WWE Opinion: Triple H, JBL and Bringing Back the Super Heel

Pro-wrestling is a physical theater showcasing the battle of good and evil. Both sides have their own representative gladiators—the heroic "babyfaces" on the side of good and the villainous "heels" on the side of evil.

While the babyfaces (or faces) embody good qualities like sportsmanship, fair play and display of moral qualities, the heels display arrogance, unsportsmanlike conduct, unfair tactics and occasionally, even resort to the use of terror.

What has to be understood, however, is that it is not the goodness of the face that makes the feud entertaining as much as the villainy of the heel. John Cena is proof of the fact that being "too good" does not make a face popular when his opponents are not evil enough.

The face can be an "Average Joe" who is just trying to make his way in the world. But, the feud ultimately depends on the amount of evil the heel can showcase. We like to cheer for the underdog hero against a huge villain.

The great works of modern fiction—Harry Potter, Lord of the Rings, Star Wars—appeal to the masses because a seemingly average or weak hero—Harry, Frodo, Luke— is facing an evil that is too big to be completely grasped—Voldemort, Sauron, The Evil Empire.

Similarly, in pro-wrestling the best feuds are not made by the most heroic or powerful heroes, but by the most dastardly and villainous heels.

In the following slides, I discuss the qualities of a Super Heel and how they can bring more engaging storylines to the WWE.

What Is a Super Heel?

What is a super heel?

Simply put, it is a wrestling character that has the following qualities:

1. He displays heelish (evil) tendencies over an extended period of time.

2. He is technically talented.

3. He is good on the mic.

4. He has influence over authority figures.

5. He usually has a size or power advantage over his rivals.

6. He is able to exploit his opponents' weaknesses and use his sharp wit to make fun of them.

7. He has an ego that drives him to proclaim that he is the best.

Some of the best super heels in the recent history are Triple H, John "Bradshaw" Layfield, Edge and Chris Jericho.

Monster Heel vs. Super Heel

Whenever heels are the subject of discussion, a monster heel inevitably comes up. It is important to distinguish between a super heel and a monster heel.

A monster heel is a big and powerful villain. He is a destructive force and takes apart anything that comes in his path. However, he is usually one dimensional and lacks the mic skills of a true super heel.

He may or may not have very good in-ring ability (The Great Khali and Brock Lesnar are opposite extremes) as his physique and physical power do the job of intimidating his opponent before they set foot in the ring.

A monster heel might initially draw as much heat as a super heel, but because he lacks the mic skills and variation, his storylines tend to become repetitive.

Monster heels might need regular breaks or gimmick changes in order to remain relevant after their losses, especially when their initial gimmick entirely relies on them being unbeatable.

Super heels, because of their mic skills and technical ability often generate a sizable fan following despite their "evil" nature. This is less common for pure monster heels.

What More Does a Super Heel Have?

While power, technique, in-ring ability, mic skills and a mean streak make a strong heel, there are a few more things that serve to make the heel "super."

Some of these are:

1. Title Belts

What use is a huge heel if he has no accolades to prove it? To be a super heel, the superstar should have title reigns of significant duration. These serve both to legitimize the heel and the face he is feuding with.

2. A Faction

The best heels have had factions at some point or another. A faction serves as the extension of its leader and vicariously legitimizes young stars who are associated with the captain.

It gives extra credibility to the heel if members of his faction themselves achieve significant success, usually by accumulating titles of their own.

3. A Superiority Complex

A Wrestling God. That is what JBL called himself. While he had strength, power and technique as well as the accolades to back it up, he never was humble about it.

The same goes for Triple H and Edge. They were the best, they knew it, and they more than acted the part.

4. An Unwillingness to Get Hands Dirty

JBL took this literally, using hand sanitizers after every handshake. Most good heels are content letting other people do their dirty work for them in exchange for favors. While that in itself serves to make the character a heel, it amplifies the super heel.

He is willing to delegate a task that he more than capable of doing himself. Whether by use of enforcers, members of his faction or random people, he avoids having to dirty his own hands.

The Ego Problem

Super heels have the biggest egos in the business. They cannot stand being told that they are inferior. They cannot wait patiently in line. They want what they want, and they want it now.

Two super heels cannot in the same spotlight for long, because they both want the ultimate glory. The WWE Brand Extension enabled moments like the one in the video, when two super heels could co-exist, because they were on separate shows and held separate championships.

The ego is what drives the super heel. He wants to be in the spotlight. No, he wants to be the spotlight.

That is what a super heel truly is—the spotlight of adversity that signs on babyface wrestlers to make them legitimate stars.

Likely Candidate of the Future

I am proudly a member of the group that hopes the WWE turns John Cena heel. If they do, "SuperCena" would definitely morph into a super heel.

That said, I am about to discuss the other person in the photograph, Wade Barrett.

Barrett has been a heel since setting foot on WWE territory. And, he has all the necessary requirements to be the next super heel. He has even led two fairly dominant factions (Nexus and The Corre). All that remains to take him to greatness is a championship reign.

Had he not been injured recently, he might have already become a world champion or procured a Money in the Bank briefcase. He is scheduled to be back from injury in the nest few months. And, I expect him to return in a blaze of glory and hold a world title within this year.

Wade Barrett will be the measuring stick to measure the stars of the future. He will be the heel that the babyfaces will have to feud against to become the next "Face of the Company."

Ladies and gentlemen, may I present to you, from Manchester, England, your future Super Heel—Wade Barrett.

Conclusion

Super heels are an important aspect of professional wrestling. If used correctly, they can serve to both keep the fans interested and legitimize the babyfaces they feud against.

Currently, Chris Jericho is the only super heel active in the roster. While I expect his former NXT rookie Wade Barrett to follow suit soon, the WWE would be wise to use more of this brand of superstar as they serve the purpose of making things fun as well as serious at the same time.

Thanks!

Thank you for viewing this slideshow on my ideas on the super heel.

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