'%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)
There is no denying it. Heels are the best thing about WWE and the wrestling business in general. They do the things we want to do but can’t in real life. They are cool, edgy and badass.
Heels are allowed to push the envelope both in and out of the ring. They have an air to their character that enables them reach deeper and take things further than their babyface counterparts.
Babyface wrestlers have to play by the rules and do what is right, but heels don’t and are way more fun because of it. They are rule breakers, shortcut takers and show makers. A good heel entertains you, makes you hate them, which makes it all the better when they get their comeuppance.
There are a number of things required to make a great heel in WWE. A strong heel must be good on the mic because that’s where the insults come from. A good heel will rile up both the wrestlers and the audience in one fell swoop.
Heels have to be as good in the ring as they are on the mic. A great heel is one that talks smack in a promo but can back it up in the ring. A heel wrestler must be difficult to beat because they are both formidable in the ring and willing to cheat to get the win.
Heels are an integral part of the wrestling business. A good guy needs a bad guy, that’s just the way it is. You can’t have good without the bad, but when the bad is good, it is just way more fun.
In this article, we will look at five of the best heels in WWE right now and why they are so good at being bad.
#5 Sonya Deville
Sonya Deville’s heel turn was exceptional and a real star-making moment. The turn allowed her to thrive on her own. Breaking away from Mandy Rose was the best thing that has ever happened to her.
She brought fire, pain and passion to her work and became one the best heels in WWE this year. Her feud with Mandy was terrific as she tortured her every chance she got. Deville ridiculed her, repeatedly attacked her and even chopped off her hair.
Deville’s manic disposition was fantastic and brought comparisons to Victoria from back in the day. Her frantic and manic beatdowns on Mandy were as great as they were uncomfortable.
Her promos were emotional, powerful and some of the best mic work in the company this year. They were so good, that rumours spread around suggesting she was in line to play Kate Kane in the television series Batwoman.
Deville became a must-watch part of Friday Night SmackDown due to her ability to play a heel so well. Her heel work was so good that she grew into a megastar before our very eyes, which was a joy to watch.
Deville is currently out of WWE per the stipulation of her and Mandy Roses’ Loser Leaves WWE match at Summerslam. When Deville returns, hopefully sooner rather than later, it will be a monumental affair and all due to her fantastic heel work.
#4 Seth Rollins
Seth Rollins’ Messiah character has been great and the perfect way to show off his superior heel side in WWE. Rollins has always been at his best when portraying a heel. From his early days in the Shield, to the Architect and now the Monday Night Messiah, Rollins is just brilliant at being bad.
This heel run differs from the previous two. The Shield were so good at being heels that they became faces. The Architect run saw Rollins as a scared heel, hiding behind The Authority.
This run as a saviour and deluded leader has been way more effective because of those traits. There is no better heel than the one that thinks they're doing the right thing. That is precisely what Rollins is doing, and he’s doing it with aplomb.
During his run as the Messiah, we have seen him do some dastardly and disgusting things. His penchant for forcing his opponent’s eyes into the ring steps is disturbing, for one.
His power over people, turning them into his disciples is unnerving. The brutality in his violence is just evil. His ring work has never been better as his matches with the inexperienced Dominik Mysterio testify.
Furthermore, his mic work has been first class and the feud with the entire Mysterio family has been one of the best told in 2020. The decision to turn Rollins heel after The Fiend debacle proves to be the right one and one that he has executed perfectly.
#3 The Fiend
Bray Wyatt’s alter-ego The Fiend has been one the most enthralling and scary characters ever on WWE programming.
The Fiend is a fantastic character played by a genius talent in Wyatt. He flips between his “Mr Rogers” persona inside the Firefly Funhouse and the horrific, disfigured clown in the ring.
The character is wrestling at its best. It asks the audience to suspend their disbelief and judging by the popularity of The Fiend, the WWE Universe is doing just that.
The red lights, the ear-piercing screech, the demonic look, magical powers and glowing yellow eyes, The Fiend is straight out of a horror movie. The Fiend doesn’t just attack people, he transforms them forever.
The psychological and mental torture he applies to his opponents (or should that be victims?) changes them. Everyone who comes into contact with The Fiend is never the same again.
For example, Finn Balor was his first opponent and was never seen on WWE programming ever again. Balor would resurface on NXT with a darker and more villainous side.
Braun Strowman became the Monster again, while Alexa Bliss has been so affected by The Fiend, she now goes into a trance and executes his finisher move whenever his name is spoken.
The ever-lasting effect The Fiend has on his victims makes him one of the most effective heels in WWE today.
#2 Randy Orton
Randy Orton is one of the best bad guys in wrestling history. His most recent heel turn seemed to re-energise, rejuvenate and revitalise Orton. His heel work with Edge was one of the best angles in WWE history.
When Orton turned on Edge and ruined his triumphant return to Monday Night RAW after nine years, the viewers were astounded. There were audible gasps and screams as the Viper placed Edge’s head on the chair. It was beautifully violent and started one of the best heel runs in WWE history.
Since destroying Edge, Orton has been on a path of villainy that has seen a long list of victims. Beth Pheonix, Christian, Ric Flair, Big Show and Shawn Michaels have all fallen to the RKO and viscous punt kick.
Orton is now involved in a bitter and violent feud with WWE Champion Drew McIntyre, which has seen his heel work escalate to epic proportions. Orton’s mic work has been exceptional.
His words are vindictive, scathing and cutting. His air of superiority is enforced by his actions. His in-ring work is excellent. His methodical and calculated style gives every move a purpose and has heightened his heel work to another level.
I think we can all agree that heel Randy Orton is the easily the best Randy Orton.
#1 Bayley
Bayley’s heel run has been nothing short of phenomenal. Ever since she attacked Becky Lynch with a steel chair last year, she has grown and evolved into one of the best heels in the business.
The best thing about Bayley’s heel turn was that no one thought she could do it. She was too nice, too lovable, too, well, babyface. But how did she prove everyone wrong. She changed her look, her mic work and in-ring style all to fit a new heel persona and everything clicked perfectly.
Both in and out of the ring, Bayley has excelled in her hypocritical, annoying and overbearing “Role Model” character.
Her in-ring work is harder, faster and stronger, and she has no qualms in cheating to win. Along with Sasha Banks, she owned WWE. They both became double champions and trounced the competition across all three brands. So good was their partnership, that it was the best thing on WWE for months.
Her promo work is fantastic. She is obnoxious, cocky and arrogant, everything a heel should be. But Bayley does it in a way that so much better than everyone else.
Her back and forth with Michael Cole is as funny as it was brilliant. During the Performance Centre-era, her jibes and digs at the commentator throughout her matches were fantastic. That became even better when she and Sasha joined the commentary table.
The troubled relationship with Sasha Banks exploded recently when Bayley essentially turned double-heel by brutally attacking The Boss.
Bayley’s heel run and been so effective that she has defeated the entire SmackDown women’s roster. She is also the longest ever reigning WWE SmackDown Women’s Champion.
What makes Sting special? His first AEW opponent opens up RIGHT HERE.
