Edge and Brock. WWE and UFC. One partakes in a legitimate sport, the other clearly does not. But both guys, right now, are playing the pro wrestling role of heel to perfection.

In one of the most anticipated MMA fights in recent memory, Brock Lesnar became the UFC Heavyweight Champion in only his 4th MMA fight - an unprecedented accomplishment.

But it was pure pro wrestling all the way, just as how last week, WWE superstar Edge returned to the company following three months of absence and won the WWE title in a match that he wasn’t even booked in.

The lasting implication is that Edge does not deserve his title victory and thus we, the fans, will pay to see him get torn apart and lose his title by a more deserving champion. Sound familiar?

Edge

For anyone who has been paying attention to the WWE in recent years, you’ll probably have noticed that Edge has carved himself quite a niche as the ultimate opportunistic wrestler. And in doing so, he’s become a very identifiable character who has exhibited consistent traits. In pro wrestling, there is often a big problem with performers being defined as heels or baby faces. Often when they transition between the two categories, they’re forced to give up certain aspects of their personalities. If Edge was to turn, no doubt it would be tricky, and he’d suddenly and unrealistically have to become a completely different personality. However, as it stands, the very notion him becoming a good guy, is completely inconceivable, because he’s just so good as an evil chap.

Now, sometimes, quite often in fact, a bad guy in wrestling can suffer the frustration of becoming so skilled in the art of pissing people off, that they begin to admire him and an increasing minority will cheer said performer. Obviously, while this may make some guys feel nice and fuzzy inside, it’s far from the desired affect and counter-productive to what both the wrestler, and the company are aiming for.

This hasn’t happened with Edge. And it’s not because he’s not as good as say, Triple H, or Kurt Angle, or as Eddie Guerrero was.

One of the themes with which the WWE have expertly utilised in order to maintain Edge’s spot as a premium bad dude, is the way in which they’ve had him capture the World title’s he has held.

Edge is not a heroic character. Sure, he fights hard, often in epics (see the Hell in A Cell from Summerslam against the Undertaker - review here) and sometimes goes down cleanly. But his title victories are best described as shady…and he clearly has no ethics.

The real-life Adam Copeland raised WWE World title gold, for the first time at New Years Revolution in January of 2006. It was a monumental moment that boosted ratings and created a buzz within the industry, before they relieved him of the belt just a couple of weeks later.

However, they had successfully elevated him to a top of the card heel and future reigns were obviously on the radar. Edge’s opportunistic credentials were spotlighted too, as he won the strap by cashing in his Money in the Bank title shot, against John Cena, moments after Cena had survived an epic Elimination Chamber match. Many fans may have cheered this tactic initially, but it because of the shock value (this hadn’t been done before remember, Edge was the first Money in the Bank winner, although the angle was reminiscent of the last ECW PPV in 2001, where Rhino won the World title), and because Cena was so hated as a baby face at that juncture.

Following this, Edge was the clear heel, and Cena, for once, was cheered on when he faced the “R-Rated Superstar.”

Second time-round, Edge lifted the WWE World title in a scheduled bout, but it was a triple-threat encounter in which he utilised a foreign object to earn victory. Adding to his heat, he became part of the picture when he cost Cena the WWE title in June (to Rob Van Dam, famously at One Night Stand 2006). Unlike the other two, he wasn’t an honourable guy, fighting for glory. He was conniving and opportunistic. He held his title for a memorable two months, before dropping it to Cena again and once more he proved that unlike many other superstars, he was a white-hot bad guy, generating the responses that Vince McMahon and the creative team desired.

It wasn’t until May 2007 that Edge wore World title Gold again. This time, his opportunism on-screen was matched in the real-life backstage environment. World Champion, The Undertaker, was forecast for a lengthy run as Champion, but suffered an injury early into his reign. The main candidate to take his place, was Mr Kennedy, the 2007 Money in the Bank winner. But he two endured an injury. Thus, Edge, a now-experienced headliner, was called on the hold fort. On screen, he goaded the injured Kennedy into defending his title shot and attacking him prior to the match, basically stole his way into contention. And he re-enforced his status as having no depths too low to sink by taking The Undertaker’s world title, after the Dead-man had both defended the belt in a Cage Match and been attacked by the lumbering Mark Henry.

Ironically, Edge, the Master Manipulator, only lost the belt a couple months later, when he himself was bitten by the injury bug.

Upon his return, he cunningly cost the Undertaker the belt in a truly nefarious manner, before winning it himself (again) at Armageddon, by once more, yep…cheating. This time, he swerved everyone with the distraction of look-alikes (Curt Hawkins and Zack Ryder) in addition to being in cahoots with Smackdown’s general manager. Firmly positioned as a fiend who was willing to take any advantage he could, Edge now had established a group of followers who helped enable such opportunism.

Throughout the first half of 2008, Edge traded the belt back and forth with Taker another couple of times, losing out due to being the lesser man, but again winning it, not by being the better man, but through being the more manipulative, seedy heel.

At Survivor Series, he took Jeff Hardy’s place in a title match, thanks to his connections, thanks to being in cahoots with Vickie Guerrero. And he won the belt, because they decided not to inject him into that bout until both other competitors had destroyed each other. SO again, he was far from noble, certainly undeserving, but his credible came from the absolute genius of his plan. Unfair and horrible? You bet…but damn smart.

Brock Lesnar

Like Edge, Brock Lesnar is the consummate heel performer. Through planned booking, and coincidence, circumstances have convened to ensure that he’s the sort of bad guy, who transcends the impulse fans have to cheer someone so convincing or talented.

WWE fans still resent Brock in a sense, because he “walked out on them.” Turning his back on a lucrative contract, creative backing that was incomparable to that of other wrestlers and main event status, he pissed off a lot of people on the way out. I’ve always maintained that the guy had every right to leave, if it was his desire to do something else. More to the point, I’ve also felt that he deserved credit for deciding this wasn’t what he wanted, and not holding onto it for the money.

However, I would condemn the way in which he went about his business. He gave his notice just weeks away from WrestleMania, the biggest show of the year, where he was scheduled to be part of a “Dream Match”, against Bill Goldberg.

Bill was also leaving, which had been known for some time, thus Lesnar was set to win this and look an even bigger star in the process. This would have been a huge deal for his career and at a time when another main eventer was on his way out, with others seeking time off, he was needed to fill in the gaps. Brock also owed it to the WWE, who had got behind him sensationally since 2002 and gave him so many opportunities. It’s no wonder Vince McMahon was peeved - Lesnar was departing at a time when he needed him badly.

At WrestleMania, Brock, who otherwise (even though he was the “villain” of the story) would have been cheered as a hero if he defeated Goldberg, was booed with vicious hostility, as fans knew of his abandonment. To this day, many have not got over that.

Brock’s heel allure is strengthened by the fact that he left the WWE to take part in football. However, he wasn’t good enough to make the grade, adding insult to injury for the fans who felt betrayed. He then attempted to return, but made demands that would have positioned him better off financially, and on the card, than even his previous tenure. Obviously, Vince sent him packing, and in this instance, I fully supported Mr McMahon.

Returning to the squared circle, Brock headed for Japan, where he was fast-tracked to the top and produced several sub-par performances that did little to encourage growth of his fan-base. There was considerably confusion over his departure too, with work permit issues seemingly at the centre of the situation. When we learned of his signing to the UFC, he’d been exposed as a self-centred, talented, but flawed individual, who was far easier to boo, than to cheer.

The UFC masterfully exploited this. The four-man tournament conceived in order to crown an Undisputed Champion in the Heavyweight Division could have been booked and settled in a different manner than it was. Couture versus Brock did not need, from a logical point of view, to take place first. Brock could have been forced to earn his way to the title, by having to re-match Frank Mir first, or even by taking on the Interim champion Antonio Nogueira.

Brock came into the fight with a UFC win-loss record of 1-1 in the UFC. Nothing special there, and an obvious sign of his complete lack of experience. Yes, he looked impressive in both fights, dominating Heath Herring for three rounds en route to a Unanimous decision and slaughtering Frank Mir briefly before his inexperience caused him to be trapped in a Kneebar.

But his lack of fights was unprecedented for someone in his position.

More to the point though - most observers were aghast as his appointment as number one contender. MMA purists were outraged, not just because he had not “earned” his spot (a claim ridiculously thrown about in pro wrestling - a worked industry), but also because this unproven hulk, was a former wrestler. MMA fans, as a whole, do not want pro wrestlers to succeed in “their” sport. They want to continue to dismiss wrestling as phoney, and fake and almost utterly disregard the notion that Professional wrestlers are athletes too. Adding to Brock’s unlikeablility, was the fact that Lesnar, being Lesnar, was far from humble following his battle with Herring, and exudes a cocky, jock nature.

When Brock knocked out Randy Couture, he forced MMA fans into a shock state, where, they had to admit yes, it’s possible for a WWE star to be a legit fighter - something that seemingly threatens them. Combined with the fact that ANYBODY would have been greeted as a villain against Couture (c’mon his nickname is Captain America for freak’s sake!), we were suddenly confronted with the ultimate heel.

This whole scenario was cleverly put together by the UFC though. Because now, whomever takes on Lesnar next, is going to enjoy a hugely supportive crowd looking for them to strip him off his title. His defence should draw, not just because it’s a unification match, but because the UFC’s long term fans are going to pay to see him lose.

But on the flipside, those WWE fans who have crossed over and also enjoy MMA, may well be supportive of the young champ, as he could validate their industry.

MMA and wrestling may be two separate identities, as much the UFC and WWE are, but it seems having someone to boo, having a character that fans want to pay to see get his ass whooped, is a pro wrestling staple that has been replicated successfully in the Mixed Martial Arts world. The biggest drawing fights in both professions are those that feature fighters/performers who most capture the public’s imagination. In UFC that means Tito Ortiz, Couture, Chuck Liddell, Ken Shamrock and yes, Brock Lesnar. And in both cases, a formula that is almost always guaranteed to work, is when a much loved good-guy seeks to take out a hated bad guy.

Right now Brock and Edge are the most compelling characters around, with targets on their heads.

Will they remain two of the most absorbing “heels” on our screens? I would argue that Lesnar, if he is successful in defending his belt in the Unification fight next year, could earn the respect of fans. But it could swing the other way. If Brock responds to victory in a cocky manner (and why wouldn’t he? The crowd showed him no respect, when he himself was very humble in defeating Randy Couture), the contempt levels for him could go through the roof. He could be the most hated UFC champ since Tim Sylvia. But since his fights are exciting, that’s not a bad thing…

Edge, meanwhile, is destined to remain a top heel for the time being, and that’s not going to change unless he changes his opportunistic methods. For entertainment’s sake, I hope he doesn’t.

Thanks for taking the time to check this out. I welcome any and all feedback and I can be contacted at www.myspace.com/michaelwrestlingetc or simply by emailing me at Michael@ifight365.com. I look forward to hearing from you, and will be back soon!