10 Big Turns WWE Must Make In 2017

4. Kevin Owens (Face)

Roman Reigns
WWE.com

He’s technically Raw’s biggest bad guy at the moment, but Kevin Owens just isn’t a good heel. He’s an !*$%, sure, but that’s as far as it goes. KO’s dedication to his family, quick wit, and crowd-pleasing wrestling style make it impossible to boo the guy, and his role as a weak Universal Champion who can’t win without shenanigans and misdirection is doing him no favours whatsoever.

Simply put, Kevin Owens isn’t good at making people dislike him. He was a tremendous borderline-psychopathic heel during the Ring of Honor chapter of his feud with Sami Zayn, but the shoe doesn’t fit in WWE. His cheers usually outweigh his boos, and if he were to turn face tomorrow, his already immense popularity would quickly go through the roof.

Owens’ style, charisma, affability on social media, and compelling motivations make him an ideal babyface. He’s already more endearring than 90% of WWE’s apparent “good guys,” and if he were to rage against Raw’s authority figures instead of playing a happy servant, Owens would be the best babyface in the company. If WWE had run the Owens/Rollins feud with the roles reverse, things would likely be going a whole lot smoother than they have been.

Channel Manager
Channel Manager

Andy has been with WhatCulture for eight years and is currently WhatCulture's Wrestling Channel Manager. A writer, presenter, and editor with 10+ years of experience in online media, he has been a sponge for all wrestling knowledge since playing an old Royal Rumble 1992 VHS to ruin in his childhood. Having previously worked for Bleacher Report, Andy specialises in short and long-form writing, video presenting, voiceover acting, and editing, all characterised by expert wrestling knowledge and commentary. Andy is as much a fan of 1985 Jim Crockett Promotions as he is present-day AEW and WWE - just don't make him choose between the two.