I will never understand why Arn Anderson was never a world champion. A solid worker, a great gimmick and one of the best ever to cut a promo. While Ric Flair got all the press for his success as a member of the Four Horsemen, Anderson was the backbone of the group and the leader by default.
My friend Rick Ballou has been critical of professional wrestling for its lack of heels and performers with real personalities. He is so right on both levels. There aren’t the mega bad guys who were from parts unknown and had finishing moves that captivated everyone.
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Those days are gone forever. Professional wrestling needs that kind of pageantry of sorts. Because of the era, the change in climate and fans’ sensibilities, those things are in the past for good. While there isn’t the hatred for the bad guy as there was in decades past, there are still a few good ones on both Raw and SmackDown Live.
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You could even make the argument the heel persona is doing better than the fan favourite because they appear to be more polished as well as more complete in and out of the ring. The fact Kevin Owens is not part of this list speaks to the greatness of those who are doing it better than everyone else.
Here is a look at the five best heels in WWE today.
#1 Chris Jericho
It’s not what Jericho is doing as much as what he isn’t doing. The six-time WWE World champion isn’t letting his lack of a title belt affect his performance in and out of the ring. He is the best performer on either roster and is the best WWE has to offer.
Also read: 10 Best foreign heels in WWE history
Yes, he is that good. At some point, the company must figure out what it wants to do about his “relationship” with Kevin Owens. Will a heel vs. heel confrontation work? Does this mean Owens becomes a babyface or will the company throw this one aside like it has done with many other great angles in the past?
Jericho deserves another run, this time at the Universal Title. WWE just has to figure out how to get him there.
#2 Rusev
The man gets props just for bringing his lovely wife out to the ring every single week. But there's more to the “Bulgarian Brute” than just his sidekick. After the failed League of Nations stable, Rusev was nothing more than a jobber who caught a partial break.
Also read: 5 Reasons why Roman Reigns should become WWE's top heel
Now, the strongman has rebuilt himself into a monster heel who is facing one of his stiffest challenges yet. There is a world title in his future and as long as he continues to draw heat from the fans for the anti-American stance, he has a long road ahead in the main event picture.
WWE has done well to capitalise on his strengths and the fact that he plays the heel role so well. Oh, did we mention having Lana by his side doesn’t hurt him either?
#3 AJ Styles
The fact the current WWE World Champion is third on this list speaks to the greatness of the SmackDown Live roster. At least when it comes to heel wrestlers. Styles from a competition standpoint is one of the best in the last five years. He is every bit Shawn Michaels, he is every bit of Edge and he is every bit of CM Punk.
The fans love him even when they hate him. For such a long time, there were “tweeners” in WWE. Fans didn't know who was a babyface or a heel. Styles made sure people understood that although he walked into this company beloved as a Babyface, he is definitely a heel to be reckoned with.
The fact that he has adjusted so quickly to WWE and the different styles of competitors on the roster proves just how great he is.
#4 The Miz
I know there are many fans and professionals who aren't as excited about his work as I am. But I see it from a different perspective. So much goes into his character, and the work he does with his wife Maryse. It's refreshing. I like the work that he does and can compare it to that of Tully Blanchard and Baby Doll.
For those of you who don't know who that is, go back and do a little research. The Miz was great as a heel champion, and he's even better chasing titles. While he was knocked down to jobber status for a long time, he too has reinvented himself with the help of his wife and has become a mainstay in the main event picture.
#5 Charlotte
Wooo! You cannot have Banks on the list of the best babyface female without having the best female heel on the roster in here somewhere. I left off Kevin Owens because Charlotte is just too good to pass up. She is the best female athlete on the roster and one of the best in-ring performers overall.
Yes, she is genetically superior to most and is getting better in doing promo work. The anticipation of the Hell in a Cell match has made for better interviews and better storytelling. Charlotte will be part of the women’s main event picture as long as she is in the company.
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