Best Heels From the Attitude Era?

[thegame415]

This is something I have been pondering. IMO, the Mr. McMahon character is the greatest heel in WWE history. Everyone can relate to the "evil authority figure", so it added a sense of realism.

However, what other great heels come from this era? It seems like so many guys got over as faces, and there were several heel turns (Al Snow and Rikishi, for example) that really flopped.

The Rock was good in 1998, but by the end of summer he was getting face pops. I think he was getting many cheers after becoming "corporate".

Triple H was really good in 2000, but his initial heel run in 1999 wasn't and seemed really forced.

Also, Kurt Angle was great at generating heat.

I bring this up after recently discussing how great 2008-early '09 was for heels, with JBL, Orton, Jericho, Edge, Vickie Guerrero, etc.

That gives me four for the Attitude Era...any others?

[Shaq-Fu]

Off the top of my head I recall Steven Richards during his RTC run, even if it ended up going nowhere, and MiniDark Undertaker getting pretty sick heat.

Both Mankind and Kane were also really good when they first came in, as was Bret when he was all anti-USA; but I'm not sure I'd quite qualify any of those as one of the 'best' given their relative lack of longevity as mega-heels.

[andrewgilkison]

Paul Bearer from 1997 to 1999 (when he became a background extra in the Corporate Ministry angle). He was just a vile fat evil piece of shit that you wanted to see get his ass kicked.

[Junkenstein]

My favourite will always be Triple H's late 1999-2001 run. He was the f***ing man at that point, consistently stealing the shows at PPVs and having great matches with everyone on the roster. He's been a shadow of his former self since the first quad injury IMO, but I'll always be a fan of his based on that run alone.

[Oh Cry Me a Screwball]

The Jackyl could have done some amazing things if his backstage heat didn't catch up to him.

[scarecrow]

Steven Richards & Raven have been my two favourites for a very long time.. I think Steven Richards RTC gimmick was terribly underrated.

[Deleted]

While the Right to Censor kinda got that "go away/X-Pac" heat, Stevie Richards himself got mega-heat, as in "Shut up or we'll storm the ring!"

Jacqueline was a pretty good heel. She was rough and tough, and could cut a scathing promo making the fans sympathetic to Sable.

Kane was an awesome heel, when allowed. So was the Undertaker, when allowed to be a heel. (He did it in two different versions during the Attitude Era.)

[scarecrow]

Apr 24, 2011 9:39:09 GMT -5 @sandman said:

While the Right to Censor kinda got that "go away/X-Pac"

Kane was an awesome heel, when allowed. So was the Undertaker, when allowed to be a heel. (He did it in two different versions during the Attitude Era.)

I love how when Kane was a "heel" people still cheered for him.

[baresolid]

Came in to post Stevie Richards.

[cabbageboy]

There really weren't many good heels back then to be honest. HHH was the closest in 2000 but even then the storyline with Angle put him into somewhat of a sympathetic tweener position. The Undertaker during the Ministry was a fun heel but I'm not sure anyone really hated him per se.

[slowdive]

Big Bossman is yet to be mentioned

[Raja Lion]

HHH was the best heel in the business from late 1999 until his first quad tear.

Ministry Undertaker

Lets not forget Jericho came in as a heel and was quite capable.

[Citizen Snips Has Left]

Despite them not going anywhere with it, Al Snow's heel turn had the makings of a classic. The promo where he turned on Foley had chilling delivery and it made sense for him to shift from being unhinged in a goofy way to being unhinged and dangerous. He had some really good TV matches with Foley and The Rock as well.

Too bad they completely dropped the ball with it.

[nWoElite]

No mention for Corporate Chyna? Shane-O-Mac? Stephanie?

[Cyno]

Vince, Shane, and Stephanie were awesome heels. Shane also made a great face, and so did Vince really. But Vince is just so natural as a heel.

As far as the actual wrestlers go, I remember HATING The Corporate Rock. I was also a big Triple H fan during the DX army days so their feuds have always been one of my favorites. Speaking of Trips, he was an incredible heel from 1999-2001 (he was one of my favorites and I wanted to see his ass get kicked hardcore), even if he became a tweener during the Angle feud.

Other really enjoyable heels: Kurt Angle, Ministry 'Taker, E&C, and Jericho when he first debuted (interrupting one of the most over faces in wrestling history is an awesome way to get heat especially when you're as talented on the stick).

I miss The Rock and Jericho being in wrestling at the same time. They played off each other so well, whether they were allies or feuding.

[funkycoldmadina]

Apr 24, 2011 1:52:59 GMT -5 andrewgilkison said:

Paul Bearer from 1997 to 1999 (when he became a background extra in the Corporate Ministry angle). He was just a vile fat evil piece of s*** that you wanted to see get his ass kicked.

He was like the personificaton of a grown up Eric Cartman.

[Citizen Zero]

Apr 24, 2011 10:58:54 GMT -5 slowdive said:

Big Bossman is yet to be mentioned

Probably because he was so over-the-top that he was impossible to take seriously.

[Junkenstein]

Apr 24, 2011 17:30:29 GMT -5 Citizen Zero said:

Apr 24, 2011 10:58:54 GMT -5 slowdive said:

Big Bossman is yet to be mentioned

Probably because he was so over-the-top that he was impossible to take seriously.

And, as much as it pains me to say this. He wasn't over. At all

[Crazy Diamond]

Apr 24, 2011 17:22:08 GMT -5 funkycoldmadina said:

Apr 24, 2011 1:52:59 GMT -5 andrewgilkison said:

Paul Bearer from 1997 to 1999 (when he became a background extra in the Corporate Ministry angle). He was just a vile fat evil piece of s*** that you wanted to see get his ass kicked.

He was like the personificaton of a grown up Eric Cartman.

I always saw Big Boss Man as being like that more than Paul Bearer. I mean, Bearer at least had a reason for being evil. Boss Man was just evil because he wanted to be. He was a complete sociopath.

Chris Benoit was a great heel when he was making life miserable for the Rock. I will never forget him saying "SQUEEL ROCK SQUEEL" and when he randomly attacked him with the Crippler Crossface.

Val Venis was a disgusting piece of crap, but that's what made his character work. He was good as Chief Morely in 2003, but I don't know why WWE didn't go further with that one.

Bob Holly, Crash Holly, Kaientai, Steve Blackman, D-Lo Brown (Nation), Owen Hart, Farooq, and Trish Stratus (I hated her so much.) were also pretty good too.

[FunkerCM]

Dude Love.