an unnamed artist seems to strike the right balance of the ridiculous and sublime. Cena is rendered in a semi-realistic style, while the Cascoon is pure anime all the way. His trainer has pushed John to level sixteen, but as you can see, Cena can't learn more than four moves.
Mocking John Cena's low work rate and pitting him against a notoriously weak, lower level Pokemon perfectly sums up the opinion of his detractors.
#16 Stone Cold vs. Bret Hart
Some moments are etched into Wrestling fan's memories, indelibly imprinted upon the cerebellum for all eternity. One such moment comes to us from Wrestlemania 13, where Steve Austin faced Bret Hart for the Hitman's WWE Heavyweight title.
The two athletes put on a clinic, getting over the idea that they were quite evenly matched and the contest could go either way. Eventually, a bloodied Austin was locked into Bret's Sharpshooter submission hold.
Austin refused to tap out, eventually passing out from pain and/or blood loss if you listen to the commentary. This was the exact moment when Austin went babyface, as the 'good guy' will never submit.
Bret also turned heel moments later, when he attacked Austin post-match even though he had been declared the winner and still champion.
This work, by illustrator Jon Defreest, captures a moment in time which is still spoke of today.
#15 Edge channels Ash vs Evil Dead
"The Rated R Superstar" was forced to retire a few years ago, much too soon by the estimation of many. With his movie star good looks, speed, and strength, he carved out a niche for himself at the top of the card, including several runs with the 'big belt.'
In this illustration, we see a jacked-beyond-belief Edge wearing his most iconic ring gear. The smarmy smirk on his face is made far less silly by the sparking, rumbling chainsaw in his hand. It seems that Edge has taken his name literally in this picture.
This work was created by DazTibbles.
#14 The Apex Predator vs. The Snake
Often in the world of pro wrestling, we wonder what could have been if a legend and a currently active wrestler had competed in the same time period. While Randy Orton and Jake the Snake briefly shared a ring, it was not an actual match, and occurred many years after Jake's prime.
If only things could have been different. This work by professional illustrator Diego Tapie conjures up the confrontation we all wish had happened.
#13 Jeff Hardy watercolour
Anyone can look up photos of their favourite wrestler to get an idea of what they look like. The goal of an artist is to capture their soul, their essence, and portray it to the viewer.
Rob Schamberger certainly achieves this with his stunning watercolour portrait of Jeff Hardy. Hardy's bright colours are muted, blended with deeper shades that reveal the brooding darkness within.
#12 Chris Benoit Pencil sketch
With Photoshop, advanced CGI, and built in graphic poser programs, modern artists have a variety of means at their disposal to render magnificent works. However, one can still be amazed at the clarity achieved when simple pencils and paper are utilized.
This pencil sketch by artist Vincent captures the pain and darkness lurking in Benoit's mind. Simultaneously fierce and vulnerable, it's a rare image of a misunderstood man who committed terrible atrocities while suffering from severe brain damage, damage which left him with the cerebral equivalent of a 68-year-old with Alzheimer's.
#11 Attitude Era Icons
Every one should find something to like in this manga-style depiction of numerous Attitude Era wrestlers. From Goldberg's fierce war cry to Randy Orton's arrogant pose, artist The Chamba perfectly exemplifies the traits which made each wrestler an icon.
From left to right: Big Show, Edge, Randy Orton, Triple H, Bret Hart, Goldberg, John Cena, Chris Benoit, and in the front HBK.
#10 The Shield vs. Disney's Gargoyles
Mashups are taking the world by storm, from Superman vs. Batman, to Supernatural meets Scooby Doo. The above illustration by artist Oniwanbashu depicts a meeting of two iconic trios.
Everything about this photo captures the essence of the characters involved; family man Roman is cheerfully shaking Broadway's hand, fan boy Lexington is begging for an autograph on his personal WWE championship replica, while Dean Ambrose stares suspiciously at the adult beverage in his hand.
With 90s nostalgia just starting to gather steam, don't be surprised if this doesn't somehow make its way onto a TV near you.
#9 Asuka in Comic Book Style
With her beautiful features, supreme skill, and tough-as-nails nature, it's no wonder that Asuka has become a household name all over the world. Her over-the-top costumes and mannerisms are a perfect match for the four colour world of comic books.
This illustration by artist Glee-Chan perfectly exemplifies the Empress of Tomorrow.
#8 Rowdy Roddy Piper in his Prime
If you grew up in the 1980s, you probably HATED Rowdy Roddy Piper. The Darth Vader to Hulk Hogan's Luke Skywalker, Roddy epitomised everything that was evil in the 1980s; he cheated, he lied, he beat down the innocent, and -- worst of all -- he refused to dress like a cis-gendered American man was supposed to.
Piper once told Hogan "they'd never have cheered for you so loudly, if they hadn't hated me so much." There's little to refute that statement. This work by an unnamed artist depicts Roddy in all his 1980s glory.
#7 "Crow" Sting
Depending on when you began watching wrestling, one of two images comes to mind when you hear the name "Sting." Either you think of the 'surfer dude' who shouted cowabunga while leaping through the air for his Stinger Splash, or you think of the 'brooding angel' who hung out in rafters and didn't speak much, if at all.
Developed by Eric Bischoff as a money-saving feature when Sting had used up all his appearances for the year, often times "Sting" wasn't even played by the wrestler Steve Borden! A creative solution that inadvertently created perhaps the most memorable look of the wrestler known as Sting.
This work, by an unnamed artist, reveals the idiom of Sting's gothic character with simple lines and heavy shading.
#6 Masked Kane
Kane recently shocked the world by returning as his masked 'demon' persona. Glen Jacobs has been with the WWE for a long, long tenure. First wrestling as Issac Yankem, DDS -- no, seriously -- Jacobs has also gained notoriety for portraying 'Fake Diesel' after Kevin Nash's departure.
The above illustration by Thuddleston captures everything great about Kane's character; powerful, imposing, terrifying, and don't forget the flames at his command.
#5 Life is a Journey, Warriors
Pro wrestling has had its share of eloquent speakers, from the Common Man appeal of Dusty Rhodes to the carnival barking antics of Road Dogg.
For all that can be said of The Ultimate Warrior, it's no question that he was memorable. His long, ranting interviews often had no point and left the viewer confused. But, if you were an adolescent in the 1980s/90s, you didn't care and thought he was awesome anyway.
This work is a meme combining the worlds of catchphrase spewing simpleton Forrest Gump and Professional Wrestling. Ship filled with the rocket fuel, indeed.
#4 Finn Balor in paint
If you know who Finn Balor is, then he needs no introduction. If you're new to wrestling, you should watch the video below and catch up.
With his larger than life Demon persona and elaborate bodypaint, Finn is a logical choice for an artist to immortalize. The above work is by Imdocholliday, and perfectly captures the essence of the Demon King.
#3 Nia Jax, Stephen Universe Style
Until recently, women wrestlers were primarily utilised for pure sex appeal. From Sable to Christy Hemme, looks and figure were put above athletic ability and substance, and delivering a good match was simply not important at all.
Fortunately, things have changed for the better. Women like Charlotte Flair and Asuka have prioritised in-ring ability, and gone are the days of bra and panties matches.
One of the women benefiting from the new revolution in wrestling is Nia Jax. The Rock's cousin has never looked fiercer in this fan art by Shinkumancer.
She greatly resembles the gem fighters in the Stephen Universe cartoon, a show which goes well with Nia's message about body positivity and confidence.
#2 Wrestlemania III in the MCU
The world changed on March 29, 1987. On that day, the largest indoor crowd in history gathered to witness the primal battle for dominance between the two biggest titans of the wrestling world. Hulk Hogan and Andre the Giant was the wrestling equivalent of King Kong vs. Godzilla, Jordan vs. Byrd, and the Beatles vs Elvis.
If you've never had the pleasure, you can check out this classic confrontation in the video below.
In the illustration above, the artist blends our main event heroes with their super-powered counterparts in the Marvel Universe. Hulk has never looked more hulkish, and Andre seems a true storybook monster in this fan art by Axel Medellin.
#1 Macho Man Averts the Apocalypse
Recently, a group of Christian activists claimed the Rapture would happen on September 23, 2017. Obviously, this dark fate did not befall the world, and a midnight on September 24, memes based on the above illustration popped up all over social media. Captions ranged from "Apocalypse postponed! Oh YEAH!" to the more eloquent, "And let it be known to every creature on Earth, Macho Man died so we may live."
This work of fan art is a mashup of a public domain Jesus image by an unknown source and Macho Man's image from the WWE All Stars video game. Without a shadow of a doubt, WWE fan art has penetrated the mainstream culture and shows no sign of diminishing in relevance.
There you have it, twenty amazing works of WWE fan art!
