10 DUMB WWE Heel Turns (We Didn't Want To Admit Were GENIUS!)

Meanwhile, this one might've panned out better without the awkward (and unnecessary) tacked on racism. Surely WWF creative types knew by the turn of the millennium that lazily leaning on sensitive topics like that as a crutch was foolish. Apparently not, because they had Rikishi blast the company for picking Steve Austin over The Rock.

Again, fine if Kish was simply standing up for family, but that wasn't the core reason given for why he mowed down Austin at Survivor Series 1999. Despite the ridiculous allegations from the big Samoan, his heel turn was a quirky choice that could've paid off. After all, the big man had shown his chops in-ring and had succeeded as a dancing babyface attraction. Maybe he had more to offer?

Yeah, maybe, but not with the racism stuff that didn't even ring true - Rocky had been a multi-time WWF Champ and WrestleMania headliner, and the rise of Austin was framed by company chiefs actively trying to hold him down. Not The Rock. Rikishi looking out for family and working in some sort of early Bloodline story was the genius part.

The rest? Nah.