"To be a great babyface, first you have to be a great heel"

XL · 01-29-2015, 09:53 AM

WWE have failed to create a "Top Face" every time they've tried; When was the last time WWE took a fan favourite, strapped a rocket to them, and created a new "Top Guy" or even "Top Face" and it worked?

Almost every single guy to win the title or be put in position to be the "Top Guy" got over as a heel first.

Austin, Rock, Foley, HHH, HBK, Punk, Batista, Bryan, Brock, Angle, Jericho, Eddie, Benoit, Edge, Orton, hell, even Cena got over as a heel before making the switch and becoming the "Face of the Company" - a switch that turned half the audience against him in the long run.

The only guys I can think of that was persistently a babyface, and went on to win the title were Jeff Hardy and Rey Mysterio. The exceptions that prove the rule?

Most of the guys I listed won the title as a babyface, but they got over as heels.

Is this part of what is missing with Reigns? He came in as a heel in The Shield, but he has no history as a singles guy. Is this what WWE need to do; give Reigns a run as heel and wait for him to organically get over with the fans.

With Brock seemingly on the cusp of a babyface turn, is this the best current example of this phenomenon?

Does being a heel give a character more depth? Does turning face mean more than just being a face?

View Poll Results: "To be a great babyface, you have to be a great heel"
Agree	8	44.44%
Disagree	10	55.56%
Voters: 18. You must log in or register to vote on this poll.

01-29-2015, 09:53 AM	#1
XL Feeling Oof-y Posts: 17,151	"To be a great babyface, first you have to be a great heel" WWE have failed to create a "Top Face" every time they've tried; When was the last time WWE took a fan favourite, strapped a rocket to them, and created a new "Top Guy" or even "Top Face" and it worked? Almost every single guy to win the title or be put in position to be the "Top Guy" got over as a heel first. Austin, Rock, Foley, HHH, HBK, Punk, Batista, Bryan, Brock, Angle, Jericho, Eddie, Benoit, Edge, Orton, hell, even Cena got over as a heel before making the switch and becoming the "Face of the Company" - a switch that turned half the audience against him in the long run. The only guys I can think of that was persistently a babyface, and went on to win the title were Jeff Hardy and Rey Mysterio. The exceptions that prove the rule? Most of the guys I listed won the title as a babyface, but they got over as heels. Is this part of what is missing with Reigns? He came in as a heel in The Shield, but he has no history as a singles guy. Is this what WWE need to do; give Reigns a run as heel and wait for him to organically get over with the fans. With Brock seemingly on the cusp of a babyface turn, is this the best current example of this phenomenon? Does being a heel give a character more depth? Does turning face mean more than just being a face?