My Top Ten Heel Turns

The New Day's heel turn has been a rousing success in my opinion. Xavier Woods and Kofi Kingston have leaned into their role not just on TV but social media as well. Rejuvenating the New Day act. 

And a simple turning their backs on their brother in battle Big E, made them some of the most hated men on the planet. Their current heel run got me thinking about heel turns, so here we are with my top ten heel turns.

 10.Batista Snaps on His Friend

In late 2005 Rey Mysterio and Batista randomly formed a team and battled MNM, and the team stuck around for a bit. The duo even were able to defeat MNM an win the tag team championships. Batista sustained an injury and the group disbanded, while Rey Mysterio went on to win the Royal Rumble that year and later the WWE World Championship. 

Fast forward to 2009 and the duo once again randomly continued their partnership and while primarily doing singles matches they maintained an alliance through the summer. That was until the Bragging Rights pay-per-view that year which featured both men as competitors in a fatal four way championship match with The Undertaker and CM Punk as the other competitors. Batista had an opportunity to win the match, but Rey broke up the pin. After the match where Undertaker was victorious, Batista snapped and viciously attacked Mysterio. Showing he was conflicted by his actions, while berating Mysterio for supposing to be his friend and stabbing him in his back.

 A very emotionally charged heel turn. 

9. Bobby Roode has Enough Beer Money

This heel turn was part of a long arc and telegraphed, but the impact was still felt tremendously. At Bound For Glory in  October of 2011, Bobby Roode faced Kurt Angle for the TNA World Championship and lost. On the next edition of Impact I forget the particulars but James Storm had a match against Kurt Angle and defeated him to win the championship, in what may have been the loudest the TNA Impact Zone has ever gotten. During the post-match celebration you could see the jealousy brewing inside Bobby Roode.

The next month at Turning Point the two friends and tag partners faced off for the championship and fought a lengthy match. In a story of two friends displaying good sportsmanship in a friendly competition, that was until Bobby Roode took one of Storm's trademark beer bottles and whacked him over the head. Winning the TNA championship and solidifying his heel turn.

8. Don Callis and Kenny Omega Unite

December 2020, Dynamite: Winter Is Coming the main event between Kenny Omega and Don Callis shocked everyone, when Callis helped Omega defeat Jon Moxley to win the AEW World Championship. Seeds were planted ahead of the match that Callis and Omega had known each other for years and came up in the business together, so fans weren't surprised to see Callis by his side initially. Then the two scurried to a waiting vehicle where Callis announced Omega would appear on Impact Wrestling later that week, which Callis was a booker for at the time.

Unheard of in North American wrestling at that time, with a partnership between AEW and Impact (TNA). While the partnership could have been better, it led to Omega becoming the Belt Collector obtaining as many titles as he could just like Thanos did with the Infinity stones. Leading to Omega becoming a egomaniac and obtaining a squad to watch his back in his quest to hold onto the various championships.

7. AJ Lee Turns On John Cena

In the fall of 2012 Raw General Manager AJ Lee was relieved of her duties by Vickie Guerrero. This was during a time when Lee's character was presented as a bit of a man eater, who also displayed very erratic psychotic behavior. Guerrero accused Lee of being in a relationship with John Cena and having evidence she can produce. The two denied the accusations but eventually in time pulled together and actually formed a relationship. 

Cena showed restraint but was a bit head over heels in love. At TLC in 2012, Cena was battling Dolph Ziggler when AJ Lee came out to ringside dressed in Cena's attire. There to support her man, she shocked everyone when she tipped over the ladder Cena was standing on allowing Dolph to win. And the very next night on RAW she confirmed Ziggler was her new love and bought a debuting Big E into the fold as their bodyguard. Also proving she was quite the bit of a mastermind heel. 

6. Scott Steiner Becomes Big Poppa Pump

In early January of 1998 seed's were planted that something within Scott Steiner was changing. He was a bit more self-centered, focused more on his muscles and even showed up after a match ended in street clothes. While these slight changes were notable, I don't think anyone anticipated his full blown heel turn to join the nWo at SuperBrawl the next month. His heel turn came with a new look  and more outlandish personality. Creating one of the most unintentionally hilarious wrestling personas ever in the Big Poppa Pump.

5. Triple H Turns On D-X

Wrestlemania XV Philadelphia, the energy was to quote The Rock "electric". Chyna turned on Kane and the Corporation and returned home to D-Generation X. Back in full force the group seemed unstoppable and ready to wreck more havoc on the WWF. Then just like that during the X-Pac vs Shane McMahon match, as members of the Corporation were interfering Triple H and Chyna came to the ring to help even the odds. Only for the leader of D-X to pedigree X-pac and help Shane win, officially joining the Corporation and starting the road to becoming The Game. 

As a teenage fan back then, I did not get why on earth would he turn on D-X. Especially since he was their leader and bought them together after HBK left. Looking back 25 years later it was absolutely necessary at that time for Triple H to step out on his own. 

4. Scott Hall Breaks Up The Kliq

From the time they joined WCW and branded themselves as the Outsiders, everything was Hall and Nash, Nash and Hall. While technically they were heels since joining the company, during this juncture nWo Wolfpac were faces. When Kevin Nash proclaimed Scott Hall would show up at Slamboree that year to be his tag partner against Sting and Big Show at the beginning of the nWo wars. Everyone was anticipating seeing the bad guy officially sport the red and black nWo colors. Which he did, until he snuck in the ring and hit Nash in the back with a championship allowing Sting and The Giant to win. Becoming a member of nWo Hollywood.

Like WCW did best at that time, they butchered the ensuing feud between Nash and Hall, how much of that was truly in their control is up for debate. However, fans were shocked and distraught when Hall turned on his best friend and it still resonates as one of the better heel turns in pro wrestling, especially because no one saw it coming.

3. Seth Rollins Betrays The Shield 

A true coming out of nowhere heel turn that was shocking and worked. The Shield were dominating the WWE landscape for about a year and a half at this point, and were embroiled in a feud with a reformed Evolution.

There were no hints of dissension amongst the group, everything was gucci as the kids say. Then Triple H uttered those famous words "Last Night was Plan A, tonight Plan B" and boom Seth Rollins attacked his comrades. It was a little confusing if he was the new addition to evolution to sell the past, present, and future angle of the group. 

Eventually Rollins gained some comfortably in his new role, and the architect era was born. winning Money In The Bank, and performing the greatest heist of the century at WrestleMania in 2015. He learned how to adapt and reinvent himself, leading to other personas like the Messiah and the Visionary. The decision to break up the Shield broke so many hearts, that it's still mentioned anytime Seth Rollins and Roman Reigns face off to this day.

2. Owen Hart Has Enough Of His Brother's Shadow

                                    

Sibling Rivarly and living in the shadows is a very real thing that multiple people struggle with. As such it is one of the most relatable storylines wrestling can use. It has never been done more perfectly than the Owen and Bret Hart feud during the mid 90's. It started during Survivor Series '93 when The Hart Family faced off against Shawn Michaels and his team comprised of color coded knights. A miscue between Owen and Bret led to Owen getting eliminated and he was not happy. 

He threw shots at Bret over time but still made amends in the name of family to work with his brother. leading to Royal Rumble '94 where Owen had enough. During a tag team championship match against The Quebecers, Bret sustained an injury and that caused them to lose the match. Owen viciously attacked Bret during the aftermath. Owen then went the route of the jealous sibling, accusing Bret of always holding him back. He became despicable but it led to Owen working to prove he was the better Hart brother and working to make people realize that.

1. Roman Reigns Becomes The Tribal Chief

This moment right here saved Roman Reign's career, kicked off arguably the greatest storyline in pro wrestling history with the Bloodline Saga, and planted the seeds for the extraordinary run the WWE is having right now. After years of WWE fans rejecting him as the next heir apparent, and stepping away for months due to health concerns during covid. Roman Reigns came back with a vengeance and a advisor by his side to assist him in his quest to run the WWE.

Honestly what other heel turn surpassed that? Especially in the current era, he had an amazing four year run as the top heel in the WWE and carried it like that. Finally displaying a version of Roman Reigns many said he would excel in as the subtle, confidant and cocky alpha male.