JBL On What Makes a Good Heel, His Own Heel Run in WWE

JBL recently shared his thoughts on what makes a good heel performer, his heel run in WWE and more. The WWE Hall of Famer waxed on the topic on this week’s After the Bell, and you can see some highlights below courtesy of Wrestling Inc:

During the latest After The Bell podcast, WWE Hall Of Famer JBL gave his thoughts on what a good heel should be. He believes that anyone who likes being told they are a good heel, is not that. For him, someone in that role should be hated, with fans wanting to see them beaten up.

On being a good heel: “I had people tell me they like people saying, ‘You’re a good heel.’ If somebody says you’re a good heel, you’re not a good heel. Because a good heel is not somebody you recognize as a heel. A good heel is somebody you go, ‘I hate that guy.’ Would you pay to see somebody beat him? They go, ‘yeah, I hate that guy.’”

On social media’s impact on the ability to become a heel: “I have seen guys do some type of dastardly heel tactic or whatever it is. And then they put on their social media their kids and a bible scripture. Like, dude, there’s nothing wrong with your kids and a bible scripture, that’s wonderful. But not if you want to be a heel, you’ve got to stay in character. This social media kills a lot of these guys. Because they just expose the fact that what they’re doing is a work.”

On his own heel run: “First time I saw a JBL shirt, I literally called Vince and said, ‘what are you doing putting out a JBL shirt?’ He said, ‘I had no idea we had one put out.’ I said, ‘I don’t want some fan (wearing one)’ Vince goes, ‘I know, take it off.’ So, I never let anybody put out a JBL shirt ever. It was out for a short time, and I got it taken off. Because I don’t want some kid in the front row wearing a JBL shirt. And somebody thinking, ‘oh, he must not be a terrible bad guy, because he’s got one fan right there.’ I used to see a section where people wear the hat, and the suit. After a while, the towel and all that stuff. I would get on the microphone, and I would just lambast these guys.”