10 Wrestling Heel Turns That Totally Saved Careers
When the crowd turn on you, it's time to turn on them...
If Vince McMahon had his way, Roman Reigns would be the most popular athlete in the world. He's the company's golden boy, and the cornerstone around which their programming will be built for years to come. Unfortunately, he's also the most divisive man in wrestling, and someone who regularly draws the night's loudest heel reactions.
Getting somebody over as a babyface isn't as simple as putting them in the spotlight and saying "this is 'the guy,' now cheer for him." That kind of artificial promotion inevitably results in resentment, and when the fans don't like what they're being presented with, their backlash can be fierce.
Whenever a babyface fails, there's always a strong vocal contingent calling for them to turn heel. Reigns, like John Cena before him, is central to the argument today, but while turning isn't always a quick fix, history has proven it to be a reliable technique. Well executed heel turns have saved many a wrestler from stagnation, staleness, and in some cases, the unemployment line, giving them the vigour need to make it to the next level, with each example adding weight to the Reigns argument.
Embracing the darkside is no universal solution, of course, but it certainly worked for these guys...
10. The Usos
SmackDown’s tag division hasn’t always been treated with importance since last year’s WWE draft, but the current champions have become a shining light. The Usos turned heel last summer, targeting the struggling American Alpha in September, then claiming the fans had betrayed them for choosing to cheer Jason Jordan & Chad Gable over themselves, and that they were done trying to earn their respect.
Jimmy and Jey’s TV time fluctuated throughout the rest of the year, but their push has found a new gear in 2017. They resumed their feud with Alpha, taking their SmackDown Tag Team Championships in March, and have since established themselves as the division’s standouts. They now look set to feud with The New Day throughout the summer, having cemented their status as a top heel unit.
The Usos were going nowhere prior to their turn. It had been over a year since their last title run, and aligning with cousin Roman Reigns did little to bolster their ailing popularity. Countless teams overtook them in the pecking order, but the villainous turn has pushed them back to the top, with their new moody, aggressive characters helping them emerge as defined personalities for the first time in years.