When did the line blur between heel and face?

[Next Big Thing]

At what point did the audience stop booing the heel simply because he was heel and cheering the face simply because he was a face. Personally I think this occurred primarily through Austin 3:16. It's happening again with Orton, who has all the mannerisms of a heel but is getting pops. (of course Cena gets booed as a face, but I think the people booing him are doing it because everyone else is down on him and not because of actions taken by the character).

Was there ever a period before the attitude era where a heel got babyface pops?? Do you guys think it changed the way wrestling is written and characters are presented.

Would you guys rather they keep Orton heel?

[Razzamajazz]

around the time ecw first formed, not saying they originated it, but they had a big role

[erickman]

heel flair with the horsemen might have been cheered but i don't rember.

[The Franchise]

HBPunk is spot on. I don't know why they don't do this more often, at least with the main-eventers. It worked brilliantly with Austin and even Rock for a couple years, the guy was basically the same character in 99 and 00 minus trash-talking the crowd. Today,iIt's working for Orton.

[Stickman]

Stone Cold! Stone Cold!

[Kane Knight]

austin really did mainstream the idea.

[Aguakate]

...I think the NWO probably started the movement where heels were cool, and Stone Cold REALLY took the ball and ran with it and took it to a whole other level.

[Stealth-Icon]

July 26 1998

[Sixx]

July 26 1998

Hey. My 12th birthday.