10 Wrestling Heel Turns That Totally Saved Careers
6. Neville
Up until last December, Neville looked like a certified main roster dud. The former NXT Champion struggled for airtime as a babyface, and while pushed relatively strongly in his first few months, Neville quickly became an afterthought. His wrestling ability was undeniable, but he was never allowed to show any real personality on television, and struggled to get over as a result.
The Geordie returned from a two-month absence and Roadblock: End Of The Line, destroying WWE Cruiserweight Champion Rich Swann, and kicking off his first major heel turn. Neville suddenly became one of the most compelling acts in the company, reinventing himself as a ruthless, bitter heel, while tearing a hole through 205 Live as the self-anointed ‘King Of The Cruiserweights.’
Neville has been Cruiserweight Champion since January, and his rise has coincided with a steep upturn in 205’s all-round quality. Embracing the darkside has unlock levels of personality and charisma that nobody knew existed before, and he has been made to look like a million dollars, taking no clean singles losses since the turn. Going heel has been a complete success, and should ensure Neville’s position as a WWE mainstay for years to come.