Growing up in Florida, Dusty Rhodes fought back every heel there was. Pak Song, Terry and Dory Funk and the evil Kevin Sullivan. Those villains had a backstory. They had depth. They made us all hate them with a passion.
Finding that kind of heat these days is rare. There are wrestlers who understand how to rile the crowds, draw heat and make everyone hate them. That’s professional wrestling at its best. Finding someone who can emulate the likes of Funk or Harley Race or even Ric Flair is darn near next to impossible.
But there are a few who can still draw heat and force the fans in the seats to despise them.
These wrestlers are as close to old school heels WWE has on its current roster.
For the record, Charlotte certainly deserves honorable mention on this list. There hasn’t been as solid a female heel in this company in a long time.
Chris Jericho
Don’t ever – EVER – doubt Jericho as a performer. As one of the remaining wrestlers from the Attitude Era, Jericho is so great and still gets real heat from the fans.
Jericho has evolved into one of the greatest to ever get in the ring, someone who has great mic skills, and can put over any upstart who he faces. It used to be if WWE needs someone to put a neophyte over, they would call on Jericho.
Ask Fandango. Ask CM Punk, Ask AJ Styles.
Simply one of the greatest of this generation to get in a ring.
Alberto Del Rio
His name is MONEY.
The Mexican Aristocrat is one of the best foreign commodities this company has had in some time. Del Rio’s run as a babyface was solid, but he is best when he is insulting everyone who does not believer in the power of the Mexican’s message.
Del Rio, who has great blood lines as the son of Dos Caras and the relative of Mil Mascaras, knows how to work the crowd. He is a threat for any title in the company and if given the chance, would look great as a true heel world champion. He is certainly someone who will benefit from the brand split.
Kevin Owens
I liked Owens from the moment he challenged John Cena. Owens belongs on the main roster and belongs in the main event.
The one person hurt most by the Roman Reigns suspension is this Canadian and former Intercontinental Champion. Owens is great in promos and is agile as a cruiserweight for his size. I thought his “better than everyone attitude” reminds me a bit of a young Terry Funk.
Owens deserves a run with the company title. Hopefully, he will reach that pinnacle in the near future, if not in 2017.
I could also see Owens as the company’s top babyface at some point. He can deliver in any situation.
Mark Henry
It is probably the end of the line for Henry in WWE. He will more than likely retire in the near future. But as a heel, there are few who are better at the squash match than the World’s Strongest Man.
Henry has a menacing look, a tough build and of course strength that is matched by few. And when he wants to put his opponent down for the count, it’s lights out. Henry might be a jobber for now, but at any given time, he can still play the bad guy role with effectiveness.
Rusev
There hasn’t been a dominant anti-American wrestler like Rusev to come along in some time. The only problem is he isn’t dominant enough. Rusev is the brawling type in the mold of Ivan Koloff. A big barrel-chested villain who everyone hates.
Pair that with his lovely Lana and a Russian flag and you have gold!
Rusev’s stronghold on the United States Title is one more reason he draws solid heat from the fans, and his work in the ring as an invincible force reminds me a lot of the 1970s and 1980s foreign stars who dominated opponents until someone like Dusty Rhodes came along and defended America.
