10 Great Babyface Wrestlers Who Became SHOCKINGLY Good Heels

10. Johnny Gargano

When Johnny Gargano returned to NXT in 2026, it was a big deal. 

That's because he was essentially the face of the brand during his initial stint there. After he was betrayed by his tag team partner Tommaso Ciampa, he became the ultimate sympathetic hero. 

He worked his way up from a doubles wrestler to a bonafide singles star, culminating with a epic battle against Ciampa at TakeOver: New Orleans in 2018. However, it would be this hatred of his bearded ex-friend that would eventually drive him to the dark side. 

Gargano first turned heel when it was revealed that he had attacked Aleister Black prior to TakeOver: Brooklyn IV. This run was full of brilliant character moments, as Johnny attempted to justify his actions. You could argue that this wasn't his best heel run, though. 

That came a few years later, when he formed the faction, The Way. Alongside Candice LeRae, Austin Theory, and Indi Hartwell, Gargano played a brilliantly funny patriarch struggling to keep his dysfunctional family in line. 

Whether serious or funny, Gargano made a surprisingly strong villain.