DISCUSSION - Do fans want to cheer "The Heel" in today's wrestling era?

**Heyman** · 06-08-2004, 09:03 PM

DISCUSSION - Do fans want to cheer "The Heel" in today's wrestling era?

In the early 90's, it was all about cheering the "good guy". We had our Hulk Hogan's, Randy Savage's, Ultimate Warrior's, and Bret Hart's.

In the late 90's/early 2000's, the fans wanted to cheer the "cocky and charismatic" guy. The fans also cheered guys who had ATTITUDES and rebelled against their bosses. This is why guys like Steve Austin, The Rock, Chris Jericho, Undertaker, etc. were so popular.

Fast forward to the 'current' era (I'd argue from Wrestlemania-17 onwards).

-Think about Austin during the 'alliance' angle.

-Think about when Triple H returned in January 2002 (or why the fans cheered him so loudly when he came back).

-Think about The Rock when he came back as a "Hollywood Heel" in year 2003 (and how he got more cheers than Goldberg in his last match)

-Think about Kurt Angle between Survivor Series 2001 and Wrestlemania 2003 (and the reception Angle received when he came back from injury).

-Think about Chris Jericho's heel run from last year.

-Think about John Cena dissing the fans with his 'rap' gimmick.

-Think about Eddie and Chavo Guerrero as 'lying, cheating, and stealking' heels.

-Think about Brock Lesnar at Summerslam 2002 (and the events leading up to that).......as a heel.

-Think about Randy Orton.

In most of these cases, wouldn't you agree that the fans WANTED to cheer each of these guys?

In most of these cases, wouldn't you agree that the fans would've ULTIMATELY cheered them anyways? (even if the aformentioned wrestlers acted the exact same way).

I guess what I'm trying to say, is why wreck a good thing?

If you're going to turn a wrestler FACE, why make him "act differently"? ESPECIALLY - in this current era where the fans ARGUABLY want to REACT LOUDLY towards bonafide ASSHOLES.

Maybe it's just me, but I honestly believe that The Rock, Austin, Angle, Lesnar, Eddie Guerrero, Triple H, Jericho, etc. were all better off ACTING as heels (remember - "acting" as heels).

You want to know what I think? Here's my hypothesis:

If 90-95% of the roster purposely acted like heels (towards other wrestlers AND the fans), the fans would still cheer LOUDLY for atleast 25-30% of these wrestlers (in support!).

For example - if a heel John Cena came out and cut a KILLER rap (and dissed the fans), I'm pretty sure that the fans would cheer loudly for a guy like Cena if he was fighting a guy like Renee Dupree.

-I would be interested to see what the WWE would be like if 90-95% of the characters acted like HEELS (or were BLATANT heels, but got cheered by the fans anyways).

-I would argue that the TRULY gifted speaker on the mic, is BETTER on the mic as a heel (think about HBK, Triple H, The Rock, Jericho, Austin, Angle, etc.).

-I would argue that a TRULY malicious ASSHOLE (i.e. like The Rock during his Corporate Days, like Austin in 1996, etc. could DRAW just as much as any top face out there).

My Conclusion?: Let Faces (who were previously successful heels) act the EXACT same way. Let them keep ripping on the fans. The fans will still cheer!

-Guys like Cena and Guerrero are still popular today, but their characters were MUCH more dynamic as heels (atleast from my Point of view).

-Why else would guys like Angle and Triple H bomb as faces?

-Why did the fans start cheering so loudly for The Rock when he fought Goldberg?

-Why did the fans love Austin during his heel run? (and yet when he turned face after Survivor Series 2001, the fans didn't like his "old" gimmick as much).

-Why were Edge and Christian so popular as a tag team?

06-08-2004, 09:03 PM	#1
Heyman Father of Hinduship Posts: 21,083	DISCUSSION - Do fans want to cheer "The Heel" in today's wrestling era? DISCUSSION - Do fans want to cheer "The Heel" in today's wrestling era? In the early 90's, it was all about cheering the "good guy". We had our Hulk Hogan's, Randy Savage's, Ultimate Warrior's, and Bret Hart's. In the late 90's/early 2000's, the fans wanted to cheer the "cocky and charismatic" guy. The fans also cheered guys who had ATTITUDES and rebelled against their bosses. This is why guys like Steve Austin, The Rock, Chris Jericho, Undertaker, etc. were so popular. Fast forward to the 'current' era (I'd argue from Wrestlemania-17 onwards). -Think about Austin during the 'alliance' angle. -Think about when Triple H returned in January 2002 (or why the fans cheered him so loudly when he came back). -Think about The Rock when he came back as a "Hollywood Heel" in year 2003 (and how he got more cheers than Goldberg in his last match) -Think about Kurt Angle between Survivor Series 2001 and Wrestlemania 2003 (and the reception Angle received when he came back from injury). -Think about Chris Jericho's heel run from last year. -Think about John Cena dissing the fans with his 'rap' gimmick. -Think about Eddie and Chavo Guerrero as 'lying, cheating, and stealking' heels. -Think about Brock Lesnar at Summerslam 2002 (and the events leading up to that).......as a heel. -Think about Randy Orton. In most of these cases, wouldn't you agree that the fans WANTED to cheer each of these guys? In most of these cases, wouldn't you agree that the fans would've ULTIMATELY cheered them anyways? (even if the aformentioned wrestlers acted the exact same way). I guess what I'm trying to say, is why wreck a good thing? If you're going to turn a wrestler FACE, why make him "act differently"? ESPECIALLY - in this current era where the fans ARGUABLY want to REACT LOUDLY towards bonafide ASSHOLES. Maybe it's just me, but I honestly believe that The Rock, Austin, Angle, Lesnar, Eddie Guerrero, Triple H, Jericho, etc. were all better off ACTING as heels (remember - "acting" as heels). You want to know what I think? Here's my hypothesis: If 90-95% of the roster purposely acted like heels (towards other wrestlers AND the fans), the fans would still cheer LOUDLY for atleast 25-30% of these wrestlers (in support!). For example - if a heel John Cena came out and cut a KILLER rap (and dissed the fans), I'm pretty sure that the fans would cheer loudly for a guy like Cena if he was fighting a guy like Renee Dupree. -I would be interested to see what the WWE would be like if 90-95% of the characters acted like HEELS (or were BLATANT heels, but got cheered by the fans anyways). -I would argue that the TRULY gifted speaker on the mic, is BETTER on the mic as a heel (think about HBK, Triple H, The Rock, Jericho, Austin, Angle, etc.). -I would argue that a TRULY malicious ASSHOLE (i.e. like The Rock during his Corporate Days, like Austin in 1996, etc. could DRAW just as much as any top face out there). My Conclusion?: Let Faces (who were previously successful heels) act the EXACT same way. Let them keep ripping on the fans. The fans will still cheer! -Guys like Cena and Guerrero are still popular today, but their characters were MUCH more dynamic as heels (atleast from my Point of view). -Why else would guys like Angle and Triple H bomb as faces? -Why did the fans start cheering so loudly for The Rock when he fought Goldberg? -Why did the fans love Austin during his heel run? (and yet when he turned face after Survivor Series 2001, the fans didn't like his "old" gimmick as much). -Why were Edge and Christian so popular as a tag team?