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Just like every superhero needs a villain, every babyface needs a heel. Playing a heel in WWE is easier said than done. Fans don’t just have to hate you but they have to love to hate you. This is where things could get tricky. The past few months have seen some sudden heel and face turns out of nowhere. These heel turns have worked out well.
Looking at the entire WWE roster, we can see there are a few wrestlers who are in need of a desperate heel turn to make their character a little bit more interesting. Moreover, some of those wrestlers seem to be stuck as a babyface when they really should be heels. Therefore, a heel turn seems imminent.
Hence, we have prepared a list of 6 WWE wrestlers that could turn heel in 2019.
#6 Bobby Roode
Fans who have followed Bobby Roode in TNA will know just how good he is at portraying a heel. He portrayed a heel almost poetically that fans just loved to hate him. But, you don’t have to look so far into the past to see his heel side.
Bobby Roode debuted in NXT as a heel. He was so good that he immediately climbed the ladder of success in NXT and soon became the brand’s top champion. However, towards the end of his run as champion, he turned face. He also debuted on SmackDown as a babyface.
As a babyface, he hasn’t anything noteworthy apart from winning the United States Championship and the Tag Team Titles. Bobby Roode’s character is slowly becoming stale and is in need of a desperate heel turn. Considering the fact that he is a natural born heel, more fans could get behind him which could also lead to a main event push.
Given the fact that Roode is currently teaming with Chad Gable, he would first have to sever ties with his partner since Chad may not be suited to play a heel. Roode’s heel turn could be tricky, but if pulled off properly, it could lead to some amazing storylines.
#5 Asuka
Asuka received a huge push upon her arrival in NXT. She garnered huge reactions from the NXT crowd and was one of their top headliners. The former NXT Women’s Champion held an undefeated streak that spanned over 500 days.
Hence, when she was called up to the main roster, he was pushed immediately. She won the first ever Women’s Royal Rumble match and went on to challenge Charlotte Flair for the Women’s title at WrestleMania 34. She lost the match to Charlotte thus ending her undefeated streak.
After her first loss, she wasn’t used properly until recently when she came of nowhere to win the Smackdown Women’s Championship at TLC.
Now as champion, it could a perfect time for Asuka to turn heel before next year’s WrestleMania. She could potentially do a whole better as a heel and this could further enhance her career. Look at what turning heel did to Becky Lynch.
It catapulted her character to the next level and the same could happen with Asuka.
#4 Sasha Banks
Sasha Banks was one of the most dangerous women during her days in NXT. She was a revered champion who would go to any lengths to win. But most importantly, Sasha was a really good heel. She had the in-ring skills and the persona to portray a heel.
However, when she debuted on the main roster as part of the Women’s Revolution, she turned face due to the over the top reactions she was getting from the fans.
She was touted as the future of the women’s division along with Charlotte Flair and the two would go on to have many history-making matches that would later define the women’s division. But her stardom has dwindled over the past couple of months. Hence, now would be a great time for Sasha Banks to turn heel and embrace her dark side.
‘The Boss’ has proved that she is a naturally gifted heel and it would make her character interesting again. WWE could have her turn on her best friend Bayley which could kickstart a feud between the two. Since they both possess such great chemistry in the ring, it could make for some interesting matches for 2019.
#3 AJ Styles
AJ Styles is undoubtedly one of the best wrestlers in the world right now. He spent the better part of 2018 as WWE Champion. Styles participated in notable feuds against Shinsuke Nakamura, Samoa Joe and is currently feuding with Daniel Bryan.
However, when AJ Styles first debuted in WWE, he quickly turned heel which added a level of finesse to his already “phenomenal” gimmick. But as of late, many fans have started criticizing AJ’s work.
Even Vince McMahon told him that he (AJ Styles) was holding back from who he really his. Styles showed that he is versatile enough to pull off a heel role and he would definitely the more preferred heel in his feud with Daniel Bryan.
We may be closer to witnessing a heel turn from AJ as recent incidents on Smackdown has indicated. This could be the perfect time for him to reuse the anti-hero gimmick that he used during the end of his run in TNA.
#2 Ronda Rousey
Ronda Rousey has been one of the biggest talking points in the women’s division. Ronda made a successful transition from MMA to the WWE and won the RAW Women’s Championship in the process.
She has been a fighting champion ever since defeating everyone who stood in her way. Despite this, Ronda’s character seems a bit week. She was portrayed as this week little girl who had her heart broken by her best friends - Nikki and Brie Bella.
Even her friendship with Natalya and their recent match on RAW indicates anything but a fierce and ruthless champion. Therefore, a heel turn is definitely needed to solidify Ronda as the ‘baddest woman on the planet.’
She already possesses a bit of a heel demeanour with her facial expressions and her intimidating walk to the ring. WWE may not immediately turn her heel as it would make perfect sense to wait until her friend Shayna Baszler joins the main roster before they both join forces and take out the entire women’s division.
#1 The entire McMahon family
The McMahons played a huge role as heels during the attitude era. They added a new dynamic and made for some really interesting and funny storylines. Moreover, they are just really good at being the bad guys. Fans just love to hate them.
Recently, Vince McMahon announced on RAW that things are changing in the WWE. They were going to give the fans what they want. This also seemed like a face turn for Stephanie McMahon and Triple H.
But let’s face it, without the McMahons as heels, the whole dynamic has changed. While they do claim that things will get interesting, it seems highly doubtful considering the fact that the fans won’t have an authority figure to hate.
The good thing is that the McMahons don’t have to be the good guys to give the fans what they want. Look at the attitude era for example. Vince McMahon was the biggest heel in the company and the fans still got what they wanted. In fact, everyone was happy. So, the entire McMahon family should definitely go back to being heels in 2019.
