I have taken on the utterly crazy goal of painting every one of professional wrestling’s world champions. I felt that no artist had ever really approached this subject matter with any serious intent. I’m coming at each one with a passion I’ve built over the years for this wacky sport and attempting to depict the true essence of each of the subjects.
For those concerned with such things, this list includes World Champions from the following promotions: WWWF/WWF/WWE, WCW, TNA, ROH, ECW, NWA, AWA, USWA, WCWA and WWA.
I successfully ran a Kickstarter project to fund this collection. Here is a list of the amazing people who backed me:
Katy Schamberger l Dee and Roger Clark l Pat and Lisa Ryan l Ruth Ann and Betty Scott l Brian Kelley l Shelly Kramer l Gene Winters l Aaron Wadle l Adam and Danielle Ryan l Adam Lash l Adam Pearce l Alexandre Menard l Andrew Cerrone l Andrew Lazarchik l Anthony Mann l Bailee Chrisler l Beth Coffman l Brad Fanning l Brad Mitchell l Brandi Wagner l Brett Tulloss l Brian Bohannon l Brian Jubeck l Brian Streleckis l Chad Pennell l Charley Dingboom l Charlie Nielsen l Chris Gough l Chris Growcock l Chris Holly l Chris Sims l Chris Symes l Cristobal Salcedo l Dana Beguerie l Daniel Brookes l Daniel Riha l Dave Adams l David Allison l David Barnett l David Butler l David Gitlin l David Timmons l Douglas Scarpa l Duane Hodges l Eddie Martin l Emerson Witner l Eric McGraw l Erik Donaldson l Ervin Roberts l Frank Powers l Gary Clark l Gene Verley l Glynn Andrews l Jack Campbell l Jack Tierney l Jacob Collins l Jacob Luke l Jad Mattar l James Hassel l James Turnbull l Jamie Young l Janis Yarnevich l Jason Brazier l Jason Hurley l Jason Mize l Jason Preu l Jason Showe l Jawara Blake l Jed Brazier l Jeff Hobbs l Jeremy Wyatt l Jerry Creager l Jim Vollrath l Joel Savage l John Madigan l John Pinkus l John Ryan l Johnny Mercer l Jordan Urlacher l Jose Mata l Josh Knazan l Joshua Richter l Juan Ortiz l Jules Bentley l Julian Bond l Jun-Pierre Shiozawa l Justin Kendall l Katherine Otto l Ken Fuqua l Kendra Farmer l Kerri Pras l Kinsey Walters l Krysztof Nemeth l Kyle Barch l Kyle J Morris l Lacey Storer l Laine Alter l Laura Seymour l Lisa Eimers l Mampaey Kris l Marc Barrington l Marcus Kastler l Marie Nau Hunter l Mark D. Shevlin l Mary Ryan l Mason Groth l Matt Murphy l Matthew Bobola l Meghann McDonald l Melissa Murray l Michael Crase l Michael Inguagiato l Michael J Killam l Michael Kingston l Mickey Worsnup l Midnight Guthrie l Mike Giba l Mitchell Rudolph l Nathaniel Miller l Nick Borge l Nicole Donaldson l Nigel McGuinness l Noelle Amick l Osama Malik l Patty Poore l Peter Kogan l Peter Peresin l Raphel Love l Reggie Cole l Rhonda Schoenleber l Richard Hirschmann l Rob Garrow l Rob Justice l Robin Moss l Ronald Whited l Ross Laidlaw l Rusty Glusing l Ryan Dearbone l Ryan Holliday l Ryan Kent l Ryan Sponseller l Samuel Doyon l Sara Lansing l Sarah Maguffee l Scott Colton l Scott Knopf l Seth Burchett l Shane Maniaci l Sharon Bundy l Steve Baker l Steve Bingham l Steve Hoeker l Steve Kozle l Steve Slaughter l Sunaina Velagaleti l Susan Hart l Tom Blackett l Travis Bowden l Tricia Halford l Wes Bowen l William Kubicz l William Shaw
Thank you everyone!
You should do a raven picture, TNA NWA champ era. It would be cool because your style of paint just can mesh with his dark errry style. On top of that raven is my favorite wrestler
Raven’s on the list! He was both an ECW and NWA world champion!
It would be great if you would create one of Sting from the long haired crow WCW days!
I’m torn on which era of Sting I’m going to do. I’ll probably run a poll at some point for it. My wife really, really loves the blonde-haired bright face-painted period.
maybe a split face picture would be cool
The charismatic enigma is not on this list?!?!?!? #areyouseriousbro
But in all seriousness, Jeff Hardy would be awesome with your style of painting
Hi Jamal! I haven’t gotten to Jeff Hardy yet, but I plan to soon. You’re very right, his look would go perfect with my style!
Draw Kurt angle, Aj Styles, Daniel Bryan and Sting
All are on the list! I see we have a TNA fan!
In no way do I mean to be a smark, because I think this undertaking is 100% awesome, but are you going to do…David Arquette?
Not only am I doing David Arquette, but he tweeted last Sunday that he’s buying the painting! For reals, take at look at twitter.com/davidarquette!
I can’t wait to see the Stan the Lariat Hanson painting. That will be sick. What about Bruiser Brody too? I’m not sure if he was ever a champion but he is one of the top wrestlers of all time. Good luck with this project, it is very noble of you.
I’ve already done Brody, because he’s one of, if not totally my favorite. Stan Hansen is a beast and I’m excited to portray him!
What about one of the Undertaker ? The only issue is which persona, considering he was World Champion as Western, Lord of Darkness, Ministry, Big Evil and Deadman/Hybrid persona. I’d say Ministry or Hybrid
My wife asks me every day when I’m starting the ‘Taker painting! I think I’ll probably portray him from around Wrestlemania 20.
Will you ever sell reprints or something? I’d love to get a Foley and Sheamus Print. Awesome work mate! Can’t wait to see more!
Thanks Saul! I’m looking into doing prints, but there’s a lot of rights issues with doing them that I have to be careful about.
Can we purchase some of these?
Damn right you can! Until I get my store built, you can get them through http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/robschamberger/heavyweight-champions-of-the-world
These are amazing! I hope Eddie Guerrero is on the list.
Dude, you KNOW he is! The list is currently at 208, and I’m working on number 7!
How much would I have to pledge for the Lesnar painting or Punk painting? Thanks
Those are both at the $500 level. I can also do new ones of them at the $125 level.
I really want one to donate to the kickstarter project but its only for us and canadian residents. Any provisions in place for uk fans? I’d be happy to donate a little more for shipping.
Hi Martin! I’ve got this covered in the FAQ’s on Kickstarter now! http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/robschamberger/heavyweight-champions-of-the-world
WCW world champ Vince Russo on the list??? Hope so! #NewBlood
Mos def!
Bob:When the project is done do you plan on creating a book of the champions portraits///
It’s something I’m considering. There’s just a lot of rights issues that would need to be addressed first!
Rob, I trust you will include my favorite wrestler today, the former TNA World Heavy Weight Champion, the “Samoan-Submission Machine, ” Samoa Joe on your list, and don’t forget my all-time favorite wrestler, Former NWA World Heavyweight Champion, the “Lone Wolf” Barry Windham!
Naturally! Both are on the list!
Are you doing ROH guys? What’s the cutoff for heavyweight champ? Likewise will be seeing the likes of Inoki, Big Daddy, Misawa and other overseas legends or would that be too much to handle?
Hi Anthony!
I’m definitely doing ROH! Nigel McGuinness and CM Punk are already represented!
Inoki was an NWA champ, I know off-hand, so he’s on the list. I’m starting with the major American promotions, and then possibly branching out.
Hey Rob. Wasn’t sure if Nigel was just for his last of McGuinness project (which I’ll be getting a copy of).
Looking forward to Inoki.
Also, how are you planning on selling them?
I know someone asked about prints and it’s still iffy but are you just setting up a store or auctioning them?
I’ll be setting up a store later this week. Some will go to auction to raise money for charity. Hulk Hogan and John Cena, for instance, I’ll be putting up to raise money for the Make-a-Wish Foundation.
I can’t say enough good things about Rob’s artwork. Just absolutely amazing. Look for a Q&A with Rob at pwtorch.com on Thursday, May 17, 2011!
Thank you so much for doing the interview, Michael!
These are fantastic, and a great concept for us wrestling fans. Sadly, I was turned on to this a bit too late. Now, that the funding has been closed, are any paintings available for purchase directly.
Hi Ric! Yes, I’ll have ordering info up on the site soon. In the meantime, you can email me at robschamberger at gmail dot com and we can work something out!
Is Nelson Frazier Jr. on the list? (aka Mabel/Viscera/Big Daddy V?)
Because he’s my favorite (other than Randy Savage). He held a handful of smaller heavyweight titles, but also held the USWA Heavyweight Championship in Memphis, which was formerly the AWA and NWA Southern Heavyweight Championships.
Big Vis is definitely on the list!
When do you plan on painting Y2J? I’d love 2 buy it. Even drive 3hrs up 2 kcity if I had 2 man.
I don’t have a timetable set up, but if you’re wanting to commission it right away, I can get started on it! Shoot me an email at robschamberger at gmail dot com and we’ll work something out!
Hi I just want to know if you’re going to paint any of the Four Corners Of Heaven in All Japan during the nineties? Misawa, Kawada, Kobashi and Taue. Nethertheless I can’t wait to see how the rest these paintings turn out.
Hi John! I don’t currently have plans for the Japanese promotions, but I haven’t ruled them out, either!
If your doing Sting how about a painting in which half is 80’s Sting and the other the Crow version, or Insane Icon version?
Dude, this is great! As a lifelong wrestling fan and artist myself I can really appreciate your work. Thank you for including our puertorican champion Carlos Colon. Any chance of also painting other puertorican champions like The Invader 1. He has one of the coolest looking masks in the business and would look great. Also noticed Abdullah the Butcher is not on the list. Thank you once again!
Are you going to do Gerald (Jerry) Brisco as well? He was World Jr. Heavyweight Champion.
Not as part of this collection, but if someone wants to commission one I’m totally up for it!
Cant wait to see The Living Legend Larry Zbyszko. My favorite of all time.
Mil Máscaras would make for an incredibly vibrant piece.
OK I have a few questions. Why is Ahmed Johnson on this list? He was never a world champion that I know of. Which world titles are you going by for your list? Just ones mainly defended in the United States like WWE/F, WCW, NWA, ECW, ROH and AWA? Would the IWGP and All Japan Triple Crown count towards this list? I only bring this up because I feel its a travesty that Ahmed Johnson is on this list but Kenta Kobashi and Mitsuharu Misawa are not. If you are not planning on doing those 2 then I might be interested in commissioning one of Kenta Kobashi. What are my options in price ranges and mediums? Can I pick which picture I want made into a painting?
Ahmed Johnson was a one-time USWA World Champion. The list includes WWWF/WWF/WWE, NWA, WCW, ROH, ECW, USWA, WWA and AWA. I don’t have Japanese or Mexican promotions on here due to my lack of knowledge on those territories. I want to make sure I’m giving the proper respect that these individuals deserve when I do their portraits. See http://www.robschamberger.com/commissions for more information on commissioning an original. Yes, you can feel free to send me a reference pic. FYI, my rates are going up on Wednesday.
keen for big show
Your artwork is amazing brother !! Have you thought about painting the Road Warriors ?
Thanks Kris! I’ve got a lot more of my watercolor paintings up on my FB page, including the Road Warriors! http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=426200827436165&set=a.389657767757138.94752.220139408042309&type=3&theater
I love your art work! Especially the Owen Hart and Randy Savage paintings. Really looking forward to seeing Bret Hart and Curt Hennig. I was looking at the names that you have spaces for and noticed one omission. What about Chris Benoit? He did have a championship career, but a horrible end to life. Are you going to make one for him?
No, I don’t think that would be appropriate.
Just stumbled across your work and love it. Never seen artwork of wrestlers that i’ve loved anywhere near as much. Looking forward to seeing your Kane work, that should be awesome. No question, just wanted to say keep it up and thanks.
Just saw some of your artwork on the new WWE Cover photo for their Facebook page… Wow. Congrats
Thanks Eric!