5 WWE heels who fans love to hate (and what the Superstars really think about their characters)

#3. Randy Orton

Randy Orton told Edge and Christian on the E&C Pod of Awesomeness in 2017 that he wanted to turn heel because, after three years of being a good guy, he was “sick of this babyface thing”.

Looking even further back through Orton’s interview archives, one of his most interesting comments regarding his “Viper” persona came in 2009 when he told ESPN the exact definition of his gimmick and why he commits villainous acts in the way that he does.

"From bell to bell, from when my entrance plays and I step through that curtain, people have to wonder what's going on inside that guy's head. And my theme music, ‘Voices’, describes my character to a tee. When I walk to the ring, I hear voices telling me what to do and sometimes it's not the right thing, but it's definitely damn entertaining."

When all’s said and done, there are no doubts that Orton will go down as one of the best heels of his generation.

Some of the 13-time World Champion's most memorable heel moments came in the late 2000s, notably when he hit an RKO on Stephanie McMahon and a Punt Kick on Vince McMahon, while his 2018 screwdriver attack on Jeff Hardy will also live long in the memory.