8 Most Underrated Heels In Wrestling Today
Villains, rogues, rascals, and scoundrels - these wrestlers have chosen to embrace the hate.
When looking at the landscape of professional wrestling in 2019, it really is a fine art to be a truly all-in villain.
As audiences continue to levitate towards the bad guys and girls, it's harder and harder for a wrestler to be purposely hated and despised. Sure, Seth Rollins is getting monster heat these days, but, well, that's more an indication of WWE's creative and Rollins' boneheaded use of social media.
For a heel to be truly vilified, to get nothing but boos, to avoid the cool villain role, is a tough gig to fully embrace and master. That's not to say it's impossible. It could be argued that the greatest heels in the business right now are Chris Jericho, MJF, and, dare it be said, Baron Corbin. Even then, Jericho and MJF still manage to garner the cool pop and cheers at times.
Taking a step back from the obvious big-time rogues, the wrestling world does have some fantastic 'baddies' getting up to all sorts of no-good antics. It's just that those stars may not be particularly appreciated as heels on a major level right now.
On that train of thought, then, here are eight of the most underrated heels in the wrestling industry today.
8. Roderick Strong
Despite being as bland as bland can be during his initial NXT run – not helped by his pairing with Austin Aries coming to a premature halt due to A Double picking up an injury – Roderick Strong has blossomed as a smarmy, numbers-game-playing heel as part of The Undisputed Era.
Going back to his Ring of Honor days, Roddy has long been viewed as one of the best in-ring technicians in the industry today. But while his wrestling ability has never been in question, there have often been questions asked over Strong’s charisma and personality. Now though, any such questions are null and void as The Messiah of the Backbreaker continues to shine on WWE’s gold and black brand.
Since turning heel and joining Adam Cole, Bobby Fish, and Kyle O’Reilly at April 2018’s NXT TakeOver: New Orleans, the former ROH World Champion has gone from strength to strength as Undisputed has run roughshod.
NXT Champion Adam Cole has clearly been positioned as the star of The Undisputed Era, but Roderick Strong more often than not steals the show whenever the villainous faction is competing. The NXT North American Champ is as good as he’s ever been in terms of in-ring ability, but it’s the little nuances, mannerisms, and trash-talking that is marking Roddy out as one of the best heels of 2019.