If WWE Was Being Honest About Heels And Babyfaces

“We in the WWF think that you, the audience, are quite frankly tired of having your intelligence insulted. We also think that you’re tired of the same old simplistic theory of “good guys” versus “bad guys”.

- Vince McMahon, December 1997.

Our intelligence is insulted ritually in 2018, for that simplistic theory is as stark as we’ve ever seen it transposed onscreen. Even prior to the emergence of the Attitude Era's antiheroes, the WWF presented more nuanced characters than we see in 2018. In particular, Shawn Michaels in 1996 played the babyface role, against type, though not without a layered and thus more credible portrayal. A natural prick of a man, he danced, preened, and returned fire when his larger or more sadistic foes provoked his thin veneer of heroism. Career rival Bret Hart used opportunism as strategy when the situation called for it. Their best, most cerebral work was lightyears ahead of Hulk Hogan’s unashamedly earnest formula.

What was old is new again, though that adage is very ironic in this context. Two decades later, in WWE, the good guys are very much good guys, and the bad guys are very much bad guys - though the distinction is so simplistic that we can substitute the words “good” and “bad” for “dumb” and “incompetent”.

Trace WWE’s recent history. Asuka was so honest in her pursuit of Carmella’s SmackDown Women’s Championship that she failed to recognise the (repeated) chicanery of her opponent. She looked like a moron out there by focusing her attack on crony James Ellsworth. Carmella meanwhile was so incompetent in presentation that she relied on Ellsworth to begin with. Good guys, bad guys. Finn Bálor can beat Constable Corbin one on one; Corbin needs a steel chair to get the job done. Good guys, bad guys. Shinsuke Nakamura was not Phenomenal enough to hang with AJ Styles on a level playing field, so he attacked his testicles time and time again. AJ did not wear a cup at any point.

Dumb guys, incompetent guys.

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