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Every once in a while, a beloved babyface turns heel when they aren't quite in a position for it. While it has happened successfully before to throw the fans off, sometimes, fans just aren't ready to digest it.
Take the most recent example in August 2018 with Becky Lynch on SmackDown Live. She had the best winning streak on the blue brand, male or female. With hardly any defeats to her name and Charlotte Flair absent due to recovery from surgery, The Irish Lasskicker picked up win after win after win, defeating virtually every female star in the division on SmackDown.
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It was inevitable that she would be in the title picture, and she pinned then-champion Carmella to earn a title opportunity at SummerSlam. Enter Charlotte Flair, who returned, was handed an opportunity at beating Carmella, which she did and subsequently force herself into the title picture.
It was clear that Charlotte stole Becky's thunder and it was further proved at SummerSlam when Charlotte won the women's title. Fans, understanding Becky's frustration, didn't turn on her when she attacked Flair after the match.
It was supposed to be a heel turn for Lynch but it only made fans love her more and boo Charlotte in the process. With the turn going the opposite way from what WWE expected, it brought out a lot of justifiable anger in fans, who simply refuse to boo Lynch.
Believe it or not, this isn't the first time it's happened. There have been many superstars who fans simply refused to boo, and these were some of them.
#5 Edge - 2010
When Edge returned at the Royal Rumble in 2010, it was as a face and the fans were hot for him. He would have a feud with Chris Jericho until WrestleMania and after an unsuccessful shot at the title, he would soon move over to RAW.
After he moved to RAW, he turned heel once again after costing Randy Orton a world title shot and then insulting the fans, calling them puppets.
Fans didn't buy this and throughout his run as a heel, refused to boo him. WWE seemed to listen to them at last, as he would return to SmackDown that same year, seemingly turning face in the process. This would mark the final few months as a performer before his retirement.
#4 Stone Cold Steve Austin
When Stone Cold Steve Austin turned heel at WrestleMania X7, it was perhaps the most confusing heel turn of all time. Many in the arena thought Vince McMahon had turned face and throughout his run as a heel, fans simply didn't boo him.
When Stone Cold realized this, he relied a lot more on comedy, stating that he needed to entertain the fans in some way. This resulted in a lot of memorable comedic segments, particularly between him, Vince McMahon and Kurt Angle.
He would turn face soon after the Invasion Angle ended in 2001 and stay that way till his retirement.
#3 AJ Styles
When AJ Styles turned heel in 2016 after attacking John Cena, it was a welcome surprise for fans. However, Styles being as amazing as he was picked up steam, got edgier and even won the WWE Championship in the process.
Styles would be involved with intense feuds with Dean Ambrose and John Cena, who despite being popular babyfaces, never reached the popularity of Styles at the time. No matter what Styles would say, no matter how cocky he would act, fans would cheer him.
He would organically turn face again right after WrestleMania 33 when he officially made peace with Shane McMahon and made it clear that he didn't want to leave SmackDown Live for RAW.
#2 The Rock
When The Rock was becoming a part-time star in 2002 due to his rising success in Hollywood, fans began to turn on him, even booing him at the SummerSlam 2002 main event against Brock Lesnar.
When The Rock returned, he was aware the fans weren't happy with him, even going as far as encouraging them to boo him. It was a masterclass promo from The Great One who had the crowd in the palm of his hands.
What happened, however, was the fact that he became far more entertaining and fresh, with one of the best personas he's ever had. Fans took quick to this and soon after, outright refused to boo him, despite retiring Stone Cold Steve Austin.
The Rock would later turn face as his number of WWE appearances reduced.
#1 Hulk Hogan
When Hulk Hogan returned to WWE in 2002, it was as Hollywood Hulk Hogan along with the nWo. While he returned as a heel, being a thorn in the side of The Rock, fans refused to boo The Immortal One.
As the weeks passed, fans' love and respect for Hogan only increased, with it being clear that they simply missed having the WWE legend around. Hogan and The Rock would go on to have a dream match at WrestleMania X8 in which The Rock would be victorious.
After the match, Hogan would face an assault in the hands of his nWo stablemates Kevin Nash and Scott Hall. The Rock would come to his rescue and the two would pay respects to each other.
The following night on RAW, Hogan received an ovation that would give you chills. Hogan himself needed to take a few minutes to soak it all in. Check it out for yourself below:
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