When it comes to professional wrestlers who were career babyfaces – the biggest of the bunch is Ricky Steamboat. From WCW to WWF, Steamboat was always playing the hero. His in-ring skills and good natured personality made that a natural fit, and meant that fans were quick to trust him. If he had his way however – he would have had those same fans ready to take him down.
Ricky Steamboat Thinks It Would Have Been Fun To Play The Villain
One man who spent a lot of time with Ricky Steamboat in his career was Arn Anderson – who would reveal on his ARN podcast that Steamboat wanted to turn heel. When asked about if Steamboat ever considered trying to other side of the ring, Anderson had the following to say.
“All the time. From him to me, and I said, ‘Ricky, it’s none of my business, but it is my business because you would be making a grave mistake.’ ‘Yeah, but it would be so much fun.’ I said, ‘Well, it would be to you, but it wouldn’t be fun to the fans, and you know what? The relationship that you have with our audience, young people, grandmothers, grandfathers, all you would end up doing is just disappointing a bunch of people. You wouldn’t have money-drawing heat. You wouldn’t have that red hot heat where they’re trying to kill you.’”
One Of The Biggest “What if” Scenarios Possible
Without a doubt it would have been interesting to see what someone as talented as Steamboat could do when embracing his dark side. He spent so long playing the natural foil to the likes of Ric Flair that it would have been jarring to see him perhaps using the same underhanded tactics.
This could well be one of the biggest “What If?” scenarios in professional wrestling. Steamboat could well have proven himself as someone who could be the most loved hero and most hated villain. While Steamboat has returned to the ring, it would be impossible to run a heel turn for him in 2023 – with the time for that well in the past.
Do you think Steamboat would have worked as a heel? Let us know what you think in the comment section down below.
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