10 Real-Life Wrestling Heels Who Turned Babyface

3. Edge

Triple H Enemy Saviour
WWE

Was a heel because...

He was an adulterer.

You don't bang another man's missus, no matter how tantalising the brief flash of thong. It's just not cricket, but Edge smashed Matt Hardy's manhood over the boundary with a six. He ruined another man's life for a long time there, and escaped much if not all of the the vitriol because it was, of course, the woman's fault. Edge was rewarded with an absolutely, awesomely entertaining main event run, while poor Lita was slut-shamed on her way out.

Turned babyface by...

Just being tremendous at his craft. Edge was among the last of an old breed. He was an honest-to-f*cking goodness TV star who could do it all; he could work, he could talk, he could transcend WWE tropes with his outrageous character work and comedic instincts. A true master of all trades, this respect intensified when Edge was forced into a shock retirement by 2011. His graceful exit and quiet, improbable, magical return has brought that legacy into focus, and his wholesome marriage to Beth Phoenix would have helped his perception all the more, if he were a woman.

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Michael Sidgwick is an editor, writer and podcaster for WhatCulture Wrestling. With over seven years of experience in wrestling analysis, Michael was published in the influential institution that was Power Slam magazine, and specialises in providing insights into All Elite Wrestling - so much so that he wrote a book about the subject. You can order Becoming All Elite: The Rise Of AEW on Amazon. Possessing a deep knowledge also of WWE, WCW, ECW and New Japan Pro Wrestling, Michael’s work has been publicly praised by former AEW World Champions Kenny Omega and MJF, and current Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes. When he isn’t putting your finger on why things are the way they are in the endlessly fascinating world of professional wrestling, Michael wraps his own around a hand grinder to explore the world of specialty coffee. Follow Michael on X (formerly known as Twitter) @MSidgwick for more!