Heels Review: 10 Ups & 1 Down For Episode 1: 'Kayfabe'

5. 'Wild' Bill Hancock

It would be impossible to talk about Heels' debut episode and not highlight 'Wild' Bill Hancock.

Played by Chris Bauer, Wild Bill is all about the glitz and glamour, having previously left DWL behind years prior to become a top star of the business.

Similar to the dynamic between Jack and Ace, Wild Bill shared that same relationship with the Spades' father Tom. While Jack and Bill did great business together in the Duffy Wrestling League, Bauer's character had his eyes on making it to the big time, whereas Tom was all about remaining in Duffy and making the DWL a success.

For wrestling die-hards, there's a solid whiff of Michael P.S. Hayes to 'Wild' Bill Hancock, with his brash demeanour, garish outfits, 'colourful' personality and the fact that he now works as a talent scout "up north" all being characteristics reminiscent of the famous Freebird.

Chris Bauer steals absolutely every scene he's in during Kayfabe, with him the proverbial devil on the shoulder of Alexander Ludwig's Ace Spade, as he entices Ace with the prospect of fame and fortune.

Andrew Pollard

Senior Writer

Once described as the Swiss Army Knife of WhatCulture, Andrew can usually be found writing, editing, or presenting on a wide range of topics. As a lifelong wrestling fan, horror obsessive, and comic book nerd, he's been covering those topics professionally as far back as 2010. In addition to his current WhatCulture role of Senior Content Producer, Andrew previously spent nearly a decade as Online Editor and Lead Writer for the world's longest-running genre publication, Starburst Magazine, and his work has also been featured on BBC, TechRadar, Tom's Guide, WhatToWatch, Sportkskeeda, and various other outlets, in addition to being a Rotten Tomatoes-approved film critic. Between his main dayjob, his role as the lead panel host of Wales Comic Con, and his gig as a pre-match host for Wrexham AFC games, Andrew has also carried out a hugely varied amount of interviews, from the likes of Robert Englund, Kane Hodder, Adrienne Barbeau, Rob Zombie, Katharine Isabelle, Leigh Whannell, Bruce Campbell, and Tony Todd, to Kevin Smith, Ron Perlman, Elijah Wood, Giancarlo Esposito, Simon Pegg, Charlie Cox, the Russo Brothers, and Brian Blessed, to Kevin Conroy, Paul Dini, Tara Strong, Will Friedle, Burt Ward, Andrea Romano, Frank Miller, and Rob Liefeld, to Bret Hart, Sting, Mick Foley, Ricky Starks, Jamie Hayer, Britt Baker, Eric Bischoff, and William Regal, to Mickey Thomas, Joey Jones, Phil Parkinson, Brian Flynn, Denis Smith, Gary Bennett, Karl Connolly, and Bryan Robson - and that's just the tip of an ever-expanding iceberg.

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