5 Heel Turns That Worked...
5. Shawn Michaels (1997)
Shawn Michaels had spent most of 1996 as the WWE's top babyface, carrying the WWE title from Wrestlemania XII until Survivor Series. Almost all of Michaels' matches during this time were near-five star affairs, but unfortunately, business suffered during his stint as the number one guy. It was during this time that Nitro picked up ratings victory over Raw. Realizing things needed to change in order for the WWE to contend with WCW, Michaels and his friend Triple H approached Vince McMahon and lobbied for an edgier product. The result? The birth of D-Generation X, a group of rebellious heels led by Michaels. The Heartbreak Kid showed a brand new attitude, basically taking over Monday Night Raw and saying and doing anything he felt like. The best part about Michaels becoming a strong heel is that it gave Stone Cold Steve Austin (who was quickly becoming the top face of The Attitude Era), a perfect opponent for Wrestlemania XIV in early 1998. With Mike Tyson as the special enforcer, Michaels and Austin had a classic main event at the Showcase of the Immortals, where Michaels passed the torch to the Texas Rattlesnake. When a superstar's heel turn re-invigorates the company and allows you to crown a new top star, it has to be considered one of the greatest of all time.