Faces that should have kept some heel tendencies

Lou

Hello, relatively new to this board, so I apologize if this has been discussed before...

Seems like a pattern now... WWE introduces heel, fans begin to warm up to the heel, WWE decide to cash in on this new found popularity and turns the heel a face, but then this newly-face drops all of his/her heel characteristics, and becomes a generic happy and ultra perky face that everyone is supposed to cheer just because s/he smiles a lot.

Victoria definitely falls into this category. I was really starting to dig her heel, psycho character (remember when she stood up to Scott Steiner?) with the Tatu entrance. When she was slowly turning face, I was expecting her to maybe turn into a Mankind-ish babyface. But what happened, she became a completely different person. All the dancing, and playing to the fans has just killed all the interest I had in her. And, I think my views are somewhat reflected in the amount of reaction she gets now (not much at all). Really, I think if she had kept some of her past heel tendencies, she'd be much more successful right now.

Right off the top of my head, I can think of a couple other faces that really should have been kept a kind of a 'tweener - John Cena, and Randy Orton. Agree or disagree anyone?

Dr. Giganto

I agree 100%. I thought Cena was great, until he started talking about farting and doody in his raps

Jackie Pies

and 'toilet urinal cakes'

Chair Shot Fan

Most disappointing for me is Tajiri. Just weeks after his henchmen hit television with him, he ends getting sent to RAW and is now a babyface...which just bites. He could've been badass with group attacks (like the one on Gowen that gave him a concussion, or whatever).

You'd better put your clothes back on...before you start puttin pot holes in my lawn...

Narc

I think if youare a great face, almost always you are going to be an amazing heel. But for whatever reason, it doesnt always work the other way around. The reason i think, is that WWE always seems to change the character that fans learned to love. The main reason Steve Austin worked, is because they didnt really change his character. When he went face, he was still a fkn a*****e. I think both John Cena and Randy Orton should have kept their heel mannerisms and I also think their face turn came way too early.

Lou

Very good point, but Jeff Hardy was never such a great heel =P

Starscream

Lets face it... all of the successful heels in the business get heat because they are arrogant, they think they are the best and they act that way. When the Rock is heel there is no doubt hes the best. Hes arrogant, ****y, and most of all disrepectful to the fans and other wrestlers. Austin, Cena, HHH, and Orton all have the same arrogance and disrespect (when they are heels). It draws heat and stirs peoples emotions. Thus, leading fans to get involved/attached to their character.

However, the only way that heel characters can become successful faces is if they keep the arrogance. This of course can be toned down over time and replaced with charisma and showmanship. However, even this showmanship is a ****y (i.e the peoples elbow).

Switches like Ortons and Cenas were handled terribly. The WWE attempted to make the fans like them by having their characters be "nice." In essence, they completely erased the old character and created a new one. As a result, the fans no longer have the emotional attachment and therefore, our interest diminishes.

Narc

Jeff Hardy?????? was he a great face????? lol

Lou

Hahaha, well, maybe not main event calibur face, but he got his share of pops

Narc

Great point. It does seems that they are totally new different guys.