The inability to produce baby faces that fans can rally around has been a major criticism WWE has faced for a while now. And it would be wrong to say that 2016 changed this. Apart from certain names that benefited from their past glory, WWE failed to create baby faces that won over the WWE Universe.
Just like all the years that went by, WWE did have Superstars that were ‘faces’ on paper. The storylines were designed to project them as good guys but this is not the only factor that decides whether a wrestler is a successful babyface. It also depends on the how the fans react to him.
The most recent success story that we could point out as an example is that of Daniel Bryan. Bryan’s WrestleMania run a few years back showcased the perfect recipe for a baby face. He was a good guy on paper and he had immense support from the fans.
Such a Superstar that succeeds on both grounds was something that WWE missed this year around. They had names like Roman Reigns who were baby faces on paper, but when it came to fan support, Reigns struggled.
This has been the story of almost all the babyface Superstars in the company. But within their limitations and restrictions, a good portion of them did excel and we will be ranking them in this list.
The ranking is based on the fan poll that we conducted on our Facebook Page.
#10 Bayley
A rare specimen of a pure babyface, Bayley spent a good portion of 2016 down in NXT. She made her main roster debut mid-way through 2016 but when we are talking about baby faces, it’s hard to exclude someone like Bayley.
She is incredibly hard to hate and with the pleasant character that she showcases, Bayley is someone that deserves to be acknowledged whenever there is a talk about faces.
Unlike her companions from the Four Horsewomen, Bayley was kept away from main roster gold in 2016 but did end up treating us to some memorable performances. Towards the end of 2016, Bayley was put into the Raw Women’s Championship scene.
2017 could see Bayley win the title from Charlotte but as for 2016, the year should be seen as a warm-up for the former NXT Women’s champion.
#9 Becky Lynch
Another member of the Four Horsewomen, Becky Lynch benefited big time from the brand split. Becky was drafted to SmackDown and unlike the case with Raw; the blue brand’s Women’s division had to start from scratch. A new Women’s championship was soon introduced and Becky was crowned the inaugural champion.
She would then carry the Championship for a long time, while on Raw, the Women’s championship was accused of being passed around like a hot potato. Both Becky and the title benefited and throughout her journey, she remained a babyface performer.
Working the triple threat match at WrestleMania was another highlight of the year for Becky even though she was on the losing side.
#8 Dolph Ziggler
If we talk about achievements, an Intercontinental Championship is what Ziggler earned this year. He did flirt around with numerous other Championships over the year but failed to get that big win which matters the most. As the years that went by, the in-ring performance of Ziggler was top notch this year also.
He gave some memorable matches for the fans and once again proved to WWE that he is someone they could trust. Speaking of his baby face prowess, Ziggler always has fan support, as a good portion of the fanbase believes that he has not been pushed with respect to the talent that he has.
This is true to a certain extent and, in turn, this makes the fan support of Ziggler based on sympathy. Ziggler still has some quality years ahead of him and as his status within the company has improved drastically after the brand split, we could expect some big things from Ziggler next year.
#7 Shane McMahon
After a gap of nearly seven years, Shane McMahon would return to WWE this year. Shane went straight into a power struggle with his father and this would, in turn, land him in a match with the Undertaker at WrestleMania 32. This is where Shane stole the show.
He performed a death-defying drop from the top of the cell during the match, and it was perhaps one of the best moments of the year.
Going up against someone like Undertaker was not good for Shane when it came to showcasing his baby face skills. But later, the brand split and the feud with his sister gave Shane a chance to show the world that the fans are behind him.
#6 John Cena
John Cena took a lighter schedule this year around. But his star power was on showcase every time he stepped into the squared circle. Cena is a polarising figure in the chart that we saw on our introduction slide. He is a baby face on paper and there is a portion of fans that support him. But this doesn’t mean the entire WWE Universe is behind him.
As for how 2016 went, injury had kept Cena away for the initial part of the year. He did appear alongside The Rock at WrestleMania but the best part of the year for Cena came when he locked horns with AJ Styles.
Cena recently made his return and resumed his storyline with Styles and we could expect a lot from these two.
#5 Sami Zayn
Just like Bayley, Sami Zayn is one of those Superstars that are hard to hate. 2016 was a roller coaster year for Zayn. His friction with Kevin Owens started way back in Royal Rumble and these two would then go on to participate in the Intercontinental championship match at WrestleMania.
A multi pay-per-view storyline with Owens would follow and the matches that these two delivered were a treat to the fans. Sami was also part of the Money in the Bank match this year. The brand split, however, would slow down Zayn but he once again peaked thanks to Braun Strowman of all people.
With Monday Night Raw struggling without baby face main event for the most part of the year, WWE did have a great opportunity with Zayn but unfortunately, 2016 wasn’t the year for him.
#4 Goldberg
Goldberg made a triumphant return to WWE this year and to be frank, he was one of the best babyface wrestlers that WWE saw this year. If it wasn’t for just a short time period, Goldberg would’ve ranked higher up in the ranks.
To understand why Goldberg was a successful babyface, first, we have to forget the match he had with Brock Lesnar for a second. Goldberg returned to WWE as a family man. And during his initial promo, he said that his wife and son will be seeing him in action for the first time.
This reveal made it easy for the fans to support Goldberg. For everyone who sat and watched Raw with their children, it became easy to connect. And his win against Lesnar was the cherry on top. On paper and with the fans, Goldberg was a hit and it was simple storytelling that helped him.
#3 Roman Reigns
Now, in the first slide, we mentioned the difference between being a baby face on paper and being a baby face that has the support of the fans. Reigns belongs in the former category. WWE has been trying to push him as a top face in the promotion for quite some time now and these efforts were seen in 2016 as well.
Reigns started the year as the WWE World Heavyweight champion but would drop the title to Triple H at Royal Rumble only to win it again at WrestleMania. A title drop to Seth Rollins and a wellness policy followed for the Samoan Superman but he came back strongly after the brand split.
He would go on to capture the United States Championship and end 2016 just the way he started it: as champion.
#2 Sasha Banks
2016 was a breakout year for Sasha Banks. She started off her year as part of Team BAD and would then be part of history at WrestleMania, where she competed in the Triple Threat match for the newly introduced WWE Women’s championship. Sasha did not win the title at WrestleMania but her luck changed once WWE introduced the brand split.
Sasha and Charlotte would go on to become the focal point of Raw’s Women’s division. The duo reached many milestones on their journey, with main eventing a WWE pay-per-view being the standout moment.
Sasha became a three-time Raw Women’s champion and though there is criticism about the title getting the ‘hot potato’ treatment, in the record books, she is still a three-time Champion no matter what.
#1 Dean Ambrose
Dean Ambrose is a baby face. But unlike the ones that go out there to please fans, Ambrose has a character that does whatever he wants, irrespective of whether the fans like it. At times, it feels like that he doesn’t even care what the fans think. But the booking of Ambrose has been that of a clear-cut babyface and this is what lands him on the list.
The year started with the Intercontinental Championship feud for Ambrose and he was the runner-up of this year’s Royal Rumble as well. A showdown with Brock Lesnar at WrestleMania brought Ambrose attention but as he mentioned later in an interview, the match would’ve been more entertaining if WWE had let him do the things he wanted.
Another high point in the year for Ambrose was winning the Money in the Bank briefcase. He wasted no time and cashed in on the same night to win the WWE World Heavyweight Championship.
He would then go on to save the face of SmackDown Live ahead of the brand split by defeating his Shield brothers to take the WWE championship to Tuesday night. With so much to show for the year, it has been a great year for Ambrose and hopefully, he would be able to carry forward the momentum to 2017 as well.
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