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Every great story needs a great villain, just as much as it needs a great hero and every story is pretty much incomplete with a brilliantly portrayed bad guy and the same can be said for Professional Wrestling as well.
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For these past several decades and pretty much since the inception of Pro Wrestling, we have been witnessing some of our favourite Superstars turning their backs on us and the rest of the WWE Universe, marking the beginning of a dark period in their Pro Wrestling career.
Whether it is the likes of ‘Stone Cold’ Steve Austin, Triple H, or Shawn Michaels for that matter, the WWE Universe has certainly witnessed some of the most cowardly and dastardly heel turns of all time throughout the years.
Therefore, with that being said, here are the 10 best heel turns of all time in WWE history:
#10 Triple H turns on Daniel Bryan- SummerSlam, 2013
Daniel Bryan’s rise to the top of the main event scene in WWE saw him go toe-to-toe with The Authority in what remains as one of the most memorable ‘feel-good’ storylines of all time in WWE history.
Bryan, who popularly initiated the infamous Yes Movement during this angle, had to go through the likes Kane, Randy Orton, and even WWE Chairman Vince McMahon, in order to get a shot at the prestigious WWE Championship which was being held by multi-time champion John Cena at that point of time.
Cena and Bryan eventually squared-off in the main event of SummerSlam, 2013 with the WWE Title on the line and the latter eventually seemed to defy all the odds and won the World Championship. However, by the end of the evening it was WWE COO Triple H (who during the build-up to this feud remained in favour of Bryan) finally turned his back on ‘The Leader of The Yes Movement’ thanks to a vicious Pedigree, which eventually allowed Randy Orton to cash in his MITB contract and win the WWE Title.
Bryan’s dream turned into a terrible nightmare within the blink of an eye as Triple H pulled-off the biggest triumph card and made sure that Bryan once again had to fight for his opportunity yet again.
#9 AJ Styles turns heel - Raw, 2016
Following his consecutive WWE Title losses to Roman Reigns, many fans wondered what WWE had next in store for AJ Styles and just when it seemed that ‘The Phenomenal One’ had lost a huge bit of momentum shortly after his WWE debut, Styles slowly and steadily made his way back to the top of the mountain and it all began on the memorial day edition of Monday Night Raw in 2016.
Fresh off his second loss to Roman Reigns, Styles decided to welcome back former WWE Champion John Cena to Raw as the former ‘Face of TNA’ finally met ‘The Face of WWE’ for the very first time inside the squared-circle.
At first glance, it certainly seemed like that both men were apparently on the same page, as they prepared to go to battle against former Raw Tag Team Champions Karl Anderson and Luke Gallows, who made their way down to the ring and proceeded to beat up both Styles and Cena, but what followed next was utter chaos.
Styles eventually made his big statement when he clotheslined Cena inside the ring as Gallows and Anderson joined in on the party as well and the three men brutally started to assault ‘The Leader of The Cenation, cementing AJ Styles heel turn in a proper manner. The beatdown eventually ended with The Club sharing a Too Sweet over the unconscious body of John Cena.
#8 'Stone Cold' Steve Austin turns heel and sides with Mr. McMahon- WrestleMania X-Seven, 2001
"STONE COLD IS SHAKING HANDS WITH SATAN HIMSELF! FOR THE LOVE OF GOD, SOMEONE TELL ME THIS IS NOT HAPPENING!"
Back at WrestleMania 17, the beloved 'Stone Cold' Steve Austin, who was pretty much considered as the biggest babyface in WWF history, did the unthinkable when he aligned himself with 'devil', his biggest nemesis, WWE Chairman Vince McMahon. In the words of the legendary Jim Ross, this was quite possibly the entire WWE Universe's reaction when they witnessed the biggest anti-authority figure join hands with The Authority.
Regardless of all the aftermath that was followed by Austin's heel turn, this quite possibly remains as the most shocking heel turn from WWE's attitude era and is right up there with Hulk Hogan turning heel in WCW and forming the legendary New World Order.
#7 The Rock aligns himself with Mr. McMahon- Survivor Series, 1998
The Rock initially started his WWE career as one of the most disliked babyfaces of all time, as fans immediately rejected him in the first place due to his absolutely annoying Rocky Maivia character. But, things eventually started to get better for ‘The Great One’ in the year 1997, when The Rock initially formed the popular Nation of Domination stable with the likes of Ron Simmons, Mark Henry, D-Lo Brown and plenty other top superstars.
However, the following year, The Rock eventually cemented his legacy as one of the most disliked heel superstars of all time (on this occasion) when he joined forces with Mr. McMahon and Shane McMahon after the WWE Chairman literally awarded the WWE Title to The Rock at Survivor Series 98, in his match against Mankind.
In the closing stages of this mega-showdown between The Rock and Mankind, the former locked in the masked maniac into the Sharpshooter as Mr. McMahon called for the bell, despite Mankind refusing to tap out and seemingly replicated The Montreal Screwjob.
In doing so, The Rock transitioned himself from ‘The People’s Champion’ to ‘The Corporate Champion’ and formed The Corporation with Mr. McMahon and his fellow stooges.
#6 Chris Jericho turns on Shawn Michaels- Raw, 2008
Chris Jericho’s awkward babyface run in 2008 was definitely not helping him in any possible way, however, on a certain episode of Monday Night Raw in 2008, Chris Jericho went on to show the entire world why he till date remains as one of the most sadistic heels of all time in the world of Professional Wrestling.
During an episode of The Highlight Reel in 2008, Shawn Michaels was interviewed host Chris Jericho, who tried to point out the fact that the former was still cheered by the fans due to him attacking Y2J the previous months without any valid reason, whereas, Jericho, on the other hand, was still booed by the WWE Universe despite trying to do the right thing.
This eventually led Jericho to ignite in what was dubbed as the “Feud of The Year” in 2008, when Y2J subsequently went on to low blow HBK and sent him through the Jeritron 6000 monitor, damaging Michaels’ eye and turning heel for the very first time since 2005.
Jericho and Michaels then competed in a series of amazing matches as well, with the former also adopting an Anton Chigurh inspired gimmick as well.
#5 CM Punk turns on The Rock- Raw 1000, 2012
Raw 1000 will go down as one of the most historic episodes of Monday Night Raw, given the fact that the night was filled with some of the most awesome segments and the biggest WWE stars and legends who were all under the very same roof, at the very same time. This particular edition of Raw had a DX reunion, a Brothers of Destruction reunion, the return of the likes of Lita, Big Van Vader, DDP, and plenty more WWE legends as well.
However, by the end of the evening, the biggest highlight and talking point of the night was CM Punk turning his back on the WWE Universe, when he attacked ‘The People’s Champion’ The Rock of all people to solidify his place as the next big villain in WWE.
Punk, who defended his WWE Title against John Cena in the main event of the evening, eventually saw a run-in from The Big Show, who interfered in the match and caused a disqualification that led to The Rock running down to the ring in order to take care of The Big Show all by himself, but, this seemingly prompted CM Punk to assault ‘The Great One’ who then fell victim to a GTS to end one of the most memorable episodes of Raw.
#4 Bret Hart turns on ‘Stone Cold’ Steve Austin and the WWE Universe- WrestleMania 13, 1997
Considered as one of the greatest WrestleMania matches of all time, this classic submission match between Bret Hart and ‘Stone Cold’ Steve Austin from 1997 had all the elements in it and also proved to be a vital match for the WWE (then WWF) in the basis of their long-term future.
Hart and Austin wrestled each other to an absolute 22-minute classic match with Ken Shamrock serving as the guest referee to this amazing showdown, which at times is also labeled as the beginning of The Attitude Era in the WWE.
Coming into this match, Bret Hart was one of the biggest babyfaces of all time and was pretty much billed as a hero to the entire WWE Universe, however, at WrestleMania 13, at the Grandest Stage of Them All, Hart finally decided to betray his vast fan following when he brutalized ‘Stone Cold’ Steve Austin by making ‘The Texas Rattlesnake’ pass out in his own pool of blood.
The closing stages of this match will always go down as one of the most iconic and memorable moments in WWE history, thanks to Austin’s tremendous show of heart and resiliency that eventually led to one of the best double turns in history of Professional Wrestling, as fans started to cheer for ‘Stone Cold’ and started booing Bret Hart for his despicable actions.
#3 Tommaso Ciampa turns on Johnny Gargano- NXT TakeOver: Chicago, 2017
Ever since they first stepped foot in the WWE, the duo of Tommaso Ciampa and Johnny Gargano has been nothing short of dynamic and the two men have constantly performed at the very highest level in WWE’s developmental brand of NXT.
The duo once known as DIY was the true definition of pure babyfaces and their astonishing partnership also saw them conquer the NXT Tag Team Titles when they defeated The Revival in a 2 out of 3 falls match at TakeOver: Toronto in 2016.
At the inaugural edition of NXT TakeOver: Chicago, DIY received a shot another shot at the NXT Tag Team Titles, but this time they had the daunting task of defeating The Authors of Pain in a Ladder match and what followed next was an instant 20-minute classic, and despite DIY failing to come out on top, it was Tomasso Ciampa who eventually stood tall by the end of an hectic night, claiming that it wasn’t DIY’s moment rather it was HIS moment!
Ciampa ended the evening in Toronto by turning his back on his long-time partner Johnny Gargano and disbanded DIY when he hit the latter with two running knee smashes and put him through two tables after performing the Air Raid Crash.
This truly came in as one of the most shocking moments of all time in WWE history and till date is definitely one of the best heel turns of all time, with storytelling at its absolute finest.
#2 Shawn Michaels turns on Marty Jannetty- WWF, 1992
Much like DIY, The Rockers were also considered as one of the most-beloved tag teams of all time as the duo of Shawn Michaels and Marty Jannetty dazzled fans all around the world with their unique in-ring style and psychology.
Michaels and Jannetty were an extremely successful tag team winning several tag team championship belts all for some notable promotions, however, it was always certain that out of the two men, it was Shawn Michaels who was the standout performer and was always bound to go solo and that is what exactly happened in 1992, during Brutus Beefcake’s Barber Shop segment, where both members of The Rockers were questioned by Brutus Beefcake regarding their on-going troubles.
It first appeared that both Michaels and Jannetty solved their issues as they hugged it out, but what followed next was truly another one of WWE’s most iconic moments when HBK hit the Sweet Chin Music on Marty and put him through a glass window, marking the end of The Rockers and turning heel in the process as well.
#1 Seth Rollins betrays The Shield- Raw, 2014
The chair shot heard around the world!
Speaking of iconic breakups, Seth Rollins’ betrayal of Dean Ambrose and Roman Reigns truly remains as the most shocking heel turn in WWE history so far, considering the fact that not a single member of the WWE Universe (around the world as a matter of fact) expected The Shield to disband in such a gruesome manner, given that the trio of Rollins, Ambrose, and Reigns were riding at an all-time high, following their two huge wins over the legendary Evolution.
It was without a doubt one of the biggest swerves of all time and despite a heavily teased breakup of The Shield prior to Rollins’ betrayal, this certainly did come in as a huge surprise for fans of The Shield due to the fact that the group was starting to gain a lot more popularity at that point in time and the WWE decided to disband the faction without any sort of proper beforehand teasing.
Rollins’ betrayal of The Shield and siding with Triple H, Randy Orton, and rest of The Authority was certainly unexpected and kudos to the WWE creative for tricking all of us in such an astonishing manner.
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