In the world of wrestling, there are a variety of different characters, each with their own unique personality and fighting style. One of the most iconic character types is the "heel." The term "heel" refers to a wrestler who portrays a villainous character and is often pitted against a "face," or a heroic character.
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The dynamic between the heel and the face is at the core of many wrestling storylines, but some of the most memorable moments in wrestling history have been a result of heel vs. heel feuds, particularly in WWE. This list will examine the 10 best heel vs. heel feuds in wrestling history, exploring the rivalries, storylines, and matches.
9 The Shield Vs. The Wyatt Family
Lightning struck twice when the Wyatt Family emerged as a formidable trio shortly after The Shield. Fans eagerly awaited a match between the two dominant trios, and they were not disappointed. The Shield's hint at disbandment only made them stronger, as they faced off against the Wyatt Family in a memorable match at Elimination Chamber 2014. The entire feud between the two factions is not only one of the best rivalries of either future hall of fame career but also one of the best heel vs heel rivalries of all time.
8 Bobby Roode Vs. Austin Aries
Austin Aries and Bobby Roode were overshadowed by the Aces and Eights storyline, but their rivalry for the TNA World Championship was magical. Aries and Roode had great chemistry in the ring and on the microphone, and they ended up having the best TNA feud in 2012. TNA had the advantage of having only one TV show per week, allowing for better storytelling and more focused creative team efforts. The two created one of the best heel vs heel feuds in the history of TNA/Impact Wrestling.
7 The Corporation Vs. The Ministry of Darkness
The feud between The Corporation and The Ministry of Darkness was an intense battle between two non-babyface factions, with The Corporation serving as the heel faction and The Ministry of Darkness as the evil faction. The Corporation was composed of a star-studded cast, including Vince McMahon, Shane McMahon, The Rock, and Triple H, while The Ministry of Darkness consisted of The Undertaker, Paul Bearer, and other dark figures.
The feud was marked by a series of intense moments, including Undertaker's sacrifices of various individuals and The Ministry of Darkness's trespassing on Vince McMahon's property. Despite both factions being heels, the feud produced a lot of excitement, although the eventual merger of The Ministry of Darkness with The Corporation to form The Corporate Ministry diluted the impact of The Undertaker.
6 Shawn Michaels Vs. Rick Martel
WWE pitted two villainous wrestlers against each other at SummerSlam 1992. Shawn Michaels and Rick Martel's feud began when Martel attempted to lure Michaels' valet, Sherri Martel, to manage him instead. Michaels took offense to this and the rivalry escalated, with both men vying for the affections of Sherri.
The match ultimately ended in a comedic double count out, as neither wrestler wanted to give the other the satisfaction of victory. Notably, due to their shared reputation as "pretty boys," the stipulation was that they could not punch each other in the face.
5 The Midnight Express Vs. Arn Anderson & Tully Blanchard
The 1980s saw the rise of several iconic tag teams in pro wrestling, The Midnight Express, who were pivotal to tag team wrestling during this era, is often overlooked in comparison to their peers. Despite being most notable for their time in WCW, the team made their mark in other major promotions and underwent several personnel changes over the years.
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The best years of the Midnight Express saw them as heels. They competed against The Four Horsemen (Arn Anderson & Tully Blanchard) in 1988. Their feud went under the radar because it featured few televised matches, but the heel vs heel rivalry was one of the first of its kind in the NWA.
4 British Bulldog Vs. Owen Hart
The Bulldog and Owen's rivalry was groundbreaking, as it was one of the first time that reigning champions turned on each other. The eruption of their simmering animosity became inevitable after Smith vanquished Owen to claim the European Championship. The explosion eventually occurred during a Raw episode in the spring of 1997, with Smith and Owen unleashing their pent-up hostility. Their feud was short-lived, as Bret Hart intervened to quell the family feud and subsequently formed a new Hart Foundation, but it was great while it lasted.
3 Four Horsemen Vs. The Russians
During the territory days, the NWA did something that WWE rarely did, put heels against heels and faces versus face matches when needed. One of the best examples of this happened in Jim Crockett Promotions when The Russians wanted the tag team titles held by The Four Horsemen.
Ivan Koloff, Nikita Koloff, and Krusher Kruschev formed a team to battle the other faction of heels for the tag team title. Nikita Koloff also challenged Ric Flair for the World Title multiple times. The Russians were one of the best rivals the Four Horsemen ever battled.
2 Kurt Angle Vs. Triple H
WWE created an intriguing storyline with the love triangle of Triple H, Stephanie McMahon, and Kurt Angle. Despite both Triple H and Angle being heels, they had the chemistry to carry on the program. Angle defended his WWE Championship against Triple H at Royal Rumble 2001.
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Triple H, as a cool heel, provided the perfect foil for Angle. Both wrestlers were likable despite their heel antics. In the end, Angle emerged victorious in his last major defense before losing the title to The Rock a month later.
1 Bret Hart Vs. Shawn Michaels
The legacy of the Montreal Screwjob centers around the controversial ending of the match between Shawn Michaels and Bret Hart. However, the match had the potential to be a classic, given the exceptional skills of both wrestlers who played heel roles. Due to the unexpected and controversial ending, many fans forget that both wrestlers were heels in this match. Hart was anti-American, while HBK was anti-everyone. Hart appears to be a babyface in retrospect, but he was a heel during his last major feud in WWE.
