What Is a Heel in Wrestling?By Coder| August 31, 2023 Wrestling When it comes to professional wrestling, one term that you may often hear is “heel.” But what exactly does it mean? In this article, we will delve into the world of wrestling and explore the concept of a heel. Understanding the Role of a Heel In wrestling, a heel refers to a character or persona portrayed by a wrestler who is meant to be the villain or antagonist in a match or storyline. The heel’s primary goal is to elicit negative reactions from the audience and generate heat. This is achieved by engaging in unethical or rule-breaking behavior both inside and outside the ring. Examples of typical heel behavior include: Trash-talking: Heels are known for their ability to cut scathing promos that insult their opponents and rile up the crowd. Cheating: Heels often resort to underhanded tactics such as low blows, using foreign objects, or distracting the referee to gain an unfair advantage over their opponents. Breaking rules: They frequently disregard the rules of the match, whether it’s by refusing to break holds on the count of five or blatantly ignoring disqualifications. The Purpose of a Heel The presence of heels in wrestling serves several important purposes: Create conflict: Heels are crucial in creating drama and conflict within storylines. Their actions often provoke intense emotional responses from fans, leading to increased engagement with the product. Elevate babyfaces: Babyfaces are wrestlers portrayed as heroes or fan favorites. The role of a heel is to make these babyfaces look sympathetic and heroic by providing a foil for their virtuous behavior. Draw heat: The purpose of generating heat is to make the audience passionately dislike the heel. This, in turn, encourages fans to cheer for the babyface and invest emotionally in the outcome of the match or storyline. Types of Heels Heels come in various forms, each with its own unique characteristics and strategies: The Monster Heel A monster heel is a wrestler who possesses immense size, strength, or brutality. They often dominate their opponents physically and display a ruthless demeanor. Examples include Kane and Brock Lesnar. The Cocky Heel The cocky heel relies on arrogance and excessive self-confidence to generate heat. They believe they are superior to everyone else and often taunt both their opponents and the audience. Ric Flair is a classic example of this type of heel. The Sneaky Heel Sneaky heels are masters of deception. They excel at using underhanded tactics, distractions, and cheap shots to gain an advantage over their opponents. Eddie Guerrero was famous for his sneaky yet entertaining style as a heel. In Conclusion In professional wrestling, heels play a vital role in creating excitement, drama, and emotional investment among fans. Through their unethical behavior and antagonistic personas, they elevate the status of the babyfaces while also drawing heat from the audience. Whether it’s the monster heel, cocky heel, or sneaky heel, these characters add depth and entertainment value to the world of wrestling.
