10 Shocking Heel Turns That Rocked WWE

3. Sgt. Slaughter Betrays His Country

As aforementioned, Xenophobia can be a tough sell in pro wrestling. That didn't stop the WWF from capitalising on rising tension in the Middle East by betraying Sgt. Slaughter's prior American patriotism and turning the cartoonish G.I Joe into an Iraqi sympathiser in 1990.

Controversy quickly followed.

Turning his back on the United States entirely, Slaughter was aligned with General Adnan and Colonel Mustafa (played by The Iron Sheik). This was a massive departure for Slaughter, who had previously been a standard military man proud of his heritage and willing to defend his country's honour against all comers. Now, Sarge was batting for the other team.

So successful was the heel turn that the WWF decided to put the WWF Title on Slaughter at the 1991 Royal Rumble. The reign didn't last long, though; he was only ever there to put Hulk Hogan over at WrestleMania VII and slink back into the background by the tail end of '91.

Still, what a reinvention.