10 Wrestling Heel Turns That Totally Saved Careers
5. Honky Tonk Man
The Honky Tonk Man is widely regarded as one of the most effective heels of his generation, but his WWE run started down a very different path. Debuting as a babyface Elvis impersonator, Honky was originally intended as the company’s equivalent of ‘The Boogie Woogie Man’ Jimmy Valiant, but the fans never took to him. They rejected Honky’s presentation, turning on him as a process, and after a series of promos asking the fans for a “vote of confidence,” he was transformed into a cool, cocky heel.
Paired with manager Jimmy Hart, Honky took to smashing guitars over his opponent’s heads, and entered a lengthy feud with Jake Roberts, whom he defeated at WrestleMania III. The longest Intercontinental Title reign of all-time followed, with the HTM making great use of his champion’s advantage to score multiple defences through intentional count-outs and disqualifications, making him one of the company’s most reviled heels.
Fans were desperate for the cowardly cheater to drop the belt, and they got their wish at SummerSlam 1989, when the Ultimate Warrior ended his reign at 454 days. It remains one of the all-time great heel title runs, and represents a stunning turnaround from his listless early days.