A bit of this is subjective, but at least 4 of these heels' place in the top 5 is hard to dispute:
1. The Original Sheik: His career lasted from the '50s to '90s, and from the late '50s to the early '70s, he was easily the most hated man in the sport, and was a top draw everywhere he went. He overwhelmed opponents with an arsenal of weapons, including ice picks, pencils and fireballs. "Hardcore" wrestling traces its origins to the Skeik.
2. Maurice "Mad Dog" Vachon: He was not only one of wrestling's biggest heels, but he might have had the best heel name. His trademark was biting the opponents faces. He held the AWA World Heavyweight Championship 5 times, feuding with ultimate face Verne Gagne. He lost his leg in a hit and run. During an "In Your House" PPV, he was in the front row during a match between Kevin Nash and Shawn Michaels. Nash pulled off Vachon's prosthetic leg, intending to smash HBK, but HBK grabbed it away, smasking Nash for the pin, retaining the WWF title.
3. Gene Kiniski: I saw this guy live over 20 times, and he wrestled and defeated some of the greats of the '60s and '70s. He started out as a sheer brawler, who was ruthless and clever, allowing faces to inflict as much punishment on him the could dish out, then, having them worn out, often won when the power man tried to pick him up, and collapsing under his 277 pounds. He later developed into an accomplished technical wrestler, and became a "tweener". He had a scholar's vocabulary, and used it to belittle opponents, taunt fans and somehow win them over. I saw him beat Dory Funk Jr twice, and wrestling Jack Brisco to a 60 minute draw.
4. Killer Kowalski: One of the greatest all time heels, Wladek "Killer" Kowalski was a top draw from the mid-'50s to mid-'70s. At 6'7", 280, he was physically overwhelming and ruthless. Fans were genuinely scared of this guy. And he was not a slow, plodding "big man", but a superbly conditioned athlete who could match moves with Edouard Carpentier. I saw him on TV when he was partnered with Kiniski. What a nightmare team!
5. Abdullah The Butcher: From the late '50s till the '90s, "The Madman From The Sudan" was a top draw everywhere he went, and one the top heels wrestling has ever produced. He took brawling and "Hardcore" to new levels, using foreign objects, and always staging a blood bath. He was billed as an illiterate man taken from the wild and unleashed into the ring. The last time I saw him was on WCW Saturday Afternoon, when a "present" was awaiting Sting, in a huge wooden box. We were expecting a gorgeous valet, but it turned out to be Abdullah, who began bludgeoning Sting.
The next great heel, not ready for this list, is Randy Orton. What a squash he put on against Cena, in "Hell In A Cell 2009"!
1. The Original Sheik: His career lasted from the '50s to '90s, and from the late '50s to the early '70s, he was easily the most hated man in the sport, and was a top draw everywhere he went. He overwhelmed opponents with an arsenal of weapons, including ice picks, pencils and fireballs. "Hardcore" wrestling traces its origins to the Skeik.
2. Maurice "Mad Dog" Vachon: He was not only one of wrestling's biggest heels, but he might have had the best heel name. His trademark was biting the opponents faces. He held the AWA World Heavyweight Championship 5 times, feuding with ultimate face Verne Gagne. He lost his leg in a hit and run. During an "In Your House" PPV, he was in the front row during a match between Kevin Nash and Shawn Michaels. Nash pulled off Vachon's prosthetic leg, intending to smash HBK, but HBK grabbed it away, smasking Nash for the pin, retaining the WWF title.
3. Gene Kiniski: I saw this guy live over 20 times, and he wrestled and defeated some of the greats of the '60s and '70s. He started out as a sheer brawler, who was ruthless and clever, allowing faces to inflict as much punishment on him the could dish out, then, having them worn out, often won when the power man tried to pick him up, and collapsing under his 277 pounds. He later developed into an accomplished technical wrestler, and became a "tweener". He had a scholar's vocabulary, and used it to belittle opponents, taunt fans and somehow win them over. I saw him beat Dory Funk Jr twice, and wrestling Jack Brisco to a 60 minute draw.
4. Killer Kowalski: One of the greatest all time heels, Wladek "Killer" Kowalski was a top draw from the mid-'50s to mid-'70s. At 6'7", 280, he was physically overwhelming and ruthless. Fans were genuinely scared of this guy. And he was not a slow, plodding "big man", but a superbly conditioned athlete who could match moves with Edouard Carpentier. I saw him on TV when he was partnered with Kiniski. What a nightmare team!
5. Abdullah The Butcher: From the late '50s till the '90s, "The Madman From The Sudan" was a top draw everywhere he went, and one the top heels wrestling has ever produced. He took brawling and "Hardcore" to new levels, using foreign objects, and always staging a blood bath. He was billed as an illiterate man taken from the wild and unleashed into the ring. The last time I saw him was on WCW Saturday Afternoon, when a "present" was awaiting Sting, in a huge wooden box. We were expecting a gorgeous valet, but it turned out to be Abdullah, who began bludgeoning Sting.
The next great heel, not ready for this list, is Randy Orton. What a squash he put on against Cena, in "Hell In A Cell 2009"!
