During her time in WWE, Bianca Belair has worked both as a babyface and a heel.
Speaking during a recent appearance on Ariel Helwani’s “The MMA Hour” podcast, the three-time WWE Women’s Champion commented on whether she prefers being a babyface or heel, what she’d want out of a heel run now, and more.
You can check out some highlights from the podcast below:
On whether she prefers being a babyface or heel: “I love being a good guy, I love being a babyface because it puts purpose to what I do. I feel like it has a bigger impact and I’m able to do stuff with the community and it’s very purposeful and inspirational and impactful. That being said, when I was a heel in NXT, it was so much fun. I feel like being a heel is a lot easier. It’s a lot easier to get people to not like you than to get people to like you and keep liking you and keeping it fresh. When you’re a babyface, in order for me to have the attitude and come back, I have to have somebody who provokes me. They have to bring it out of me. I need like a Bayley who brings it out of me, otherwise I end up looking like a heel. A heel is a lot of fun, you’re not in a box, you can do whatever you want to do. I feel like I do have more attitude.”
On what she’d want out of a heel run now: “At the same time, at NXT, I was a heel, but if I ever turned heel now, I want to be the right type of heel. I was the cool heel in NXT, which I don’t feel like benefitted anyone but myself. I got myself over. If I’m in there with a babyface that’s not as established, it’s very hard for them. I learned when I got to the main roster how great it is to work with an amazing heel like Bayley when I first came in. The reason why I think I hit the ground running, as a good guy, was I had this amazing heel who was established and over. She helped introduce me to the audience and helped people get to know me and care about me. That’s what I want to do if I ever turn heel, so I won’t be the heel you like and cheer for.”
In the world of professional wrestling, the role of a wrestler can vary between being a hero (babyface) or a villain (heel). These characterizations play a crucial role in shaping the narrative and engaging the audience. Bianca Belair, a three-time WWE Women’s Champion, recently shared her thoughts on her preference between being a babyface or a heel during an appearance on Ariel Helwani’s “The MMA Hour” podcast.
Belair expressed her love for being a babyface, as it gives purpose to her actions. She believes that being a good guy allows her to have a bigger impact and engage with the community in meaningful ways. The role of a babyface is often seen as inspirational and impactful, which aligns with Belair’s desire to make a positive difference. However, she also acknowledged the fun she had during her time as a heel in NXT.
According to Belair, being a heel is easier because it is simpler to make people dislike you than to gain their support and maintain it over time. As a babyface, she needs someone to provoke her in order to bring out her attitude and create an engaging storyline. Belair mentioned that she needs a rival like Bayley, who can challenge her and bring out the best in her character. She believes that being a heel allows for more freedom and creativity, as there are no boundaries to what she can do.
Reflecting on her past experiences as a heel, Belair expressed her desire to be the “right type of heel” if she were to turn heel again. In NXT, she was known as the “cool heel,” which primarily benefited her own character development. However, she realized that working with an established and talented heel like Bayley on the main roster was instrumental in helping her succeed as a babyface. Belair recognized the importance of having a strong heel counterpart who can introduce her to the audience and help them connect with her character.
If Belair were to turn heel again, she wants to ensure that she is not the type of heel that fans cheer for. She wants to play a role that challenges and elevates her opponents, allowing them to shine and gain support from the audience. By doing so, she believes she can create compelling storylines and help establish new talent.
In conclusion, Bianca Belair has experienced both the babyface and heel roles in WWE. While she enjoys being a babyface for its purposeful and impactful nature, she also appreciates the freedom and creativity that being a heel offers. Belair recognizes the importance of having a strong heel counterpart to help establish her character and connect with the audience. If she were to turn heel again, she aims to be the type of heel that elevates her opponents and helps them gain support from the fans.