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WWE is a sports entertainment company which not only relies on the quality of wrestling, but also significantly depends on the characters portrayed by the WWE superstars. Iconic characters like Stone Cold and The Undertaker are two of the most popular characters in the world of professional wrestling, which helped to increase the fan following of WWE product.
Naturally, in any story, there will be a protagonist and an antagonist. Even in WWE storylines, both character shades exist. Generally, a face is expected to be cheered and the heel is expected to be booed by the WWE Universe. Decades ago when kayfabe was still in full existence, these dynamics were followed by the WWE Universe.
But in the modern era, due to the rapid rise of the internet wrestling community and an increase in the number of smarks, the traditional character definitions have changed. The hard-working and talented wrestlers today are cheered, regardless of the character they portray on the television.
Babyfaces who have been repeatedly pushed ahead and featured in prominent storylines ahead of deserving hard working superstars have been experiencing the wrath of the WWE Universe in recent times.
The former WWE World Champion and global face of WWE, John Cena, is the best example of this situation, as the WWE fans mercilessly booed him at the start of the decade because he featured in the main event storylines continuously.
Here are three heels who were cheered, as well as two faces who were booed.
#5 Braun Strowman (heel)
Let's start with the most over superstar of 2017 - Braun Strowman. Braun Strowman was actually a heel for the major part of 2017, but enjoyed the crowd's love, irrespective of the character he portrayed.
He had the best feud of his career to date with The Big Dog, Roman Reigns, in 2017. This feud helped him turn into the megastar he is today. During his feud with Roman, Braun was cheered heavily by the crowd as he was beating up the Big Dog.
Braun Strowman's heel run in 2017 was one of the cases when a heel was cheered by the WWE Universe. He eventually turned face and has been a clear crowd favorite ever since.
#4 Goldberg (face)
Golberg made his long-awaited return to WWE in 2016 to square off against his biggest rival, The Beast Incarnate - Brock Lesnar, at Survivor Series that year. He shocked the entire pro wrestling world when he squashed the Beast in the main event of the PPV. Initially, upon his return to the company, he was unanimously cheered by the fans.
But as soon as he defeated Kevin Owens at WWE Fastlane in 2017 and became the Universal Champion, the WWE universe turned on him and started booing him.
#3 AJ Styles (heel)
AJ Styles made his much anticipated WWE debut back in 2016 at that year's Royal Rumble. He remained as the crowd favorite ever since then, irrespective of the character he portrayed on screen.
AJ Styles played the role of a cocky heel during his feuds with John Cena and Dean Ambrose, but was still never booed by the WWE Universe.
His immense popularity forced WWE to turn him into a babyface following those rivalries after Wrestlemania 33.
#2 Roman Reigns (face)
Roman Reigns is considered the most polarizing superstar of this generation. His presence invokes an immediate reaction from the WWE Universe - either positive or negative. Before his unfortunate departure from the company following the return of his leukemia, Roman was used to being booed out of most shows in the USA.
In all his feuds until his departure last month, Roman was portrayed as the face, but failed to get the positive reception from the crowd. His heel opponents like Braun Strowman and Brock Lesnar were heavily cheered during his feuds.
#1 Becky Lynch (heel)
"The Man" Becky Lynch turned heel at Summerslam this year when she attacked her longtime friend Charlotte Flair after losing the triple threat match for WWE Smackdown Women's Championship.
The crowd unanimously cheered Becky when she attacked the babyface Charlotte at Summerslam, and the fans continue to cheer The Man ever since then. Becky Lynch currently portrays the character of an arrogant heel champion on screen but still, the WWE universe continues to cheer her.
