Hi. Welcome Back.
Last week i posted an article containing The Top 20 Heels In Pro Wrestling History. This week we will be counting down The Top 20 Baby Faces.
This list is based on drawing power, titles held, merchandise sales and popularity.
The notion is, wrestlers earn more money as a face rather than a heel. Merchandise sales can play a good part in a wrestlers income, so it’s only natural for them to want to reap the benefits and rewards.Traditional faces are classic good guy characters who do not break the rules, follow instructions of those in authority such as the referee or boss. They are polite and well-mannered towards fans, and often overcome the rule-breaking actions of their heel opponents to cleanly win matches.
There are actually two types of baby faces, that being baby faces and tweeners. The portrayal of babyface wrestlers changed with the birth of ECW, the start of the nWo storyline, and the “attitude era” of the then WWF.
During this time, wrestlers like Stone Cold Steve Austin and Sting or nowadays Dean Ambrose and Randy Orton use tactics traditionally associated with heels, but remain popular with the fans. These faces are tweeners. Although wrestlers such as Rick Flair, Crusher and Freddie Blassie had been faces while using such tactics well before this, the attitude era is usually credited with this new kind of face.
Enjoy the list, Drink Your Milk, Say Those Prayers and Know Your Roles people.
Because this is the Top 20 Baby Faces In Pro Wrestling History.
Starting with
#20 The Legion Of Doom
Also known as The Road Warriors dominated the tag team division for nearly 20 years and captivated audiences with their power and charisma. One of the most intimidating tag-teams in wrestling history.
Whether it was Verne Gagne’s AWA, Jim Crockett’s NWA, Vince McMahon’s WWF/E or Japan, the Road Warriors with those kick ass face paint and NFL like spiked shoulder pads achieved success in every promotion they fought for. LOD are one of the most decorated and celebrated tagteams. Winning over 18 different tag team titles.Animal and Hawk are in both the WWE and Wrestling Observer Halls of Fame.
#19 Rey Mysterio
Rey Mysterio is the perfect example of using the term “underdog”. He fought his way to the top of the tree winning three world heavyweight championships in the process.
Before coming to the WWE, Rey Mysterio was a cruiserweight in WCW where he also won multiple titles. His Royal Rumble win was one of the most exciting moment i can remember of him. The main reason i added Rey to this list is his strong merchandise sales.
Hence WWE’s reluctancy to let him go. Rey’s mask was worn by litterally every kid in sight, at any WWE event.
#18 Andre The Giant
Andre was the unbeatable baby face. Whenever a bad guy needed to be brought down to size, Andre was there to save the day. Andre was mostly a baby face throughout his career.
#17 Kevin Von Erich
The whole Von Erich family were perfect for babyfaces, the hottest face talents in the world at the time. They have won multiple championship titles between them.
Unfortunately, family tragedy struck. David died of a drug overdose, Mike committed suicide, and both Kerry and Chris committed suicide as well. The blame lay firmly on Fritz Von Erich the dad was who pushed his kids so hard that they couldn’t cope anymore.
Since Kevin was the best of the bunch he gets his name on my list.
#16 Kurt Angle
Kurt Angle, our very own Olympic Hero, an over-bearing loveable face star in WWE. In first few years of his career Kurt would be an asshole and the crowd would let him know. His face turn came in 2001. Angle had some of the most amazing 5 star matches with Brock Lesnar HBK Eddie Guererro and Chris Benoit to mention a few, it was the stuff of legend. In my personal opinion , i firmly believe Kurt Angle and Bret Hart are the best technical wrestlers to ever step foot inside the squared circle.
Kurt Angle left for TNA and is currently the TNA World Heavyweight Champion.
#15 Mankind
Mick Foley had somewhat of a personality disorder in his heyday, portraying three different characters at once. As seen at the Royal Rumble, Mankind, Cactus Jack and Dude Love all entered The Rumble in the very same night. Foley won multiple championships, and worked at various promotions.
He is now a Hall of Famer, and frequently appears on WWE television in one sort or another, though it is his physical sacrifice that the crowd will always remember. Mrs Foley’s baby boys Hell in a Cell match with The Undertaker stands as his most memorable moment. After this match, Foley was treated like a god, he still has the Foley Is God signs to prove it.
#14 Dusty Rhodes
Goldust and Cody Rhodes father Dusty, made a career of giving fans some of the greatest matches of all time. His rivalry with Ric Flair and the Four Horsemen is arguably one of the best feuds in history and his promos, like Ric’s, were the stuff of legend.
He was a force of nature on the mic, and every time he cut a promo.
Dusty was such a natural, and made it look so easy. If there’s one thing that the business is missing at times, it’s the fire and enthusiasm that Dusty brought whenever he opened his mouth.
He was one of the best ever talkers and knew exactly what to say to the fans.
#13 The Undertaker
One of my all time favorites. The Undertaker was a tweener for most part of his career. After debuting in the early 90’s The Undertaker gave kids the nightmares. Time stood still the moment you heard the first chime. His slow walk, the rolling of the eyes, his dark glary look, everything about the guy screamed evil. After years of destruction the time came for Taker to do the first of many turns and fight for the fans.
The turn came when Jake Roberts tried to attack Randy Savage’s manager Miss Elizabeth with a chair. The Dead Man came to the rescue of the damsel in distress. Roberts questioned his protege’s allegiance which was answered by The Undertaker shutting the casket on Roberts’ hand during a segment on the Funeral Parlor. Roberts would shut Taker’s hand in the casket allowing him to beat up Paul Bearer, solidifying the end of the relationship and Taker’s place on the dark side. The turn was huge at the time.
Taker is still an active wrestler and he still makes appearances to wrestle at Wrestle Mania.
# 12 Ricky “The Dragon” Steamboat
The Dragon is the ultimate face. He was never a heel on a major tv wrestling promotion.One time NWA World Heavyweight Champion. Also captured the WCW Tag Titles with young up-start Shane Douglas.
Steamboat feuded with The Macho Man Randy Savage in the WWF The fans had emotionally invested into Ricky’s character.
So much so he literally had them crying not once but twice in one match! This happened when Savage used the bell to crush his throat on the guard railings. In reality Ricky needed to take time off. When he returned, he capture the Intercontinental Championship at WrestleMania III, and had people crying all over again.
Ricky “The Dragon” Steamboat continues to be one of the most popular wrestlers of all time. A true hero of his generation.
# 11 Goldberg
At first Goldberg was a rip-off Stone Cold Steve Austin. That’s what WCW tried to do with Bill despite not being a good wrestler, with his monster frame and ever-growing undefeated streak, Goldberg’s matches lasted a minute or two, and the crowd loved it. Jack hammer here, spear there.
The enthusiastic crowds chanted GOLD-BERG! GOLD-BERG! GOLD-BERG! they filled arenas whenever Goldberg would make his badass entrance. The fans didn’t mind that what he lacked in charisma he made up with power and intensity. And winning the WCW World Heavyweight Title from Hulk Hogan ensured he was the next big thing. Victory after victory, Goldberg demanded to know who was next on his impressively growing list of victims including Curt Hennig, Raven and Bam Bam Bigelow DDP and The Giant, now known as The Big Slow.
The thing what makes Goldberg so high on my list was his drawing power ability. He could sell out any arena by himself. In front of a sold out crowd of more than 40,000 fans in the Georgia Dome he challenged Hollywood Hulk Hogan for the WCW World Heavyweight Championship. With a flick of his finger, Goldberg signaled to the world that he was about to finish off the champion. The roof nearly blew off as The nWo leader was lifted into the air, slammed to the canvas and pinned. Goldberg then became the first undefeated World Champion in the history of professional wrestling. Bill had a short stint in WWE that never really took off. His WM Match versus Brock Lesnar is ranked at one of the worst matches, period.
# 10 Sting
Sting had all the attributes to be a top babyface. All of the best heels wanted to work with The Stinger. He could of chose any promotion to work for, a true dream for any match-booker, Sting was allowed to hone his craft and skills and persona through the 80s and 90s. Whether the Dark Stinger of the WCW Nitro era, or the bleach blonde early years, Sting stood as a true hero to the masses for nearly his entire career. When Sting rose to greatness in the ’80s, he was set to become one of the most iconic faces in history. And boy did he take that chance and run with it.
He had a great look: bright colors, bleach-blond hair, chiseled physique and the facepaint to go with it. As world champion, he would become the only man who could get the better of the NWO, the most dominant heel stable in wrestling history.
In TNA, he was getting beaten down by members of Immortal and begged Hogan, the group’s leader, for help. And he got it! Sting is also the ultimate babyface in the business sense. For his own personal and other reasons, Sting turn down every offer WWE threw at him o go to the WWE.
Sting was the greatest star to never step foot inside a WWF/WWE ring and turned down every offer WWE threw at him. Until last years shock arrival that is. Sting went on to face HHH at WrestleMania 31.
#9 Bruno Sammartino
From the 1960’s-1980’s, Bruno was considered the best. He got into wrestling and quickly earned a name for himself in different territories because of his massive physique and incredible ability in the ring. Bruno became a fan favorite in the New York area. He would cut a promo, and then speak in Italian for his Italian fans.
After being blackballed across the US for unknown reasons, he gave up on the sport. Bruno started wrestling around Canada, and became so popular there that United State promoters wanted to use him again. He came to work for the WWWF, run by Vincent K. McMahon, Sr., and held the WWWF Championship for a combined total of 12 years.Sammartino once held the title for seven years, eight months, and one day, a record that still stands as the longest World Title reign in wrestling to date. A heel turn would have probably sparked rioting in the streets of America.
# 8 Ultimate Warrior
The Warrior had the face paint the intensity and the intro music to go with his run. Wildly shaking the ropes, The Ultimate Warriors entrance alone rose fans to there feet.His insane rambling promos where something to remember. Fans instantly took to him, and the company looked at him as Hulk Hogan’s potential replacement.
In his heyday he was arguably the ultimate babyface in the wrestling business.
Even against the ultra-face Hulk Hogan at WrestleMania 6, the Warrior had a huge portion of the crowd on his side. Warrior was the only person to pin Hogan cleanly for the WWF World Heavyweight Title. And the older fans loved him because of his look an what a powerhouse he was.
# 7 Macho Man Randy Savage
“Ohh Yeahh, Dig it! Before there was a Neville or a Rey Mysterio and a Sin Cara who all dove off the top rope, Savage was one of WWE’s first true highfliers. In an era when Superstars were known for gltter and glammer no one could match the irrepressible spirit of the one and only “Macho Man. Flying high from the turnbuckles with that signature elbow drop, that many wrestlers use today.
Savages voice was mesmerizing the hand gestures the way he walked, this was full of charisma. Savage was our genuine superhero. And there was some part of us that believed “Macho Man” would always be part of our lives. You could watch any Randy Savage interview or promo and be entertained, regardless of whether he was a face or heel. Randy Savage and Hulk Hogan formed one of the greatest tag teams named The Mega Powers (not Curtis Axle or Mandow BTW) with Hulk Hogan made him a true good guy in the 80s, and that’s where the fans began to really get behind “The Macho Man.” And his relationship with the lovely Miss Elizabeth.
Unfortunately in WCW, you didn’t really get to see too much of these strengths come into play. From being beneath Hogan again to an afterthought in the NWO to his mid life crisis gimmick, we never got to see the magic of Randy Savage.
Savage finally went into this years Hall Of Fame after years of uncertainty.
# 6 HBK
Shawn Michaels was known to break a rule or two during his career, but that doesn’t necessarily mean he was a bad guy. Beloved early in his career as one-half of the high-flying Rockers, HBK ultimately shocked the world when he turned on his partner, Marty Jannetty and super kicked his ass through the barbershop window.
Though he was essentially a bad boy at heart, the WWE crowd couldn’t help but love Michaels for his fast-paced matches, unbridled charisma and, of course, D-Generation X. However, it wasn’t until his return to WWE after a four-year hiatus following a near-career ending back injury that HBK established himself as one of the most beloved Superstars in history. Shawn’s retirement match was against The Undertaker at WrestleMania in what was an awesome encounter.
#5 Bret Hart
Bret is the greatest technical wrestler of all-time in my personal opinion. The best iv’e ever seen anyway. His skills helped anyone who wrestled him to have their greatest match – British Bulldog, Steve Austin, Shawn Michaels Owen etc. Bret was the first true “World” champion as no one had defended the championship belt in more countries than the Hitman did.
Bret was not the greatest talker, nor did he have a great amount of charisma, but he could easily get under the skin of his opponent just by reminding them in promos and in interviews of how good of a wrestler he was.If you’re going to call yourself “The Best There Is, The Best There Was, And the Best There Ever Will Be”, you’d better either be a great face or an even greater heel, or your career is going nowhere. Luckily he was a great wrestler, because Bret Hart could pull off that moniker as a face.
The fans believed it because Bret believed.it, and he knew how to tell stories in the ring that got everyone behind him.The Best There is, The Best There Was, The Best there ever will be. Period.If WWF/WWE had Hero incarnate that actually had both character depth, charisma, and superb in ring ability, hardworking ethics, kid role model its Bret Hart. Forever a Legend, and one of my childhood hero’s.
#4 John Cena
The Hulk Hogan of this generation. imo John Cena was born in the wrong era, he reminds me of an 80’s-90’s golden era wrestler. Hustle, Loyalty, Respect. are the 3 words that Cena actually deserves. He lives by this code. Cena’s debut would foreshadow the rest of his career. In his first television appearance, he challenged and nearly bested multiple time world champion and Olympic gold medalist Kurt Angle. Not long after, he became a rapper. Though his Hip-Hop gimmick would initially garner boos, the crowd came to support the arrogant Cena. As his popularity grew, his cartoony persona faded into the more natural role he has settled into today.
With a multitude of World Titles under his belt, Cena is a guaranteed Hall of Famer with years of his career ahead of him. Though his dominance and long time as the premiere face in the WWE has been the butt of many jokes, I truly believe when he stops wrestling, John Cena will be looked back at as the most under appreciated wrestler by the most cynical fans.
WWE has been milking the dynamic of one character that gets both merchandise sales via his fans and profitable hate by his detractors.his popularity amongst the younger fans of the WWE is undeniable. Challenge him, and your time may very well be up.The top face in the WWE is also the face of the WWE. John Cena’s initial rise in the WWE was as a heel. However, by the time he captured his first WWE Championship from JBL at WrestleMania 21, John Cena was primed to lead the company into its new era.
Today, John Cena is the No. 1 merchandise seller for the WWE. He has granted more Make-A-Wish requests than anyone. And now he’s the face of the corporate partnership with The Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation.John Cena has been heavily protected by the company’s creative forces for several years. He almost has the full package, every time he steps inside the ring. He has the strength, power, speed, attitude, and most importantly he has the “heart and soul” in every match.
He always attracts the audience wheteher that be booes or cheers. The “Let’s Go Cena” Cena Sucks chants can be heard in every arena/stadium he wrestles in. When he was forced to join The Nexus, i thought that was the beggining to his long awaited heel turn, though he never gave in to Wade Barrett’s demands and was eventually fired because of it. If John Cena ever turns heel, it will be because there is a new face that can take over the top spot. That may never happen, as John Cena has cemented himself as the No. 1 babyface in the WWE for many years to come.If you want to talk about the historic impact of a babyface turn you have to put John Cena’s right up near the top.
# 3 The Rock
Rocky Maivia started off in the WWF as a great example of a face wrestler that fans were used to, but at a time when they were starting to get sick of him. He’d come out smiling and acting all cocky, but get booed out of the building. So he turned heel, but had such great charisma and could cut such catchy promos that even when feuding with Steve Austin, fans began to like him.
After turning on McMahon’s “Corporation”, Rock feuded with its members and, just like Austin, got the crowd behind him for it. Austin got injured and had to take time off, and that was the right time for Rock to take the reins and be the superstar the crowd wanted him to be.
And even though he only comes back for WrestleMania nowadays, The People’s Champ still lives up to his name. I’ve watched wrestling my whole life and seen so many greats, Hogan, Bret Hart, Flair, Austin, undertaker, no of them had the ability in the ring, on the mic, and the charisma of The Great One. He electified the crowd like no other.
# 2 Stone Cold Steve Austin
The Ultimate Tweener . After arriving from being a mid-carder in WCW, followed by a short stint in ECW, Steve Austin found his haracter in the WWF a no-nonsense, trash-talking cursing son of a bitch . He was the right guy, in the right place, at the right time when the audience was tired of the smiley good guys and evil monsters they had become accustomed to. Drinking beer and flipping the bird weren’t how superstars became popular, but good ol’ Stone Cold was the man who made the fans cheer for such actions. He would enter the arena and the crowds would explode with cheers and hold up their “Austin 3:16” signs.
He was the face of WWF during its greatest era. He received the loudest pops from arenas all over the world. His matches with Vince & The Rock created headlines. Without a shadow of a doubt, SCSA is one of the greatest of all time. If you think otherwise, there’s a can of whoop ass waiting for you. And that’s the bottom line ‘because Stone Cold said so.
Stone Cold was doing what every man and woman wished they could at one time or another: beat up their boss. His feud with the evil owner of the WWF, “Mr. McMahon,” was one of the greatest rivalries in the history of wrestling, and not only helped the WWF start drawing record numbers of viewers, but also made Austin a pop culture icon. If stone cold never had his time in the WWE it would have never got to where it is today. At the time he joined wcw was bigger than WWE and he took the wrestling business too unbelievable heights. He was the best thing that ever will and happened to the WWE.
# 1 Hulk Hogan
Train, say your prayers, and take your vitamins dudes. Wrestling changed forever when HH arrived on the scene, along with vince these 2 young men took a fairly low entertainment businesses in comparison to all other sports and made it a giant that it is today. And that’s the reason why he’s my number one. Without Hogan, i doubt wrestling would be as big as it is today.
If you bring up professional wrestling in a conversation, the image most likely to pop into your companion’s head is that of Hulk Hogan. When you mention “House-Hold-Names” in professional wrestling, Hogan is just that. Hell iv’e even had conversations with my grandparents on The Hulkster.
Hulkamania at it’s peak was larger-than-life. No matter what stories you may have heard about Hogan over the years playing politics and never wanting to lose, he brought wrestling to the mainstream like never before. Standing at 6′ 7” and floating between 300 and 320 pounds over his illustrious career, and the longest arms in the world, brother.
Hogan always appeared to be a true threat to whomever he faced in the squared circle. The key to understanding Hulk Hogan can be summed up in one word – “Mania.” When Hulkamania ran wild, it took Vince McMahon’s WrestleMania from a supercard to something even greater. Hulkamania took professional wrestling from a niche form of entertainment to an empire building phenomenon.
He Is A 13 Time World Champion he Put WWE/WWF On The Map His Accomplishments Are Legendary He Was The First Man To Body Slam A 500ibs Man He’s The Second Longest Reigning WWE/WWF Champion In History Behind Bruno Samartino, he was also the first man to win the Royal Rumble twice and headline the main event for the first 9 Wrestlemanias.
Thankyou for reading
