Do you like to watch wrestling? If so, chances are you’re interested in the bad guys — also known as heels. These characters are some of the most controversial in the sport, and today we’re going to take a look at what makes them so interesting. Keep reading to learn more about wrestling’s most notorious heels!
Who are heels in simple words?
In professional wrestling, a heel is a performer who is billed as a villain or a bad guy and acts as such in the performance. They’re typically opposed by their opposites, known as babyfaces.
Heels are generally characterized by some traits, including cheating to win, using underhanded tactics, and behaving obnoxiously or disrespectfully. They often align themselves with other heels in tag teams and stable storylines to increase their chances of victory.
The word ‘heel’ originally referred to the worst villains in old-time melodramas, such as Snidely Whiplash and Captain Hook. Professional wrestling adapted the term to refer to its villains in the early 1900s.
The first major heel in professional wrestling was George Hackenschmidt, who became known as ‘The Russian Lion’ in the early 1900s. He was a large, muscular man who used his size and strength to dominate his opponents. Hackenschmidt was also known for using underhanded tactics, such as eye-gouging and hair-pulling, to gain an advantage over his opponents.
While Hackenschmidt was the first heel in professional wrestling, he wasn’t the only one. In the 1920s and 1930s, many other heels emerged, including ‘The Mighty Zukko’ and ‘Baron Michele Leone’.
In what way do wrestlers turn heels?
Wrestlers can turn their heels in many ways. Sometimes, it’s simply a matter of the wrestler’s on-screen persona becoming increasingly villainous. Other times, this is the result of a real-life event that causes the wrestler to turn heels. For example, Hulk Hogan turned heel at Bash at the Beach in 1996 after joining forces with Scott Hall and Kevin Nash.
Still other times, a wrestler may turn heel as part of a storyline, such as when Bret Hart turned heel at Survivor Series in 1997 by aligning himself with Vince McMahon.
Why are heels needed?
Heels are an essential part of professional wrestling because they provide a foil for the babyfaces. Without heels, there would be no one for the babyfaces to fight against and no conflict for the storylines. This wouldn’t be very interesting to watch!
Heels are also necessary because they help to create sympathy for the babyfaces. When a heel is being particularly mean or unfair, it makes the fans root even harder for the babyface to come out on top.
Heels also generate a lot of heat from the fans, which can make for an exciting show. When the fans are booing and jeering a heel, it creates a great atmosphere of excitement and anticipation. Moreover, heels often get the most reaction from the crowd, whether it’s positive or negative.
So there you have it! Now you know a bit more about heels in professional wrestling. They aren’t always the most popular characters, but they play an important role in the sport. Thanks for reading!
Do you have any favorite heels? Let us know in the comments below!