Late last night, former WWE play-by-play man Jim Ross took to Twitter and, for whatever reason, decided to absolutely go off on the status of heels in pro wrestling. We have no idea what prompted this, but considering the source, it's worth taking a look at what he had to say.
What traits must a top TV wrestling villain possess 2 motivate ticket buyers 2 invest in seeing villain get their ass whipped? Who gets it?
— Jim Ross (@JRsBBQ) April 14, 2014
If pro wrestling villains rarely cheat, have abundant, redeeming social qualities, they're not villains. Stop BS'ing yourself.
— Jim Ross (@JRsBBQ) April 14, 2014
Pro wrestling villains must have rules to break. What're moves are illegal? Fewer & fewer. That fine gray line between goid/evil is a joke.
— Jim Ross (@JRsBBQ) April 14, 2014
"@miles_halverson: @JRsBBQ he has to be someone you love to hate. And what creates that emotion?
— Jim Ross (@JRsBBQ) April 14, 2014
"@David_Spiegel: @jrsbbq so you mean Cesaro?" What does Cesaro do to cheat, gain unfair advantages? Nothing of consequence. Same 4 Lesnar
— Jim Ross (@JRsBBQ) April 14, 2014
I'd estimate that half of today's TV wrestling heels aren't equipped ie guts & toughness to be great villains. Most had rather be cool.
— Jim Ross (@JRsBBQ) April 14, 2014
"@Phil_Danielson: @Live2WinFitness @JRsBB It's the "reality era. "Just shades of gray." Shades of gray sound good. Where has it worked?
— Jim Ross (@JRsBBQ) April 14, 2014
"@itsletsmakeout: @JRsBBQ so how do you feel about the Wyatt Family? dying to know #booking101" Cannot allow to become too cool.
— Jim Ross (@JRsBBQ) April 14, 2014
"@Bauer_316: @JRsBBQ How do you feel about so-called "tweeners? Generally don't draw a dime.
— Jim Ross (@JRsBBQ) April 14, 2014
TV wrestling villains must lie, selectively be a coward, be a bully when they can, gain unfair advantages bitch & moan, & disrespect fans
— Jim Ross (@JRsBBQ) April 14, 2014
As our friend Scott Christ was quick to point out, this is why Batista is doing such a phenomenal job right now. He is nearly universally reviled and he plays that up to the fullest. He could care less about being cool. Once they turned him heel, he took all the qualities fans hate about him and turned them up to 11.
Now consider the rest of the roster and ask yourself if Ross has a point about too many heels trying to be too cool. That's not to say it can't work -- the nWo was the coolest heel stable in history, but they were full of cowards who cheated constantly -- but it goes against the old school mentality Ross works on.
Thoughts?