Top 10 WWE heels from the Attitude Era and beyond

HBK turns on his Rockers partner Marty JannetyWhile wrestling’s good guys, or babyfaces, may sell the most merchandise and get the biggest cheers, it’s the bad guys, or heels, that drive the storytelling.Without someone that the fans can really hate, the faces seem incomplete somehow. Further, there’s an art to being a truly despicable heel in wrestling, and these 10 guys have painted a masterpiece in modern professional wrestling.

#10 Kevin Owens

Owens would injure his best friend for a championship belt, and he has.

Kevin Owens has only been on the WWE main roster for a few months, but he’s already made one thing clear: He doesn’t mind being hated.

During his time in NXT, he turned on long-time best friend Sami Zayn on the way to a title there, and he’s been brash and spiteful since his rise to the main roster. Far from a pro wrestling novice, Owens has mastered the subtle acting techniques necessary to be a good heel, like his walking out on matches that don’t matter to him and mocking every aspect of his opponent’s performance.

#9 Kurt Angle

Kurt Angle was disliked with or without Paul Heyman.

WWE fans are some of the most patriotic people on the planet, which makes what Kurt Angle did as a heel even more impressive.

An actual U.S. Olympic gold medalist, Angle managed to still get boos and “You Suck” chants for his high-and-mighty persona, and he reveled in the hatred. Sure, WWE fans clamor for him to come back now, but they’d probably be booing him within a few months.

#8 Chris Jericho

Chris Jericho doesn’t even look likeable here.

Chris Jericho set the heel bar very high, or low, for himself when he debuted by interrupting The Rock, a.k.a. “The People’s Champion,” during one of his beloved in-ring promos. From there, Jericho established that he was his own biggest fan, or Jerichoholic as he liked to call them and set the tone for current talking heels like The Miz.

For all his in-ring talents, Jericho’s “gift of gab” as a heel has rarely been matched.

#7 Seth Rollins

Seth Rollins has emerged as a star in his heel role.

Seth Rollins pulled off perhaps the biggest heel turn of the PG Era when he betrayed The Shield to join The Authority. Since then, he has weaseled his way to the Money in the Bank briefcase, the World Heavyweight Championship and now the U.S. title.

Despite usually winning through interference or other heel tactics, Rollins also delivers lengthy promos to let everyone know how proud he is of his “accomplishments.”

#6 Randy Orton

Randy Orton has held plenty of gold.

It should come as no surprise that Randy Orton, a third-generation pro wrestler, knows how to perform as both a heel and a face. When he’s working heel, though, he’s particularly adept at playing a self-absorbed maniac who just wants to hurt people and help himself.

Even though he’s obviously talented, he has also been known to rely on the help of other powerful heels like The Authority to get even better opportunities, which only adds to his heat.

#5 Paul Heyman

Paul Heyman is a master with the microphone.

Paul Heyman has had a role in a variety of companies, but he’s always been good at one thing: talking.

Specifically, Heyman has a gift for being obnoxious and crawling under the skins of opponents and wrestling fans alike. In fact, he’s so good at being annoying and rude that fans love him, and he’s often regarded as the most entertaining portion of a show, even while insulting the city he’s performing in.

Now that’s heel talent, folks.

#4 Edge

Edge seemed to enjoy being disliked.

Before his wrestling career was cut short by injury, Edge found success as both a tag-team performer and in singles competition. Mainly during his time working alone, the “Rated R Superstar” wasn’t afraid to use dirty tactics in the ring to get and keep titles.

Outside the ring, Edge took another man’s girlfriend when he wooed Lita away from Matt Hardy, both in the storyline and in real life, it would seem. What a heel!

#3 Triple H

Triple H has been unlikeable in trunks or a suit.

It’s really remarkable how unlikeable Triple H has managed to be, especially since he was one of the leaders of perhaps the most beloved faction in WWE history, D-Generation X.

Yet, he has certainly been unlikeable. Later in his career in the ring, he was a dirty cheater that found ways to win and retain titles through the use of a sledgehammer and his wit, earning him the “Cerebral Assassin” moniker. As a WWE Authority figure, he fills a similar role, but now he holds power over the other superstars.

And he still has that sledgehammer.

#2 Undertaker

Undertaker doing creepy Undertaker things.

In later years, the Undertaker became a beloved figure in pro wrestling, like so often happens with legends.

But before that, he was absolutely terrifying and even managed to earn Vince McMahon some sympathy at times. Taker capitalized on an era of entertainment when he could get away with leading an almost Satanic cult, complete with mock crucifixions, on major television programming.

And I would challenge you to find an image of him smiling in a non-creepy way.

#1 Vince McMahon

Perhaps Mr. McMahon’s most memorable work came against Stone Cold.

It’s easy to hate the controlling, egotistical boss, but Vincent K. McMahon took it to the next level. Whether he was feuding with Stone Cold Steve Austin or a member of his own family, Vince found a way to get you to cheer for his opponent.

It might have been the swagger or the scowl, but there was always something refreshing about watching someone get the best of Mr. McMahon.