'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
In wrestling, ‘backstage heat’ is a term used to describe a person who is in trouble with someone behind the scenes. It usually means that someone has done something wrong, and either the wrestlers watching backstage or the actual management figures are angry with that person.
Follow Sportskeeda for the latest WWE news, rumors and all other wrestling news.
Having backstage heat is a very dangerous thing. If someone in management or in a position of power has a problem with you, that could derail your entire career. Many wrestlers have had their entire careers changed or even destroyed because of backstage heat. Because of that, wrestlers often have to ‘walk on eggshells’ to make sure they’re not stepping on anyone else’s toes.
These days, stories of backstage heat are very popular, both for regular wrestling fans and even former ones. Rumors of backstage heat – whether true or not – sometimes end up being more interesting than the actual wrestling product. Almost everyone knows on-screen wrestling and storylines are scripted. But backstage heat is not, which makes it arguably more intriguing than most of the ‘drama’ we see unfold on-screen on a weekly basis.
Many, many wrestlers have faced backstage heat in WWE for a myriad of reasons. Some of them were for the most insignificant of reasons, like botching a promo or having the wrong facial expression during an important segment. Other cases have been more serious, where having backstage heat caused a wrestler’s career to end because of how despised they were by their peers and by the people in charge.
Then there are the select few who have somehow managed to be complete angels in the cutthroat world of pro wrestling. These are the wrestlers that, despite all the temptations for vice, politicking, and doing the wrong things, have never had any backstage heat in WWE.
#8 Paul Bearer
Not only was the legendary Paul Bearer one of the greatest managers and characters of all time, but he was also a recognizable figure backstage as well. When he wasn’t managing one monster in WWE or another, he was also working backstage in a variety of roles, which brought him into contact with many people in WWE’s larger corporate machine.
In his own words, Bearer got along with virtually everybody and never got into trouble for anything he did or didn’t do. The closest he ever came to hardship were jokes being made because of his weight (some of which went too far, according to him), and a few problems with WWE’s resident production executive, Kevin Dunn.
But there wasn’t any actual heat between Bearer or anyone else; he simply didn’t get along with some people over personal differences (particularly Dunn), yet these differences didn’t cause Bearer any professional hardships (at least beyond having to deal with some borderline-offensive jokes).
#7 Trish Stratus
Trish Stratus is widely perceived as a legend in WWE due to how much influence she had on women’s wrestling.
She is often credited with elevating WWE’s women’s division up during a very dark period in WWE history, and her matches and segments during the early 2000s were fantastic compared to the even darker period that would follow between 2007 and 2014.
Trish herself didn’t have backstage heat with WWE officials, but she still ended up caught in an issue involving WWE management and another wrestler.
Specifically, she got caught up in the John Morrison/Melina/Trish WrestleMania fiasco, which caused Morrison and Melina to develop monstrous heat over Morrison ‘snubbing’ Trish over what he believed was Melina’s rightful WrestleMania spot.
Morrison didn’t have heat with Trish, but she became the unintended target of his ire thanks to backstage politics, however.
#6 The Hurricane
The Hurricane was a mainstay of WWE’s lower mid-card during the first half of the 2000s. He wrestled both under the mask and under his own name, and won several titles during his WWE tenure.
But despite being relegated to lower-card status, Hurricane also got to work with top-level stars like Triple H and the Rock.
A big reason for this is because he was well-liked backstage and didn’t have any problems with anyone.
Helms himself even said so in a shoot interview for Kayfabe Commentaries. In one of that show’s recurring segments – titled ‘What A D*ck’ – the wrestler being interviewed would be given a person’s name and the interviewee had to say if they thought said person was, in fact, a ‘d*ck’.
Helms’ entry wasn’t ‘dramatic’ because he got along with the overwhelming majority of WWE superstars.
Given how being a WWE superstar can easily influence someone enough to develop a bad attitude, Helms stayed a cool guy, which is a reputation that follows him to this day.
#5 Kurt Angle
Kurt Angle’s time in WWE was mired by troubles in Kurt Angle’s personal life. The man lived his moniker as ‘the wrestling machine’, working at an astonishing level that took a tremendous toll on his mind and body.
Although his fans, his peers and backstage officials loved Angle for his work and dedication, it came at a severe cost to Angle himself. He had a serious substance abuse problem that was causing him to become difficult to be around, and there were major concerns that Angle’s life was at risk if he continued working at such an insane level.
This was why Vince McMahon released Angle from his contract; not because Angle had heat with anyone backstage, but because Angle was putting himself at risk of severe injury or death by continuing to work.
This is why Angle cried when being released, and why he was welcomed back to WWE with open arms.
#4 AJ Styles
AJ Styles has only been in WWE for a few years, yet has already reached the top of the mountain by becoming WWE Champion twice. That is a testament to both his innate wrestling skill and his ability to adapt to any desired wrestling style.
Yet despite being in WWE for such a short period, many of his peers in WWE have worked with him elsewhere. These wrestlers, many of whom have known Styles for a long time, have said nothing but praise about Styles as a worker and as a colleague.
Styles has done whatever WWE has asked of him, and has remained humble in the face of all his success.
Even as he worked lesser feuds on SmackDown for a time and was forced to suffer some questionable booking decisions, Styles never tried to use his status as an internationally-recognized star for personal gain.
That is the epitome of humility and professionalism, both of which are traits that aren’t as common in wrestling as you might think.
#3 The Rock
The Rock is widely considered the greatest WWE superstar of all time. In his prime, he had unmatched charisma, and his ability to cut a promo was second to none. To this day, many fans enjoy re-watching the Rock’s old promos because they were some of the greatest speeches ever spoken in WWE history.
As a WWE Superstar, the Rock never had any backstage heat with WWE officials. The Rock never angered WWE officials for anything he did in the ring or while cutting a promo. The only people who are believed to have had some heat with him were Shawn Michaels and Triple H, because it was rumored they didn’t want to work with him in spite of his obvious star power.
Even as Rocky returned to WWE for a part-timer’s schedule between 2011 and 2013 and was considered to be taking the spot of a WWE ‘regular’, the locker room didn’t have heat with him. After all, Rocky was bringing WWE some much-needed attention, which means bigger payoffs both for him and everyone else on the card.
#2 Kane
There have been few people in WWE as loyal as Kane. Initially brought in as a one-time opponent for the Undertaker, Kane has since been employed by WWE for over twenty years.
A big reason for his career longevity happens to be his easy-going attitude and willingness to whatever’s asked of him. Kane has long been known for being one of the nicest people backstage and has been willing to either share the spotlight with others or give it to someone more deserving than himself.
Furthermore, Kane has shown a willingness to accept whatever storyline is put before him, even if the fans hated it once it played out.
As a perfect example of this attitude of Kane’s, consider the Hardys’ story of being sent to Wrestler’s Court.
The two of them had upgraded their plane seats to first class because they had just won the Tag Team titles. When boarding their plane, the first class seat one of them had taken had belonged to Kane.
Kane himself didn’t make a big deal of it, simply going to coach with everyone else. It took someone else to notice this for the Hardys to be sentenced to Wrestler’s Court because Kane was so nice and easy-going that having heat with someone wasn’t in his nature.
This is ironic, considering the man has spent more or less twenty years entering an arena to fire.
#1 The Undertaker
Often called ‘the conscience of WWE’ (and for good reason), the Undertaker is revered for his dedication to WWE and his unyielding loyalty. He has been employed by WWE for almost 28 years, and in that time there has never been any backstage heat towards him in a major way.
The closest he has ever come to being punished for any wrongdoing was for agreeing to take a chair shot to the head from Triple H at WrestleMania XXVII. For that, he was fined, and he paid the fine without any issues.
The Undertaker has never gotten in trouble with WWE’s office and never has there been former backstage official in WWE ever spoken badly of him.
For further proof, just watch any video about Undertaker’s current and former peers. None of them ever say anything bad about him, whether they were wrestlers or backstage officials.
The Undertaker is, ironically, an angel in WWE, having never angered anyone backstage enough to warrant any ‘heat’.
