I noticed this with the Michaels/Jericho feud. And now we're blatantly seeing it in this Punk/Hardy feud. Interesting enough, Punk does seem like the face and Jeff is the heel. But the fans seemed to see it the other way around.
I prefer a product where there aren't blatant heels for faces, just a bunch of guys interacting with each other. WWE are doing it perfectly with CM Punk. He is just a guy with a personality that is neither good or evil, it's just him, and the fans decide if they want to cheer or boo him.
TNA do it perfectly at the moment. No more than 25% of the roster could be pinned down as being totally heel or face, they are all just characters interacting. It's great stuff.
This feud (punk hardy) has been pitched perfectly. It's relying on so many inate human understanding and inbuilt wresling cliches it works beautifuly. It's not that jeff is only a face because the crowd is cheering him, if they wanted jeff as a heel it could be done, hogan's nwa turn is a case in point (from top face to top heel in 30 seconds flat), punk is the heel everyone knows that, if you've been watching wrestling for more than two shows you can just sense that which is what makes it so frustrating, in storyline terms when he never quite admits it. It's a case of "I know you'r evili you bastard now why won't you just admit it" whilst hardy has been driven to using heelish tactics by punks refusal to show his true colours. It's like hitler in 1938 poised to take the world but smiling sweetly and saying he wants just a tiny bit of checoslovakia that is his by right (yeah i know hitler analogies are frowned on but this one works), you know he's evil your sure, but he just one play nall and admit it.
Since the boom of the attitude era this has been the case.
Look at Austin. In the 80's Austin's character is pure Heel. Running around attacking whoever he wants, flipping people off and basically ignoring all rules. McMahon's role during this is the boss who wants to get rid of this wild entity. And he's the bad guy.
The Rock was horrible to people like Kevin Kelly and Michael Cole and Coach when they were mere interviewers. I mean that was some straight up bullying lol, but people loved it.
Heels and Faces aren't defined by morals anymore - they are defined by what's popular
__________________
Wrestling Theme Songs Rewritten
Vol I - Triple H
It's all about your dame - and how you use her,
Cash in on her name and you'll never be a loser!
All about timing and when you will choose her,
You better be my friend if you want a future!
Look over your shoulder, when you face me,
Like a good little bitch, you'll lay down for the three!
Steph is my dame, and she makes the rules,
So move on back to the midcard with the fools!
Vol II - Randy Orton
If I get dropped onto my head,
I'll run to Vince, so understand...
Don't botch on me!
You got your contract, and it's binding,
And you think your future's bright.
But if you hurt me, you'll be finding,
You're out of work by the next night!
[b]Note I know Punk is playing the role of the kayfable heel & Jeff the kayfable face.
But in reality the roles are a tad reverse[b]
Hardy is playing the heel here really. Assaulting CM Punk after losing the title. Whining about CM Punk beating him. Winning his match with interference from Rey Mysterio after accusing & demeaning punk for doing the same thing earlier in the night. Slapping Punks hand away and pushing him after Punk congratulate him for winning the #1 contenders match. Arguing with punk after punk made a slow 3 count (because punk got speared) during the "Rage & the Cage". Assaulting punk after the Bash match. Blatantly faking an eye injury causing his team to lose the match.
Spoiler for Next Smackdown:
Even telling Jeff he should stop using drugs after being on 2 strikes gets him heat
Doesn't it seem like the heels are the honest guys often getting screwed. Looking back at the HBK vs Jericho feud, Jericho was really being honest about Shawn Michaels. Yet when HBK entered that pointless storyline with JBL, Michaels was cheers all-throughout despite playing the role of a heel.
Even with Triple HHH vs Orton. HHH cheated to win many matches, using a sledgehammer at wrestlemania(Even though the rules specifically said he'd lose his title if he did), getting himself DQ'd with a chair in the first stage of hell, assaulting him at his home etc.
Note: I'm not really complaining, I enjoy faces with 'attitude' (Triple H), and heels with personality (Jericho & Punk), just the fact that the fans will blindly cheer anything is pretty odd. I'm sure Triple H would turn heel if he could.
I like the fact that the lines are getting blurred. That is an aspect of the Attitude Era that should definitly return (there are plenty that shouldn't). I also like the fact that the kids in the audience clearly understand who the heels and faces are despite some dubious actions. This shows that the audience are a bit cleverer than WWE thinks they are.
__________________
Quote:
Originally Posted by Eric Bischoff
No, we're not going to have special celebrity guests on the show. Dumbest idea ever
Quote:
Originally Posted by Mister Hands
I propose a new law, where anyone who complains about Regal being boring or bad in the ring is held directly responsible for the state of Raw these days, and also some war crimes.
The gray area makes the storylines more interesting compared to the plain good and bad guy characters. It gives fans more to talk about and debate like what we're doing in this thread.
Also it better represents real life rather than the comicbook heroes and villains.
Heels and Faces aren't defined by morals anymore - they are defined by what's popular
The truth is in the writing.
The WWE Fans are exactly what Chris Jericho (kayfabe) calls them: hypocrites. They cheer for Jeff because they are told to.
I honestly am on punks side here. CM Punk is a worthy champion. He doesn't pose, he doesn't take unneccesary risks. He just wrestles. That's why he's the champ, that's why Jeff's not.
Last edited by chrislyles15 : 07-04-2009 at 07:18 PM.
Heels & Face Blurred
Re: Heels & Face Blurred
Underground Hip Hop Head
