Where does Hulk Hogan rank among WWE's most legendary heels?
Leaving a mark that outlasts careers
In WWE, being a villain is more than earning jeers from the crowd. It is about steering the drama, twisting every match to your advantage and leaving a mark that outlasts careers.
Masters of wrestling villainy
With Hulk Hogan’s passing at 71 reminding fans of the power of legacy, these twenty names showcase how dark charisma and ruthless storytelling created the most unforgettable heels of all time.
19. Roman Reigns
Roman Reigns didn’t turn into a great heel overnight — he evolved into one. As the “Tribal Chief,” he didn’t need to shout to assert dominance. His calm, almost condescending demeanor made every word feel like law. Manipulating family, demanding loyalty, and controlling the narrative with icy precision, Reigns became one of WWE’s most compelling villains by believing he was the hero.
18. "Hollywood" Hulk Hogan
Not strictly WWE, but Hogan’s heel turn in 1996 shocked the world. The ultimate good guy becoming the leader of the nWo was the defining villain moment of the 90s. He cheated constantly, ran roughshod over WCW, and generally became an easy wrestler to hate. He was a heel when nWo gatecrashed the WWE in 2002, so this qualifies in our opinion. Plus, being a heel really suited him so much better.
17. Andre the Giant
Speaking of Hogan, as a beloved giant for most of his career, Andre’s heel turn against Hulk Hogan was massive. His slow, methodical destruction of opponents made him a perfect villain in the late 80s. He simply looked unstoppable – if only there was somebody who could?
16. Jake "The Snake" Roberts
Unlike most heels who yelled and screamed, Roberts’ quiet, sinister promos made him legitimately terrifying. He was cerebral, manipulative, and always one step ahead—especially when he dropped Damien, his python, on terrified opponents.
15. The Rock
Before he was the People’s Champion, The Rock was an arrogant, corporate-backed villain who belittled fans and opponents alike. While his Hollywood Rock run in 2003 was especially brutal, as he mocked crowds and acted too famous for WWE.
14. Kurt Angle
Angle debuted as the ultimate goody-two-shoes, but his smug attitude quickly made fans turn on him. Constantly reminding everyone of his "three I’s" (Intensity, Integrity, Intelligence), Angle became the kind of insufferable heel that only got better as he got more success.
13. The Undertaker
Though best known as a stoic legend, Taker's heel turns were unforgettable for their psychological menace. As the leader of the Ministry of Darkness, he wasn’t just spooky—he was disturbing. From “crucifying” Steve Austin to kidnapping Stephanie McMahon, his quiet intensity and supernatural presence gave his villainy a uniquely haunting edge. He didn’t yell. He made you feel afraid of silence.
12. Randy Orton
Orton was born to be a heel, but his most despicable run came in 2009 when he took sadistic mind games to another level. He punted legends into retirement, tormented the McMahon family, and even kissed a helpless Stephanie McMahon while Triple H was handcuffed. Cold, calculated, and utterly ruthless, this was Orton at his most venomous.
10. "Ravishing" Rick Rude
Rick Rude was the ultimate arrogant heel – flexing his chiseled abs while belittling fans for being "fat sweat hogs" and a whole bunch of other insults in the same vein. His ability to make crowds despise him was only matched by how good he was in the ring. Nothing like being able to back it up.
Image Credit: YouTube Screenshot @WWE
9. Ted DiBiase
Few heels were as fittingly smug as The Million Dollar Man. Whether it was stuffing cash in a beaten opponent’s mouth or humiliating fans for money, DiBiase was the perfect rich villain that people loved to hate.
8. Chris Jericho
When it comes to heels, few were able to adapt and evolve as seamlessly as Jericho. His "suit and tie" phase saw him adopt a slow, smug demeanor, while his "List of Jericho" run made him a hilarious but still despised villain. As far as being a heel goes, Jericho has made it an art form.
7. "Rowdy" Roddy Piper
Piper’s ability to rile up a crowd was unmatched. He smashed coconuts over heads, insulted everyone in sight, and created chaos wherever he went. As far as characters go, Rowdy was 100% believable in everything he did, which made it very easy for him to generate intense heat.
5. Vince McMahon
The ultimate boss from hell, Vince’s Mr. McMahon character made life miserable for every fan-favorite wrestler, especially "Stone Cold" Steve Austin. His smug corporate evilness made him WWE’s most natural villain ever.
4. The Iron Sheik
A foreign menace during the height of patriotic wrestling, The Iron Sheik was despised by American audiences. His hatred for Hulk Hogan and constant anti-USA rants made him not only WWE's (then WWF) most hated men, but also one of the country's. A crossover all "patriots" could get behind at the time.
3. Triple H
Unlike flashier villains who relied on chaos, Triple H weaponized control. As the calculating architect behind Evolution and the Authority, he didn’t just beat heroes – he systematically destroyed them. Backstage politics often bled into his on-screen character, blurring the line between performance and power. Cold, cerebral, and willing to marry into the McMahon dynasty, Triple H didn’t just play the game—he was the game.
2. Shawn Michaels
Before he was Mr. WrestleMania, Michaels was the most hated man in wrestling – by both fans and the locker room. From screwing Bret Hart at Survivor Series to mocking The Undertaker’s dead brother, HBK in his prime was as despised as they come. While we don't think that was his intention, you can't argue with the results.
