10 Best Foreign Heels In WWE History
From England to the Middle East, WWE's 10 biggest boogeyman.
The 'Foreign Heel' has been one of professional wrestling’s stock characters and most frequently used tropes throughout the sports’ history. Take a wrestler from overseas and present him as somebody who loves his own country, but hates America. When it works, it’s a surefire way for a wrestler to immediately pull hatred from the audience. Names like Ludvig Borga and Vladimir Kozlov are more likely to draw eye-rolls than fond memories, but others have worked the schtick to perfection, and enjoyed long, successful careers as nationalistic, USA-hating boogeymen.
While the concept has gradually lost steam over the years, WWE continue to utilize it to this day. It’s no longer enough to define a wrestler by his nationality and present him as a threat to American sensibilities, though. Our increasingly global society simply (and rightfully) won’t accept jingoism and blatant stereotypes in 2016, but as long as WWE can garner even the most muted “U-S-A!” chant from their audience, the tradition will continue.
As hackneyed and overused as it’s become, some of the greatest heels in wrestling history were born from old-fashioned tales of patriotic good guys standing-up to battle bad guys from abroad. Here are ten of the best.
10. Jacques Rougeau
Quebecan Jacques Rougeau debuted in WWF alongside brother Raymond as part of the Fabulous Rougeaus tag team. They initially worked as faces, and overcame stiff competition from the likes of The Hart Foundation and The Dream Team (Greg Valentine and Brutus Beefcake) en route to becoming Tag Team Champions in 1987.
The Rougeaus turned heel a year later. Having been originally billed from Memphis, Tennessee, they denounced America, called back to their Canadian heritage, and became one of the company’s most hated acts. Whether through their sarcastic waving of tiny American flags on their way to the ring or coming-out to a song named “All-American Boys” sung almost entirely in French, the Rougeaus were trolls long before the internet era.
Raymond retired in 1990, and Jacques took-on the persona of 'The Mountie': a corrupt, cattle prod-wielding Royal Canadian Mounted Police officer. A great midcard heel and perpetual hate merchant, The Mountie is a former WWF Intercontinental Champion, and became infamous by shocking downed opponents with said cattle prod.