The WWE has produced some of the greatest entertainers of the past century, and fans around the world have been captivated by the unique persona of many of the wrestlers.
Numerous wrestlers win over the hearts of fans for their loyalty and sportsmanship. But, on the other hand, some are remembered for their devious and outlandish actions in the ring. Here are nine of the WWE’s most memorable villains.
Number Nine – Terry Funk
The Wild Texan, Terry Funk, is often considered one of the greatest legends in the wrestling world. Over his illustrious 50-year career, he was involved in some of the greatest events ever showcased on live TV.
From brawls with Ric Flair to bust-ups with Dusty Roads, In his prime, he was a menace who wasn’t afraid to let his thoughts be known both inside and outside of the ring.
Number Eight – Stone Cold Steve Austin
Many fans may not remember Steven Austin’s ringmaster persona, but as soon as this got thrown out the window and he embraced Stone Cold, the WWE was forever changed.
Stone Cold Steve Austin gave us some of the most memorable and shocking moments in wrestling history. From hitting Stephanie McMahon with a stunner at Wrestlemania to his beer-drinking and dirty mouth, he became the villainous he**-raiser that fans around the world loved.
Number Seven – Jake The Snake Roberts
Jake Roberts was as slick as they got inside the ring and was a master of mind games. His quirky and menacing character quickly grew on fans, and soon, he had packed arenas behind him.
Roberts had feuds with various fighters and wouldn’t hesitate to use their fears against them. One such scenario involved Roberts finding out that Andre The Giant was afraid of snakes. So, he used his pets against the giant, which resulted in his opponent having a kayfabe heart attack.
Number Six – Randy Orton
Randy Orton is one of the most successful wrestlers in the history of the sport and became a villain all fans loved to hate.
Orton took great pleasure in finishing many of the sport’s greatest legends, ultimately earning himself the nickname Legend Killer and a spot on our list as one of the worst villains in WWE history.
Number Five – Golddust
Goldust was a real-life comic book villain in the wrestling world. He was one of a kind during the attitude era, thanks to his unusual, spooky, and bashful persona.
Anytime the iconic Golddust got hold of the mic, fans knew they were in for a show. While he was certainly considered a great villain, he won the hearts of many fans.
Number Four – Roman Reigns
Roman Reigns was once part of the feared Shield when he first appeared in WWE. The group had no mercy and would bring forth a beatdown on anyone they saw fit.
After the group eventually disbanded, Reigns continued to grow within the sport, eventually becoming one of the biggest heels of the modern era. This major antagonist would go on to become the longest-reigning world champion of the last 35 years.
Number Three – Hulk Hogan
Wrestling fans were infatuated with Hulk Hogan during his rise up through the wrestling world to the top. This is why many were so surprised to see him turn from hero to heel after joining the newly formed terror group NWO in the mid-90s.
Depending on what era of wrestling you grew up with, you either witnessed Hulk Hogan as the hero or a villain. Nonetheless, we can all agree that he was one of the greatest performers to ever grace the ring.
Number Two – Sgt Slaughter
When Sgt Slaughter joined Vince McMahon’s promotion, he was initially welcomed by fans and could have gone on to become quite the hero. However, Vince had other plans for the Sergeant.
Out of nowhere, Sgt Slaughter voiced concern over America’s involvement in the Gulf War and even went as far as to pledge his allegiance to Iraq. After this, he was forced to wear bulletproof vests in the ring and become the most hated villain in wrestling.
Number One – Rick Flair
Of course, the Nature Boy, Ric Flair, claims the number one spot on our list. He was the direst player in the game and remained a dominant villain throughout the 80’s and 90’s.
Flair had feuds with the best baby faces in wrestling, including Sting and Dusty Rhodes. He will forever be remembered as the heinous leader of the Four Horsemen and the greatest heel in wrestling history.
