10 WWE Superstars Who Turned Heat Into Magic

A great many superstars have been the victim of too great an initial push, of being posited as the next big thing before paying their dues (see: Reigns, Roman). But few have turned this into a part of their gimmick so well as Kurt Angle when he burst onto the scene in one of wrestling’s golden ages.

Angle’s bonafides were undeniable - he’s a genuine Olympic standard wrestler - but Angle debuting at WWE’s top table rankled with a few fans. The Attitude Era was in full force, and here was this squeaky clean American hero, more likely to execute a series of wrist locks than clean your clock with a chair. But Angle used this lack of flash to his advantage, whipping up the boos with his smarmy, pious persona. Couple this with entrance music that is perfect to add abusive lyrics to (see also: Cena, John) and you’ve got yourself a powerful heel.

Angle’s charisma and in-ring ability would soon see him transcend his villain status, but it is commendable how this business newcomer took on the barbs of the audience and milked his status as a top heel for all it was worth. For this, as well as the legitimacy he brought to the business, he is one of the all time greats.