WWE's Face/Heel Problem

I think we have a big problem with our 'faces' and 'heels' in the WWE.

Fundamentally, wrestling is about good versus evil, always has been and always will be; if not then what are we meant to get behind and cheer?

This basic factor is still the basis for every storyline and feud there is but it seems to be tested a lot more just lately and lines are very much blurrier than in the past. I'm not saying it's a new thing; this situation has been around for a long while now but I feel it's going to have a bigger impact in today's WWE scene than ever before. This is because stars, or more accurately 'mega'-stars are virtually impossible to produce these days. Instead, a new breed of almost-mega-stars are being produced; guys that are popular, no doubt, but will only be trusted after a very long apprenticeship and feeling out period. This waters down the good vs evil battle when the heroes and villains of today are only small fry in comparison to the Flairs and Hogans of yesteryear.

Mega-stars don't come much bigger than Ric Flair

I've got two problems at the moment;

• The faces that we're 'supposed' to get behind don't act like faces
• As a result of this, any turns are met with luke-warm responses

What doesn't help the first point is that a lot of the time a particular wrestler is rammed down our throats to the point where we already have a dislike for that person. The biggest culprits of 'not acting as they should do' are John Cena and Sheamus. I want to make it clear that this isn't a Cena-bashing article. I feel Cena has now gone past a point in his career and character where he can be saved. What I mean by this is that he gets such a mixed reaction from the fans that it is virtually impossible to turn him heel - ever. I don't ever expect WWE to turn him anyway, it just doesn't make sense from a business standpoint. From a wrestling standpoint it has killed his character forever.

What doesn't help his likeability is his attitude towards his opponents and the outcomes of his matches. It's only been recently that he's taken threats seriously - Ryback, Mark Henry - before this Cena would make jokes and completely mock the challenges he'd faced in the past. This has left a sour taste in the mouth of a lot of fans; don't let the 'mixed' reactions he receives from live audiences fool you, I seriously feel that a larger portion of WWE fans dislike him rather than like him - not just smart fans, either. The damage is done and is irreversible.

Sheamus deserved the beating he took from Sandow after bullying him for weeks

In the last couple of months, Sheamus is also falling into this trap. During his recent feud with Damien Sandow he continually mocked Sandow and needlessly made him look a loser. He did so in a very bully-like manner - this is a very bad message to be sending out to the young audience that WWE caters for in this era. It's also very unlike the huge babyface that the Irishman has become. I had no problem using words like 'dick' and 'jerk' to describe him as that's exactly the way he acted.

Something that both guys have in common is that they are unlike any other main event babyfaces I can remember - instead of being beaten to their lowest point AND THEN overcoming adversity in the pay-per-view decider, they continually look a million dollars, outwit their opponents on weekly television before defeating them convincingly at the pay-per-view. How is this something to get behind? I can't relate to this and neither can anyone else. A true hero gets destroyed and questions themselves, almost believing that giving up could be the best option THEN they dig deep to gain that hard-earned win, gaining the fans support and respect along the way - this is just completely untrue of a John Cena or Sheamus and this is why they get the reactions and bashing that they do.

My second point (if you can remember that far back?!) is regarding turns - either turning face or turning heel - in connection with the first point.

My fear is that if it is decided that someone is to turn heel against one of the two gentlemen I have outlined above - or anyone that is a face that doesn't act accordingly - then this turn won't be as greatly received as it was intended. As a result of this that person will still have a job to do in getting over as a (newly turned) heel. They will also be somewhat cheered as people will welcome the beating that a Cena or Sheamus would get in this situation as they are fed up with them being forced down their throat.

Suited, Corporate Cena

Something that is somewhat connected to these points is a third issue that I have. It relates to heel and face turns and who gets the nod to turn one way or the other. Although it's not up to the WWE fans to decide every turn that happens, surely they must be listened to to ensure that the lines of good and evil are drawn fairly accurately?

For example, in recent months Dolph Ziggler and Daniel Bryan became so popular that it only made sense for them to be turned face (obviously Bryan's was over time and was a result of his and Kane's comedy). Ziggler's turn was long overdue and also paved the way for Alberto Del Rio to turn the other way in a 'double-turn' at Payback. This worked perfectly as the actions of Del Rio confirmed Ziggler's popularity and returned Del Rio to the role he plays best. This also reminded me of when Del Rio originally turned face at the end of last year. This was completely unexpected and didn't convince me for a long time. If he is meant to be a face then surely I should like him already, right?

The Miz is also rising to the same kiss-ass club as John Cena. He turned face around the same time as Del Rio at the end of last year. This turn did make sense as he was gaining cheers and popularity. Unfortunately, he hasn't really changed how he presents himself - still being rude and obnoxious - which hasn't really helped his momentum in recent months. Like Cena, the thing on his side is that he is a good frontman for the company; therefore a heel turn is probably out of the question for a very long time - meaning that even if his popularity really nosedives he will still be rammed down our throats.

Your microphone cover's upside down, douche!

So, my point here is that if a truly popular wrestler is a babyface (as should be the case) then later down the road if they were to turn heel then the shock and surprise to the fan would be greater than a guy who wasn't really popular as a face anyway. By having a regular (but not too regular) turn ratio, then we wouldn't have the popularity nosedive of guys such as Cena, Sheamus or Miz who are left in the same role due to outside factors and laziness. It would also mean that popular guys would become well cheered faces and less popular could then take the luke-warm responses and turn them into full blown boos and hatred. Good and Evil would be much clearer and staleness of character wouldn't be such a problem, either.