Best Heels In Wrestling History, Ranked By Skill (2024)

It's been said that the wrestling business runs on great heels. When you think about it, wrestling is one of the only genres in which getting audiences to dislike you is a top priority. Heel wrestlers are a key concept that makes pro wrestling so unique.

For this list we will be compiling a list of wrestling heels, from WWE or any other company, based on historical signifcance, impact on the business overall, and of course, talent, and performance rate. Ranking them by skill, will take promo ability, technique, connecting with the audience, and of course, in-ring prowess into consideration.

10 Vince McMahon Is Considered By Many To Be The Most Effective Heel In Wrestling History

As Mr. McMahon, Vince Embodied The Corrupt And Power-Hungry Authority Figure

• Most fans feel that the Mr. McMahon character was born when Vince first uttered the phrase "Bret screwed Bret" during an interview segment on Monday Night Raw.
• Vince would fully embrace the role when Steve Austin became WWE Champion in 1998.
• Vince was recently hit with several allegations of abuse and misconduct by a former WWE employee, which has led to him leaving the company altogether.

Vince McMahon captured the essence of a true wrestling villain as the tyranical boss who used his power and influence to manipulate the careers of his wrestlers. Unfortunately, he is now being accused of displaying this type of behavior in his personal life as well. What can be said is the the wrestling business was never hotter than in the late 1990s and early 2000s, when Vince went head to head with Steve Austin on a weekly basis. He was so strong in this role, that many fans still feel that he is the best heel in the history of the business. It was impossible to leave him off of this list, however he finds himself at the bottom of it, because he is easily the most unskilled when it comes to actual wrestling ability.

9 Gorgeous George Is One The Most Influential Performers Of All Time

The Toast Of The Coast

• Gorgeous George is considered to have invented the blueprint for the modern-day heel persona.
• He was one of the first to use entrance music in the business.
• George was posthumously inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2010.

Not only is Gorgeous George considered one of the greatest heels of all time, he is also considered to be one of the most important entertainers in history. Both Bob Dylan and Muhammad Ali cited him as influences on their public personas. George essentially invented the idea of the wrestling bad-guy, and in doing so, he revolutionized an entire industry. From a pure skill standpoint, George was decent enough in the ring, but he existed in a different time, and subsequently the standard of performance was different as well. He was, however, an exceptional promo, and possessed a timeless charisma that firmly clinches his spot on this list.

8 Roddy Piper Could Get Heat Like No Other Heel In History

Piper Helped Make WrestleMania A Success

• Roddy Piper inspired many of the most controversial personalities in wrestling to get involved in the business, such as CM Punk and Jim Cornette.
• He's considered to be one of the greatest promos in the history of the business.
• Roddy was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2005.

Some may find it questionable that Roddy Piper is ranked at only #8, but again, this list is based on all of the aformentioned skills and beyond. As an in-ring competitor, Piper was limited, and mostly relied on a brawling style to get the job done. His lack of polish is what made his character so authentic though. Roddy's brilliance as an antagonist is what made WrestleMania work so well, as it gave the conquering hero, Hulk Hogan, and the popular TV star, Mr.T, a detestable bad guy to trounce on a massive platform. Roddy Piper overachieved and beat the odds his entire life, and took what he had all the way to the top of the industry.

7 Hollywood Hogan Changed The Trajectory Of The Entire Industry

Hogan Is The Only Man To Make The Skills List As Both A Babyface And A Heel

• Hulk Hogan was a heel early in his career for a brief time, but reached his greatest heights as a babyface.
• Hulk turned heel in 1996, by joining the NWO as the "third man".
• Hulk Hogan was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2005.

It was said during his active years, that where Hulk Hogan went, the business went. This was never proven to be truer than when Hogan turned heel in 1996, changing the entire perception of pro wrestling in the process. He was every bit as effective as a heel as he was as a babyface. His skills are what they are, but it must be said that Hogan had better ring psychology than he is usually given credit for. He was also a strong promo, and he could rise to a great match when the situation called for it.

6 Randy Savage Knew How To Turn The Crowd Against Him

The Cream Of The Crop

• Randy Poffo initially aspired to become a pro baseball player.
• His father, Angelo Poffo, was a pro wrestler, and both Randy and his brother, Lanny, would follow in their father's footsteps.
• "Macho Man" Randy Savage was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2015.

Randy Poffo would be described as "savage" by legendary booker and wrestler, Dutch Mantell, which would give him the name he would wrestle under for his entire career from that point. As a heel in WWE's Golden Era, Randy would flirt with highly controversial overtones at times, making him easy to dislike.

Randy was such a skilled wrestler however, that he would eventually be embraced by the fans. A magnificent in-ring performer, who was ahead of his time, Savage was a great talker and entertainer as well. If his career had lasted a bit longer, he could have made a case for being at the top of this list.

5 Edge Is One Of The Greatest Heels Of The Ruthless Agression Era

The Ultimate Opportunist Used Everyone & Everything To Stay On Top

• Edge was voted "Most Likely To Win The WWE Championship" in his high school yearbook.
• He debuted in WWE in 1998.
• Edge was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2012.

The WWE as a company believed in Edge from the start. They produced compelling vignettes prior to his debut, and it was clear that they saw big things for him. The audiences however, didn't seem to take to Edge as passionately in the first few years of his career. This would all change when an out of the ring incident would alter the perception of Edge in the eyes of wrestling fans. He would wisely take it and run with it, becoming The Rated-R Superstar. As a heel, Edge is one of the most skilled in history. He is great in the ring and on the microphone, and always strived to improve his game.

4 Triple H Studied The Greatest Heels To Eventually Become One Of Them

Triple H Was Second Only To Mr. McMahon As The Greatest Heel Of The Attitude Era

• Triple H was trained by the legendary Killer Kowalski.
• He is one of the founding members of both D-Generation X and Evolution.
• Triple H now works as head of creative for WWE.

For Triple H to rise to the heights that he did, when he was surrounded by generational talents, is a testament to his skills to say the least. He could have easily fallen under the radar, but he knew that every top talent needs an effective foil to work with. His skills as a heel and as a wrestler overall, make him an all-time great, who arguably elevated the WWE Championship even more so than some of his iconic peers. He was the most hated man in wrestling at multiple points in his career, and he was constantly evolving. His unparralleled accumen for the business, has now led him to being one of the most powerful figures in it.

3 Roman Reigns Finally Reached His Potential As A Dominant Heel

The Head Of The Table Needed His Heel Run

• Roman Reigns is a second-generation wrestler.
• He debuted on WWE television as a member of The Shield.
• He is the longest reigning WWE Champion in modern history.

Roman Reigns is an example of how WWE must always have their ear placed firmly towards the crowd. It was clear that the company saw Roman as its future, but the audience was not ready to accept him in that role, with his presentation at that time. Finally, WWE changed the trajectory of Roman's character in 2020, allowing a more authentic and compelling version of him to shine through. Roman would go on to shatter records, as a villain mind you, and that is largely thanks to his exceptional skill set. His superior athleticism, paired with his timing, and in-ring approach, have now turned him into the babyface the company initially wanted him to be , as well as placing him at number 3 on this list.

2 Randy Orton Has Embraced Being A Heel Like Few Wrestlers Before Him

Randy Orton Is One Of The Most Naturally Gifted Wrestlers Ever

• Randy Orton is a third-generation wrestler.
• He would debut in WWE in 2002, after training at OVW.
• Randy Orton is a 14-time WWE Champion.

When John Cena calls you one of the best he's ever seen, chances are you have the skill set to warrant your place on this list. As a heel, Randy was never afraid to go the extra step to make people despise him, in fact, he embraced it. It's this sort of deviousness that would earn him the monikers The Legend Killer, The Viper, and The Apex Predator.

Randy is one of the most flawless competitors to compete at any time, anywhere in the world. He somehow makes wrestling look effortless, and has managed to stay on top for more than two decades. He is unquestionably one of the most highly-skilled heels to ever do it.

1 Ric Flair Talked It And Walked It

The Dirtiest Player In The Game

• Ric Flair was trained by Verne Gagne.
• In 1975, his career and life were nearly ended in a plane crash.
• Ric was inducted into the WWE Hall Of Fame in 2008.

It's both simple and difficult to sum up what made Ric Flair so great. The easy part is explaining what made Ric such a great heel. His entire in-ring style is pro wrestling heel 101. He would take huge bumps when the time came, he would beg off, and just display typical and blatant traits of cowardice. He was also one of the best workers of all time, with unmatched cardio and precise timing. Ric Flair embodied everything that a wrestling heel should be: braggadocious, arrogant, slightly deslusional, and treachery. He tops this list of the most skilled heels in wrestling history.