|
|
Post by The Brain on Apr 21, 2024 20:00:59 GMT -5
Just a lil tribute thread to the classic heels of yesteryear. Big reason for my fandom was the bad guys. Def was more invested in them over the babyfaces. Made wrestling more fun
You look at my top 5....Naitch,Mach,Piper,Perfect and Rude all time heels right there. And the GOAT of managers in Bobby Heenan and yeah heels all the way for me
So feel free to post your fav rulebreakers and their matches/moments through the yrs👍
I'll kick this one off with a BANG
|
|
|
|
Post by hbkjason on Apr 22, 2024 2:34:23 GMT -5
I always had a thing for the bad guys as well. I loved Mr. Perfect and Rick Rude as a kid in a I love to hate them kind of way if that makes sense. They were bad guys, but I recognized just how good they were. Mr. Perfecet was a guy that I just could not get behind when he turned face.
Face managers could not do any less for me! A manager has to be a sneaky heel, I loved Mr. Fuji and all the shenanigans he would get up to. The Rockers vs Orient Express at the 91 Rumble is one of my favorite matches of all time and Fuji screwing around and causing trouble is a major part of that.
I never saw Sgt Slaughter's initial run when he was a face, but I thought he was great as a heel. I hated and I mean hated Sgt. Slaughter and that is meant in the most complimentary way possible. He was so good at being a heel during that short run, I loved watching wrestling with my grandfather as a kid and he always got such a kick out of Sgt. Slaughter, especially the whole Immortal Slime and Ultimate Puke thing that he would do. Like Mr. Perfect, when Sarge did turn face, I could not get behind him at all as I just saw him as a bad guy.
|
|
|
|
Post by MKSavage on Apr 22, 2024 9:03:17 GMT -5
The heels are definitely the most entertaining. I never cared much if a wrestler was a face or heel when I was growing up, if they were good at what they were doing, I was a fan. I mean, my first "hero" or favorite wrestler when I started watching wrestling was Randy Savage. The first match/feud I remember in wrestling was the Mega Powers vs. the Twin Towers from The Main Event in 1989. Hogan was the biggest star in wrestling at the time, and even though I had just started watching wrestling, I knew who Hogan was (Andre, too). During that match, Savage turned heel and slapped Hogan across the face because of the "lust in his eyes" he had for Elizabeth (or Elizabet as Savage would say...) I became a huge fan of his in an instant. Same thing a few years later, I was a big fan of the Rockers as a tag team, but when that coward Jannetty wouldn't even face Shawn, going so far as to jump through a window to get away from him, I remained a fan of Shawn. Even though I first became aware of wrestling in the late 80s, I wasn't an everyday/week watcher of wrestling until 1991. The first PPV I saw was Summer Slam 1991, and I was just blown away by the match that Perfect and Bret had, in an instant I became a big fan of Mr. Perfect. I was already a fan of Bret's at that point, I remember being a huge fan of the Hart Foundation tag team, but I really enjoyed Bret as a solo performer. And even when he turned heel in 1997, I remained a fan of his.
I can't say who would be in my top 5 or 10, other than the Macho King being #1, but I always enjoyed these heels:
Macho Man/King Randy Savage
Bret Hitman Hart - 1997
Shawn Michaels - especially his initial run, 1992-1995
Ravishing Rick Rude
Mr. Perfect
Sgt. Slaughter (like Hogan and Andre, I knew about Sarge before getting into wrestling because of GI Joe)
Stunning Steve Austin, then later Stone Cold Steve Austin
Arn Anderson
The Million Dollar Man Ted DiBiase
Bobby the Brain Heenan - the greatest manager of all-time, and a heel to boot...
Jesse the Body Ventura - the greatest heel announcer of all-time
Jake the Snake Roberts - even after he attacked Savage with the king cobra, I was still a fan
the Rock - way better as a heel than a babyface
For others, some like Piper, I did not see his initial heel run, that was before I got into wrestling. However, when I went back and watched old stuff of his, he was amazing as a heel. Same with Mr. Wonderful Paul Orndorff, especially during his run with Hogan in 1986/87. Other guys I didn't really like at the time, but after a while they grew on me, and now I really appreciate how well they did. The Model Rick Martel comes to mind here, same too with Owen Hart - especially during 1994/95 when he played the horrible little brother to a tee.
Another guy like Piper that was before my time was Superstar Billy Graham - as a heel. I first became aware of him after watching old tapes from 1987 and 1988 back when I was younger (around 1991/92). But then in the late 90s and early 2000s, I remember hearing stories from other wrestlers about how influential and huge he really was during his time. I remember thinking, really, the guy that managed The Rock, Don Muraco. So, when the WWE put out the career retrospective DVD on him in the 2000s, I picked it up and watched it. I was amazed by what I saw. He was so good as a heel, especially on the mic. So, after watching the DVD, I went onto YouTube to find more matches and interviews/promos of his - he was really good. I could definitely see me being a fan of his had I watched him live.
|
|
|
|
Post by tmnt316 on Apr 22, 2024 9:37:42 GMT -5
Million $ Man remains my favorite from the 80s/early 90s and no doubt should have held a singles Title at some point and had top notch vignettes too.
|
|
|
|
Post by The Brain on Apr 22, 2024 10:41:59 GMT -5
Gotta have a heel on color in the booth. The times they had 2 babyfaces it was just boring. Nothing like the heel ripping on the babyface
Jesse/Bobby/King being the masters
|
|
|
|
Post by tmnt316 on Apr 22, 2024 10:46:07 GMT -5
Gotta have a heel on color in the booth. The times they had 2 babyfaces it was just was boring. Nothing like the heel ripping on the babyface Jesse/Bobby/King being the masters Bobby/Jesse/King would be my order. |
|
Zincdust
Main Eventer
WF 20+ Year Member
WF Day 1 Member
Redefining "Old Toy Weirdo"
Joined on: Dec 18, 2001 15:13:21 GMT -5
Posts: 3,480
|
Post by Zincdust on Apr 22, 2024 10:53:20 GMT -5
In addition to those mentioned here already, I'd like to throw the Honky Tonk Man out there. OH MAN, did people ever hate this guy. Nuclear heat, no matter whom he went up against. In fact, during his IC reign, I'd put him up there with Flair's title reigns, in the fact that he put butts in seats (as in when he was on the card for a show, people would buy tickets with the hopes of seeing someone, ANYONE, beat him for that title, no matter if it was Steamboat, Savage, Roberts, Beefcake, etc that he was going up against that night).
|
|
|
|
Post by The Brain on Apr 22, 2024 10:54:03 GMT -5
Gotta have a heel on color in the booth. The times they had 2 babyfaces it was just was boring. Nothing like the heel ripping on the babyface Jesse/Bobby/King being the masters Bobby/Jesse/King would be my order. Yeah either way Bobby/Jesse will forever be at the top of the list. It's how color commentary should be done. I listen to that Corey Graves of today and even though he's heel with Cole, he still praises the babyfaces. Like that's not how it works. Just terrible. Never again will they have the talent in the booth like they did back then |
|
|
|
Post by The Brain on Apr 22, 2024 10:55:41 GMT -5
In addition to those mentioned here already, I'd like to throw the Honky Tonk Man out there. OH MAN, did people ever hate this guy. Nuclear heat, no matter whom he went up against. In fact, during his IC reign, I'd put him up there with Flair's title reigns, in the fact that he put butts in seats (as in when he was on the card for a show, people would buy tickets with the hopes of seeing someone, ANYONE, beat him for that title, no matter if it was Steamboat, Savage, Roberts, Beefcake, etc that he was going up against that night). Honky played the chicken sh** heel to perfection. Loved then run he had as champ |
|
|
|
Post by tmnt316 on Apr 22, 2024 11:09:45 GMT -5
Gotta throw out Vince as an A+ Heel he has TV and real life covered.
|
|
|
|
Post by MKSavage on Apr 22, 2024 12:27:17 GMT -5
In addition to those mentioned here already, I'd like to throw the Honky Tonk Man out there. OH MAN, did people ever hate this guy. Nuclear heat, no matter whom he went up against. In fact, during his IC reign, I'd put him up there with Flair's title reigns, in the fact that he put butts in seats (as in when he was on the card for a show, people would buy tickets with the hopes of seeing someone, ANYONE, beat him for that title, no matter if it was Steamboat, Savage, Roberts, Beefcake, etc that he was going up against that night). Honky played the chicken sh** heel to perfection. Loved then run he had as champ Dang. I forgot to add him to my list. He played his part well. His old Hasbro figure was a favorite of mine. Man! Did his figure get beat a lot when I was growing up... |
|
|
|
Post by The Brain on Apr 22, 2024 12:32:50 GMT -5
Honky played the chicken sh** heel to perfection. Loved then run he had as champ Dang. I forgot to add him to my list. He played his part well. His old Hasbro figure was a favorite of mine. Man! Did his figure get beat a lot when I was growing up... During a virtual last year someone wanted him to sign his loose Hasbro. He had this look on his face like ''how TF you expect me to do this?''lol |
|
|
|
Post by MKSavage on Apr 22, 2024 12:35:26 GMT -5
Dang. I forgot to add him to my list. He played his part well. His old Hasbro figure was a favorite of mine. Man! Did his figure get beat a lot when I was growing up... During a virtual last year someone wanted him to sign his loose Hasbro. He had this look on his face like ''how TF you expect me to do this?''lol I actually get a kick out of his shoot videos. He can be pretty funny at times. I think he could have been good on as an announcer; he just needed more time. |
|
|
|
Post by The Brain on Apr 22, 2024 12:38:23 GMT -5
During a virtual last year someone wanted him to sign his loose Hasbro. He had this look on his face like ''how TF you expect me to do this?''lol I actually get a kick out of his shoot videos. He can be pretty funny at times. I think he could have been good on as an announcer; he just needed more time. He does my fav Stu Hart impression And yeah I enjoyed his brief run in the booth as well. Def had the personality for it |
|
|
|
Post by MKSavage on Apr 22, 2024 12:38:25 GMT -5
We should also give a shout out to Kurt Angle. His initial run with the WWF was tremendous.
|
|
|
|
Post by The Brain on Apr 22, 2024 12:41:12 GMT -5
We should also give a shout out to Kurt Angle. His initial run with the WWF was tremendous. Nothing tops goofy Angle  |
|
|
|
Post by MKSavage on Apr 22, 2024 12:52:41 GMT -5
We should also give a shout out to Kurt Angle. His initial run with the WWF was tremendous. Nothing tops goofy Angle      |
|
|
|
Post by JokerFC on Apr 22, 2024 14:08:15 GMT -5
ahhh great thread. The heels are what makes things tick...in no order after #1
1) Vince McMahon in 98 and parts of 99/2000. Jesus lads...never heard heat like it.
2)Ravishing Rick Rude
3)Macho Man from 89-91
4)Mr Perfect
5)Honky Tonk Man(man that's heat)
6)HHH from 99-2001. The heat he had for breaking up DX and running down Austin was incredible.
7)Hollywood Hogan...Jesus the people legit hated him.
8) Cant leave the Brain out...his scheming with Andre etc was top drawer
9) Million $ Man Ted Dibiase
10) 1997 Bret. my God...quality.
Honorable mentions to Flair, Lawler, Ventura, Martel, HBK, Goldust, Mankind & Earthquake in 1990
|
|
ClassicFan2
Main Eventer
Joined on: Oct 22, 2010 15:25:00 GMT -5
Posts: 3,262
|
Post by ClassicFan2 on Apr 22, 2024 14:51:05 GMT -5
LOVE the heels!
they make wrestling great lol
from the beginning for me in 1985 with piper, sheik/volkoff, studd/bundy, etc
so many great ones like orndorff, perfect, rude, dibiase, honkytonk, twin towers, nwo hogan, etc, etc! too many great ones to mention!
and love it even more when many turned good like piper, savage, perfect, studd, demolition, etc!
|
|
|
|
Post by ASR (therockisback) on Apr 22, 2024 17:00:30 GMT -5
ahhh great thread. The heels are what makes things tick...in no order after #1 1) Vince McMahon in 98 and parts of 99/2000. Jesus lads...never heard heat like it. 2)Ravishing Rick Rude 3)Macho Man from 89-91 4)Mr Perfect 5)Honky Tonk Man(man that's heat) 6)HHH from 99-2001. The heat he had for breaking up DX and running down Austin was incredible. 7)Hollywood Hogan...Jesus the people legit hated him. 8) Cant leave the Brain out...his scheming with Andre etc was top drawer 9) Million $ Man Ted Dibiase 10) 1997 Bret. my God...quality. Honorable mentions to Flair, Lawler, Ventura, Martel, HBK, Goldust, Mankind & Earthquake in 1990 Bret,HHH,Hogan,Vince...crazy heels. |
|
