In the world of professional wrestling there are good guys and there are bad guys. A good guy is called a “face” and a bad guy is called a “heel.” At one time it was really easy to tell which was which, but nowadays it’s not that simple. Over the years the very idea of what a good guy or a “face” can be has been pushed to the limits. These are just some of the key players who have helped to redefine the role.
#8 – Randy Orton
Randy Orton has done some pretty terrible and ruthless things to his fellow WWE Superstars. He’s thrown people down stairs, he’s spit in their faces and he’s even kissed an unconscious Stephanie McMahon. The things Randy Orton has done throughout his career are reprehensible and people absolutely love him for it.
Randy Orton has switched between heel and face many times during his run in WWE. But the irony is that people always seem to cheer louder for him when he’s a heel. Fans often cool down on Orton when he goes face and that’s because he loses everything that makes him Randy Orton.
Orton is always at his best when he’s allowed to be a full blown psychopath. That’s because people don’t buy tickets to see Randy Orton smile and shake hands with other WWE Superstars. They but tickets to see him hit the RKO and hopefully kick someone in the head.
#7 – Sting
In his early days Sting was known for being the ultimate good guy. His painted face, bleached blonde hair and permanent smile screamed super good guy all the way. But when the NWO took over WCW, the world needed a new Sting and that’s when he reinvented himself.
Sting returned with a look similar to that of The Crow character and a very different demeanor. Instead of flashing his happy smile in front of the camera, he would lurk in the shadows high in the rafters of the arena. Sting transformed into a much darker version of himself and he became a loner who was waiting for the right moment to reclaim WCW.
It’s not easy to transition into a new gimmick when you’re as well established as Sting was, but he pulled it off beautifully. Everyone bought in to the darker version of his character and the gimmick has stuck with him to this day.
#6 – DX
WWE made the rules and DX broke them.When DX first hit the scene they were one of the raunchiest groups in all of professional wrestling. DX was rude, they were sexual and did everything within their power to get a reaction out of people. They were a group of misfits that wanted to push the limits of sports entertainment and we all went along for the ride.
DX did everything they could to offend people and that’s how they won wrestling fans over. They weren’t good guys, they were actually just a bunch of jerks. Luckily for everyone involved, they were lovable jerks. No one in DX was a pure or virtuous hero and no one wanted them to be. But after all these years the DX crotch chop is still going strong, so that has to count for something.
#5 – Jake Roberts
Jake “The Snake” Roberts is an absolute master when it comes to wrestling psychology. He did things a little differently back in the day and his approach helped to separate him from the rest of the pack. Instead of talking loud and fast like everyone else, Roberts talked quiet and slow. Instead of intimidating people with his muscles, he would use his eyes to convey fear.
His unique style helped to get the crowd behind him and make him into a household name. Roberts became so popular that WWE nixed a potential Roberts/Hogan feud at one time because they didn’t want the crowd going against Hogan.
Roberts’ unique approach to promos has influenced many of today’s wrestlers and his work is still consistently praised by his peers. There’s little doubt that we’ll be talking about the influence Jake Roberts had on the business for many years to come.
#4 – CM Punk
CM Punk turned the WWE upside down back in the summer of 2011 when he cut his now infamous pipe bomb promo. Punk shocked the world with every word he said and all he had to do was say what was on his mind. CM Punk spoke for wrestling fans that were tired of WWE’s product and they cheered his every word.
Punk went on to establish himself as a big time player in the WWE when he was so desperately needed. John Cena had been dominating the WWE Title picture as the cookie cutter babyface for several years and fans were dying to see someone else step up. That was when CM Punk answered the call, forced his way into the main event scene and became the anti-hero we had all been looking for.
But CM Punk’s abrasive personality wasn’t the only thing that got people talking about him. Punk’s unique look broke down barriers in WWE. He proved to the world that people will buy into a character that doesn’t look like an action figure if that character is part of a compelling story.
When CM Punk forced his way into the WWE Title picture he opened the doors for guys like Daniel Bryan and Seth Rollins to be WWE Champion. Love him or hate him, CM Punk set out to change the WWE and for a while, he succeeded.
#3 – Roddy Piper
Just when you thought you had all the answers, he changed all the questions. WWE Hall of Famer “Rowdy” Roddy Piper was one of a kind and he pretty much wrote the book on how to be a great heel. Piper’s heel work was essential to the success of the very first WrestleMania, and it was essential in establishing Hulk Hogan as the megastar he became in WWE.
“Rowdy” Roddy Piper was in your face, he was brash and he was aggressive. He was so good at being a bad guy that people couldn’t help but love him for it. Over the years the boos turned to cheers but Roddy Piper didn’t have to change a thing. He was still a rude, arrogant, loudmouth but eventually people just began to enjoy and appreciate his finer qualities.
#2 – NWO
It’s hard to define the NWO as “anti-heroes” because really they were just straight up heels. But they had a huge impact on the industry and it would be wrong not to put them on this list.
Back in the day during the Monday Night Wars the NWO changed the game. Cartoony gimmicks were running wild at the time and this group changed everything. They were the ultimate bad guys and they managed to convince wrestling fans everywhere that rooting for the bad guys was the cool thing to do.
The NWO took over WCW and pretty much the planet as well. You couldn’t go anywhere in the late ’90s without seeing a NWO shirt. It didn’t matter how evil they were, or how many bad things they did, because back in the day, everyone wanted to be a member of the NWO.
#1 – Steve Austin
There is clearly no other choice for the number 1 spot. “Stone Cold” Steve Austin is the ultimate anti-hero in the world of professional wrestling. He drank beer on TV, he hit his boss with the Stunner, he flipped people the bird and he swore on national television. All of these things could be considered the actions of a heel but people absolutely loved him for it.
Steve Austin completely changed the game in regards to what the face of the WWE could look like. He was a real American, but not in the red, white and blue sense like Hulk Hogan. He was the working class American that just wanted to raise some hell and drink some beers.
During his time at the top Steve Austin established himself as arguably the greatest anti-hero in WWE history. WWE has tried several times to try and build up another character that has the same appeal as Stone Cold. But there’s only one and there’s only ever going to be one and that’s the bottom line because Stone Cold said so.
