If anyone knows a thing or two about being a heel, it’s MMA legend Chael Sonnen.
In his day, Sonnen gained notoriety as a fighter after adopting a bad guy persona, drawing inspiration from the likes of “Superstar” Billy Graham. Recently, he named the four greatest villains in pro wrestling history. One name in particular stood out: the Big Boss Man.
“The Big Boss Man was to be trusted. He was law enforcement,” said Sonnen. “And as much as you guys think it’s in fashion today to not like the police,
those words were never spoken until four years ago.”
#OnThisDayInWWE 35 years ago on Superstars of Wrestling:
— On This Day in WWE (@OTD_in_WWE) June 18, 2023
The debut of The Big Boss Man
YouTube/Peter Winson pic.twitter.com/crP2ZfMy5D
The Big Boss Man was played by WWE Hall of Famer Ray Traylor, who first gained fame in Jim Crockett Promotions before joining WWE in 1988. Upon his arrival, he was rebranded as the Big Boss Man, a character drawn from his real-life experience as a corrections officer. As a bad guy, he quickly became infamous for delivering harsh, jailhouse-style justice.
“He would use his handcuffs to hook his opponent to the top rope,” Sonnen explained, “and then he would take out the billy club. And he’d do a whole presentation with the billy club, and then he’d start putting the club to him after he already beat him.”
At the time, law enforcement was largely viewed in a positive light. That began to change with N.W.A.’s “F*** tha Police” and the 1991 Rodney King beating, which spotlighted police brutality. Although he later became a fan favorite, the Boss Man’s initial portrayal as a corrupt officer was a striking image in the late 1980s.
“That was so counterculture at the time,” Sonnen said. “That kids are being told on a regular basis that (the police) are the good guys. This was a cop that went bad. I mean, this was scary.”
After a stint in WCW where he switched between babyface and heel, the Boss Man returned to WWE in 1998. Dressed in riot gear, his run was as ruthless as it was darkly humorous. Storyline highlights included feeding Al Snow’s pet dog to Snow and hijacking Big Show’s father’s casket during the funeral.
As for the rest of Sonnen’s list of top heels, it includes:
- Vince McMahon, whose legendary rivalry with Steve Austin and subsequent feuds with Shawn Michaels, The Undertaker, and Bret Hart helped turn WWE into an entertainment juggernaut.
- “The Million Dollar Man” Ted DiBiase, whose alliance with Andre the Giant and rivalry with Hulk Hogan and Randy Savage helped launch SummerSlam in 1988.
- “Ravishing” Rick Rude, whose arrogance and overly sexual nature also made Sonnen’s cut.
Where does the Big Boss Man rank on your list of baddies, Cagesiders? Share your thoughts in the comments section.
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