What Makes a Great Heel in Pro-Wrestling?
Growing up as a pro-wrestling fan, it was a dream come true when I became a pro-wrestler. I can still remember the first time i stepped into a pro-wrestling ring. I was so excited that I didn't even know what to do. So i spazzed out like a little kid. I ran from rope to rope, climbed up and jumped off the top ropes, strutted like Flair, and took crazy bumps.
Ever since I was a kid, I wanted to be a heel. I can remember watching the 4 Horsemen, back in 1983, and wanting to look and act like Flair but wrestle and be tough like Arn Anderson. I love the heels.
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When I was learning to become a heel, I would watch so much wrestling footage. I wanted to learn everything that these wrestlers did.
A few months back, I did a wrestling show in Louisiana. For the first time in my wrestling career, I really felt like I became a true, genuine heel. Now, I had been wrestling as a heel for 6 to 7 years but nothing compared to this moment. I came out to the ring and cut a promo on this southern promotion, the older wrestlers and the fans.
30 seconds into my promo, I had the crowd ready to storm the ring. I could see the fans running down the bleachers like ants down a hill. The people in the front rows were yelling and screaming vulgarities. They were trying to get into the ring and fight me. I had to be escorted by 7 Sheriffs to the locker room and from the building.. It was pure joy for me.
What makes a good heel?
In no particular order:
- Needs to have solid mic-work (Nick Bockwinkel)
- Gets the crowd to hate him/her not just cheap heat but genuine hatred (Freddie Blassie)
- Solid wrestling ability (Kurt Angle)
- Great ring psychology (Jake Roberts)
- Quick witted (Bobby Heenan)
- Arrogance (Mr. Perfect)
- Sneaky/Crafty (Ric Flair)
- Physically impressive (Ric Rude)
- Great facial expressions (William Regal)
Most of the great heels of all time, have just about every quality I just listed.
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