Top 50 Greatest Wrestling Heels of all time

31. Dean Malenko

‘The Shooter’ Dean Malenko caught his first big break on a large stage in ECW. Here, the stone-faced iceman had battles with the likes of Eddie Guerrero as he won the TV and Tag belts alongside Chris Benoit (his tag partner in Shane Douglas’s first iteration of The Triple Threat).

In WCW, Malenko became a cornerstone of their cruiserweight scene, having classic bouts with Eddie Guerrero, Rey Mysterio, Ultimo Dragon, Chris Benoit and Chris Jericho amongst others. He kept the character of the no-nonsense in-ring technician. His time there saw him pick up the Tag Team, US and Cruiserweight belts on top of becoming a member of The Four Horsemen and The Revolution.

One of the most underappreciated athletes to step inside the ring, his jump to the WWF was initially successful as he was a member of The Radicalz and then became a James Bond-esque lady’s man towards Lita.

A brilliant in-ring presence, the stern heel could carry anybody’s weight and bring them to some of their greatest matches.