10 DUMB WWE Face Turns (We Didn't Want To Admit Were GENIUS!)
WWE doesn't always book babyfaces well, but these turns don't deserve the hate!
Ask most pro wrestlers (outside of a select few) which alignment they prefer, and they'll probably cut off your question to yell, "HEEL ALL DAY LONG" right in your face. There's a reason for that. Playing the bad guy is easier than good, especially in the modern era. Cool anti-heroes like the nWo and Steve Austin changed the rules in the 1990s, and the biz hasn't really looked back.
Cool heels are easier to play than cool babyfaces. Simple as that.
Holier than thou babies like Cody Rhodes have helped usher in a comeback for the heroic 'blue eye', but that's still hardly commonplace in WWE or elsewhere. With that in mind, triggering a solid baby turn can be torturous for bookers and creative teams. The whole thing can blow up in everyone's faces (ahem) if they're not careful.
Some baby turns look stupid at first, but all of the ones featured here ranged between modest to unbelievable success. They prolonged careers, showed off a different side to workers, and/or furnished top storylines with a hot angle that kept them purring.
Dumb? Nah, mate. Genius is the word!
10. Baron Corbin (2024)
Bet no-one expected to see this guy out first.
Baron Corbin entered X-Pac style 'go away heat' territory during his interminable run as 'Constable' and as Kurt Angle's final opponent. People were sick of him, and that continued through his miserable stint as 'King'. Then, something incredible happened: Baron stumbled upon the potential for an unlikely babyface turn.
WWE had actually missed the chance to explore this further when Corbin went from 'King' to a down on his luck loser. They got cold feet and decided to go with the dull Happy Corbin instead. That sucked, and could've been a career killer had he not bolted for the sanctuary of NXT and rebuilt everything people knew about him.
Baron's tag-team with Bron Breakker revived his fortunes. Main roster fans got a break from Corbin, and he started to thrive as a face on the developmental brand. Also, for the first time in a long time, it looked like Baron was able to cut loose and have fun in front of crowds. He's carried some of that momentum back onto SmackDown.
Giving Corbs some breathing room on NXT was shrewd.