The 10 greatest heels of all time

The rivalry that changed the course of pro wrestling as we knowRic Flair knew how to work a crowd.The Dirtiest Player in the Game was as good at making mid card wrestlers look like a million bucks as he was owning a match. He was one of the best at ring psychology by working to the crowd’s strengths while getting the reaction he wanted in order to keep fans entertained.The more entertained, the more money to be made and the bigger the audience at the next stop on the carny tour.Today professional wrestling is void of such superstars, the great heels and the characters that leave such indelible marks on fans. The closest thing to a true heel WWE has on its roster is Seth Rollins, who will now rehabilitate for nine months and make a return to the ring after knee surgery more than likely as a face for the company.Rollins was a workhorse, a go-to performer who continued to get better with each match and each month he held the company title. But as green as he still is, while some compare him to a younger version of Shawn Michaels, he still has miles to go before anyone can put him in the same sentence of a Michaels or Flair or any of his predecessors.Any wrestler can smile for the crowd, shake hands with the fans and call themselves a babyface. It takes a real star in the business to be called a heel.As the lead antagonist, the heel has to carry a match. He (or she) must sell the hit, feel the bump and make the crowd believe his every most. He must feed off the emotions of everyone in the room and make the spot believable.Flair has said often, most notably in his book ‘To Be the Man’ that there were times in his career where it was difficult to get in the ring with a mid-card wrestler and have a great match. Wrestling the likes of Mark Romero, Charlie Cook and George Gulas over the years proved that even in the toughest of times, Flair, the consummate showman, could deliver.Maybe the best compliment ever paid Flair was by Jim Cornette who spoke of the difference between Flair and Hulk Hogan. While Hogan was the measuring stick in WWF, Flair was the stick by which all matches and men were measured.And to this day, with every chop to the chest and figure-four leg lock, fans are paying homage to their heel hero with a hearty Woooo!ThatâÂÂs some pretty high praise.Flair is without a doubt one of the best of all time, but there are others who have proved to be deft at getting the most out of their character. These, in my opinion, are the 10 greatest heels of all time.

#10 Bobby \"The Brain\" Heenan

I was tempted to put Paul Heyman in this slot, but Heenan set the tone for every other manager in wrestling history. How could he be left off this list?

A mainstay in the AWA and then moved on to the WWF, Heenan was every heel manager’s dream. Sassy, snarky and told you like it was. He was charismatic and crude and managed some of the greatest wrestlers of all time.

Heenan was so tremendous at ring psychology as well and gave a great interview. And when it was called for, he wasn’t afraid to get in the ring and help any one of his clients seal the victory.

Heenan’s impact on the business is apparent in the way Heyman conducts himself today. While there are plenty of similarities, Heenan gets the nod because he was the first to do it and was also the best at it.