The crowd is on their feet, in an absolutely electrifying building, that flows with energy and pure excitement. In one collective movement, the crowds stamp their feet down again and again in anticipation of their hero. Slowly, but surely, the audience begins clapping their hands together, while the stamping of feet and the flow of energy culminates in the arena, with the roof nearly blowing off the sold-out arena, when all of a sudden… the music hits. And the crowd erupts in an explosion of deafening noise heard all over the building.
We know that noise all too well. We’ve heard it hundreds of times at many PPVs and many wrestling TV shows. It’s the sound of the company’s top draw as they make their way into the vision of the crowd, and walk the silver mile down the ramp and into the ring for the evening’s main-event. They pose for the crowd, clutching on to the heavyweight championship title, before turning the corner on the squared circle, and climbing their way on the apron. Holding onto the ropes, they will climb their way into the battlefield, ascend to the top rope, and pose for all that are lucky enough to have brought cameras for the phenomenal occasion.
The main lights are dim, as the colorful array of spotlights surround the champion. The crowd hasn’t died down at all. In fact, if it’s even remotely possible, the crowd has brought the sound level in the arena to a record high, showing their love and appreciation for the man of the night. The man of the month. And most likely, the man of the year. There is absolutely no question that with the love and appreciation comes a huge showing of respect for the future legend and hall-of-famer. The champ’s name is chanted at the top of the lungs of each and every fan in the building.
The creative and imaginative people who paid their own hard-earned money to attend the event all brought their homemade signs, with sayings, pictures and symbols for their favorite superstars drawn on each one. Without a doubt, the champion is responsible for the large majority of signs in the arena, ranging from the champ’s popular catchphrases to his trademark symbol. He not only is responsible for being on most of the signs in the arena, but he also has the most merchandise being worn and used throughout the sea of people. T-shirts, bandanas, custom-made title belts, foam fingers, jerseys, hats. You name it, he has it on sale for the fans to enjoy.
The main lights slowly brighten the arena, as the spotlights are turned off. The sound of the pyros finally stops resonating throughout the building. The champ gets down to business, staring down his enemy. Staring down the enemy of the people. The fans are enthralled. They’re absolutely hypnotized by this staredown. Then, the chants begin again. Slowly, the chants fill every single part of the arena, until it’s deafening once again. The bell rings, and the main-event finally commences!
Babyface. It’s the term used for the men and women of wrestling who are our “heroes”. The man I just described is a babyface. It’s a nameless man, and it’s probable that many of you thought of different people. I hope that you came up with someone or possibly a few people who have attracted that kind of a reaction at a PPV, or at a TV event. The list is large of superstars who have been at the top of the company, and drawing reactions exactly like that. These people have been immortal. They have been giants. They have been rattlesnakes, electrifying men, and doctors in the exclusive and little-known field of “Thuganomics”.
It’s fine to think up a few names, but which of these men are the best of babyfaces? Very rarely do men stumble into the role of being the top babyface of their wrestling company. In many cases, it takes a lot of time and patience to develop the type of reaction that would classify you as the “Top Pop-Getter” of the night. Just like heat is what the fans deliver to the heels, a pop is when the crowd cheers for a babyface. Are you following? Good, because the intro completely destroyed my train of thought.
Who are the men that sell out arenas around the world? Who are the best in the business of babyfaces? Who can still bring the crowds to their feet after years of being in the business that forces you to bleed, sweat, and cry during almost every night? The list is far from definitive, but these guys know what it takes to bring the crowds to their feet.
If I asked for two of the biggest legends of the business, more often than not I’ll get the names of The Rock and Stone Cold Steve Austin. In a time when the WWE needed higher ratings, bigger PPV buyrates, and a lot more money, The Rock and Steve Austin changed the face of wrestling forever. The business of sports entertainment was slowly transforming into a whole new era in the 1990s, an era of “Attitude”. And these two paved the way for the business. The Brahma Bull and the Texas Rattlesnake headlined Wrestlemania three times, proving their worth as multiple champions and future hall-of-famers.
While The Rock’s career is sort of a success story all its own, Steve Austin’s is the kind of story that would be shown on Oprah (if she enjoyed wrestling, which I’m all but certain she does not). Eric Bischoff told Austin that he would never make it in the business. He would forever be stuck in the mid-card, and would need a miracle to sell out arenas and hold the top championship titles of professional wrestling. Now look at him! One of the most popular superstars of wrestling history. Perhaps Bischoff wasn’t so harsh, but that was the gist of his message. Austin just needed to move to the World Wrestling Federation and acquire the right push. Okay, maybe Oprah wouldn’t really care about such a success story. But who cares what she thinks? Until she buys me a new car, I’ll keep that opinion of her.
If we’re going to talk about legends, and if we’re going to talk about those who have put wrestling onto the damn map, who else can I mention before I, in the words of Teddy Long, show some love for Hulk Hogan? In the 1980s, he not only put wrestling on the map, he put his iconic name in each and every household. Shirts, bandanas, movies, Saturday morning cartoon, action figures. Hogan had it all. His popularity may not have reached the heights of the 1980s and early 1990s, but he still continued a successful career in the WCW and in the WWE. Heck, he headlined this year’s Summerslam, in what I thought was an amazing encounter between two legends. The finish caused a collective groan between many wrestling fans, but can you do? Hogan worked his ass off more in that match than he has in the majority of his matches since returning in 2002. The verdict? No no, I’m not talking about Brock Lesnar. The verdict is that Hogan is a legend amongst legends, and the real American hero. A stint of going Hollywood may have caused Hogan to turn his back on the wrestling fans and join the New World Order, but we all know he was still the good guy in his heart. Once I’m done, I’m going to say my prayers! Take my vitamins! And… and… I don’t remember the rest, but you can be guaranteed about the praying and vitamin consumption! I’m partial to Flintstones vitamins myself.
One of the most respected men in professional wrestling is also one of the most feared. He’s been called The Phenom, but we all know him mainly as The Undertaker. Even during a lighter run as the Biker Badass and Big Evil (aka NOT the Deadman we’ve been used to), The Undertaker has a look that strikes fear into you immediately. And, during the Deadman years… whoa. There are horror movie villains that aren’t as creepy as the Undertaker. He has had many personas, many eras, and many theme songs, but one thing is for certain: when Taker strolls through the curtains, as the building fills with a light smoke resembling fog, it’s absolutely spinechilling. I normally groan at anything Michael Cole says, but when he calls Undertaker’s entrance spinechilling, he’s saying nothing but the truth.
There is one guy with four different and very unique personalities (all three of which I would need to grade accordingly, but I’ll stick with his main identity), and who else could I be talking about? Mick Foley. He plays Mankind, Dude Love and Cactus Joke, but when he’s playing himself, he knows exactly what to say to the crowds. He knows the exact body movements and exact facial expressions to cause those watching to burst out laughing. I have never really considered Mick Foley to be a “top-pop” guy. Fans chant his name, fans cheer for him, but upon entering the arena, he rarely garners the pop that the previously mentioned names would receive on a nightly basis. What makes Foley one of the top faces, then? Well, there’s the “cheap pop”, an obvious ruse to get the fans of the arena to cheer loudly (in case you’re unfamiliar with it, it’s when he randomly mentions the name of the city that he is currently in to get the fans to “pop” for him, or cheer for him… or, more rather, for their city).
Then there’s this generally likable personality he has. No, he doesn’t get the huge entrance pops, but when he starts talking, he always has something interesting and very funny to say. Read his two books, and you’ll swear that he is narrating the story in your head. He talks the same way he writes, and it’s a special gift he has to attract the viewer/reader’s attention with his words. … what? You don’t hear his voice in your head? At all? Only a little bit? Well… that’s weird. Suppose I should get that checked out. Nah, you’re right, Mick. There’s nothing wrong with hearing your voice in my head. Light the Christmas tree on fire? Sure, Mick. Umm… ahem, moving on.
Babyfaces get all the attention. Sure, the true masters of the wrestling domain are heels. They go unnoticed most times to the average audience, who don’t know quite as much as you and I know. They cheer the good guys, and they mean it. They boo the bad guys, and they mean it. Okay, maybe it’s not sincere or genuine, but there’s still a large percentage of fans who will often overlook a heel, simply because he’s the “villain” of the story. But babyfaces deserve their credit, as well. Not all babyfaces deserve the credit, but I believe the names I listed surely deserve props and high kudos for a job well done. It’s a lot more complex than just getting the fans on your side, and these guys prove it. Is this the definitive list? Absolutely not. There are literally dozens of talent who do a tremendous job as babyfaces. Some of them are in wrestling past (WWF, WCW, ECW, etc.), while others are currently in TNA, ROH, and many other different wrestling organizations. In fact, there are a few names currently in the WWE who surely deserve mention. That’s up to you, the reader, to reminisce about your favorites. The names listed are just a few of my favorite babyfaces of all time, and by no means represent a “Best-Of” list. Keep that in mind. If you feel like you may want to share your favorites with me, send an e-mail my way at carl_macqueen@ns.sympatico.ca, and I’ll be sure to respond as soon as I can.
That does it for this two-part edition of “The X-Factor”. I’ve got the Christmas spirit in me, and I feel like I should do a themed column next week. It’s in the development stages, and it may not get off the ground entirely. I’m not a huge fan of holiday themes. My “Turkeys of the Wrestling World” column for Thanksgiving never got past the first sentence, nor did my “St. Patrick’s Day Salute to Wrestlers Who Are a Little Green” column. Oh, how I tried desperately, but failed miserably. Perhaps I’ll find a different topic to talk about. After that, I’ll be back with my flashback to 2005 column, complete with my own Top Ten Best, Top Five Worst of the Year for wrestling. Until next time, I’m Joey X. See you later.
Copyright © 2005; TheWrestlingVoice.com & Douglas Nunnally.
All Rights Reserved.
Disclaimer & Privacy Statement
| What Did You Think About WWE Backlash 2008? |
|
|