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

Things were different for AJ Styles in 2016. He'd only just joined WWE as a full-timer for the first time at Royal Rumble in January, but turned heel in a memorable angle opposite John Cena in May. Yep, a mere five months into his run with the company and here was AJ ditching the fans. Some thought that was premature.

The rebels out there continued cheering him defiantly, but Styles was an ironclad villain on WWE TV and everyone would have to accept it. Besides, it became clear fairly early on that being heel suited AJ better than being babyface had. He wasn't a terrible good guy by any means, but there was something lacklustre about the baby stint.

Going heel changed Styles into somebody Vince McMahon viewed as a viable WWE Champion, and the rivalry vs. longtime poster boy Cena was a positive step towards that distinction. Were people properly ready to stop rallying behind AJ? Not quite, but even those who turned their noses up at the turn initially had to admit it worked out well.

Styles became a made man in WWE circles.