10 Wrestling Face/Heel Turns That Shouldn't Have Worked (But Did)

Hulk Hogan's 1996 heel turn saved his career.

Fans were at the end of their wick with the WCW star, whose big, bold babyface persona peaked long before he joined the company in the first place. Still, his unveiling as the New World Order's "third man" was nothing short of shocking.

'The Hulkster' had been presented as the ultimate action hero since rising to prominence in the '80s. The idea of him switching roles was preposterous, but it worked. 'Hollywood' Hogan underwent a swift character U-turn, immediately becoming the sport's biggest heel, and the nWo's new figurehead. It extended his viability as a genuine main eventer long after his athletic peak, and without it, there's a strong chance Hulk wouldn't have made it back to WWE in 2002.

Speaking of Hogan's return, this prompted another unlikely turn at WrestleMania X8, where he faced The Rock. It was era vs. era, generation vs. generation, and while Hulk was still representing the nWo's black and white (and clearly positioned as the villain), the fans were firmly behind him. His worsening reputation as a notorious backstage politician and rampant egoist made this all the more surprising, and while Hogan's goodwill eventually evaporated, nobody can deny him this moment.