Faces and Heels: Loyalty and the Wrestling Community

With one swing of a bat, Sting went from being a fan favorite to a heel. With one leg drop, Hulk Hogan went from red and yellow to black and white. With one post-match assault, Bret Hart went from superhero to super-villain.

The transformation of a superstar can almost be instantaneous.

Who can forget the night that Hulk Hogan was revealed as the third member of the New World Order? The amount of missiles thrown was indicative of just how quickly the fans can turn, though most unfortunately hit Mene Gene Okerlund.

When done effectively, a 'turn' has the ability to both shock and reinvigorate. Some superstars like Hart and Stone Cold have been reluctant to change their image. These examples alone, Hart becoming heel and Austin becoming face, were extraordinary angles.

In 1996, few could have predicted that Hogan could have gone any further in his already glittering career. And yet, his attack on Randy Savage at the Bash at the Beach provided WCW and Hogan with a monumental success that led to dominance for over a year.

With rumours abound of other turns, HHH and John Morrison turning heel and Orton turning face, the question remains whether the modern day viewer actually cares about labels.

As a young fan in 1997, I was shocked by Bret Hart's sudden departure from his superhero character. Like many, I proceeded to cross over and support other superstars like Austin, Michaels and the Undertaker.

However, I quickly realized that I had made a huge mistake.

Hart had not actually changed, he was simply playing a character, and that in changing my allegiance I had senselessly followed the masses. The pink and black t-shirt was soon back out again.

In today's wrestling community, there are two kinds of supporters. There are those that will always support the good guys and heckle the bad, and there are those who will maintain the support of a superstar regardless of their 'official definition' as heel or face.

The reaction of John Cena is the best example of how some wrestling fans reject the WWE's attempt to make him the modern day "franchise boy". To exemplify this point, it would be interesting to see another match between Cena and the emerging face, Randy Orton, simply to see how divided an audience can be.

The more independent audience probably owes much from the Stone Cold revolution, but history is full of examples who began their careers as heels, became popular and crossed over to selling t-shirts and kissing babies.

Randy Orton's transformation, if it occurs, is therefore not unprecedented - rather, it will be another example of the wrestling community choosing their own champion instead of relying on one that has been appointed.

The question remains; who is next to cross the divide?

I for one, think that it won't be too long before the Miz will have fan favourite status. Why?

Well, it’s because he is........Aweeeeeeeesome in the ring and on the mic.