The heel or the antagonist is responsible for the drama that we love and cherish about sports entertainment. Through time, the most evil, conniving and sadistic figures of wrestling have been booed by packed live audiences and jeered by millions watching at home. Even in the year 2016, the tradition of a heel remains a constant fixture of WWE.
While, unlike yesteryear, the heel is sometimes cheered more than the babyface is, they are still an indispensable component of sports entertainment.
This year, we conducted a poll on our Facebook page and also asked our writers to pick their choices with regard to the company’s top heels. The results of the poll remain consistent with the choice of the writers in most cases. Check out the poll below:
After taking a cumulative stock of both reader’s choice and writers’ choice; we have arrived at the following countdown. Let’s find out who was 2016’s top heel!
#10 Rusev
Rusev did something amazing this year. Something that hadn’t happened since John Cena had dropped the US Championship to Alberto Del Rio last year. He brought legitimacy to the US Championship, once again.
Accompanied by the beautiful Lana, Rusev outshone his peers in the League of Nations and had a successful singles run after the dissolution of the group. Defeating everyone in his path, Rusev eventually confronted Roman Reigns and had one of the best feuds all year with him.
We still think that WWE does not realise how big a goldmine Rusev is. Despite his booking, Rusev makes it to number 10!
#9 Samoa Joe
Those who don’t watch NXT are constantly missing out on Samoa Joe’s monstrous heel run. A vicious champion when he has the belt, Joe is even more dangerous when he drops the title.
There was a point in time where Joe, desperate for an opportunity at the NXT Championship, would leave a string of broken bodies littered across the NXT landscape in his quest for the top prize. We are certain that when he’s called up to the main roster next year, Samoa Joe will be higher in this countdown unless he turns babyface.
#8 Alexa Bliss
Alexa Bliss was called up to Smackdown during the brand split. Little did anyone know, how quickly she would rise to the top of the division. She’s a great worker, and even better on the microphone, playing the part of the ‘wicked witch’ of the blue brand. Influenced by Trish Stratus, Alexa is often called ‘little Trish’.
Despite all her gifts, when she has the microphone in her hand, she can make the audience boo her in unison. The future is bright for Alexa Bliss, in 2017.
#7 Triple H
Desperate times call for desperate measures. With Wrestlemania 32 approaching and WWE wanting to fill 100000 + people into the stadium, Triple H was called up to win the Royal Rumble and headline Wrestlemania against Roman Reigns. Meanwhile, he also successfully defended his title in excellent matches with Dolph Ziggler and Dean Ambrose.
Later the same year, Triple H would turn on his chosen one- Seth Rollins and put the Universal Championship on Kevin Owens. Despite being universally revered, Triple H can switch to heel mode in an instant, and that’s why he finds a spot in our annual countdown.
#6 Wyatt Family
Few units have benefited from the brand split like the Wyatts have. Braun Strowman has gone on to pave his own path of chaos on Raw, whereas Bray Wyatt, Luke Harper and Randy Orton have conquered the tag team division on SmackDown Live.
Speaking in cryptic tongues, The Wyatts personify the supernatural heel characters of the new era. While WWE booking hasn't always been kind to them, we do believe that they’re finally on the right track. Run!
#5 Chris Jericho
Very simply put, Chris Jericho is not higher on this list because despite him trying his best, the WWE Universe cheers his sheer genius. Stupid idiots! Reinventing himself at the pinnacle of his career, Chris Jericho’s ‘best friendship’ with Kevin Owens and his list of grievances are more over than anything on Raw or SmackDown.
Despite being dreaded heels, JeriKO find a connect with the smarter wrestling audience. Do not forget that prior to this list-carrying incarnation, Jericho had a brilliant feud against AJ Styles as well.
#4 Kevin Owens
Monday Night Raw is the Kevin Owens show!
As the longest reigning Universal Champion in company history, Kevin Owens has risen the ranks with his smash mouth style, brilliant in-ring work and genius comic timing. Be it the rivalry with Sami Zayn at the start of the year, or his friendship with Chris Jericho, we know we will be entertained when Owens’ music hits.
Most importantly, Kevin Owens as champion breaks many stereotypes as to the ‘WWE Champion body type’. Despite his immense popularity, Kevin Owens does not shy away from being a heel both in the ring, and online on social media.
#3 Charlotte Flair
Woooo! The daughter of Ric Flair may just be the greatest female Superstar in WWE history. She’s excellent in the ring, she’s brilliant on the microphone, and she’s creating history every single day with Sasha Banks. Some of her heel segments are so savage, that we have a hard time watching them!
It’s clear that WWE has a lot invested in the Queen, and she’s meant to carry the division for a while. We cannot wait to see where Charlotte’s path leads!
#2 AJ Styles
Recruited from the Bullet Club in Japan, AJ Styles would quickly become the MVP of WWE. Becoming the WWE champion in merely seven months since his debut, AJ Styles had brilliant programmes against John Cena as a heel (with Karl Anderson and Luke Gallows in tow).
Of course, his in ring work is so sublime, that sometimes it works against Styles as a heel! It is clear that the WWE Universe has too much respect to boo the man, which brings us to Number 1.
#1 The Miz
There’s something about the Miz that just makes you angry as hell. However, one cannot contest the fact that he’s made the Intercontinental Champion more relevant than it’s been, in quite a while.
Moreover, his borderline shoot promo on Daniel Bryan, on Talking Smack practically made the show. His feud with Dolph Ziggler has given us many memorable matches. This year, we crown The Miz as the top heel in WWE. Congratulations Miz! We officially hate you and despise your guts. Keep it up!
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