WWE is more than just high-flying moves and dramatic finishes. At its core, it’s about storytelling. One of the main twists in these stories is the “heel turn.”
If you’ve ever watched a beloved wrestler suddenly turn on a tag team partner, cheat to win, or insult the fans, you’ve seen a heel turn in action.
This dramatic shift can change the entire storyline of WWE overnight, creating unforgettable moments and legendary rivalries.
What Does a Heel Turn and Babyface Mean in WWE?
To understand a heel turn, it’s important to know the main roles in wrestling storytelling – heel and babyface.
Heel:
This is the villainous role. A heel is a character fans love to hate, often breaking rules, cheating, and creating tension. The goal? To generate heat from the crowd and ignite rivalries, making fans emotionally invest in the story.
Babyface (or simply “face”):
The hero, or “face,” fights with honesty and fairness. They avoid underhanded tactics, stand up to challenges, and win the crowd’s support and cheer by doing the right thing.
A heel turn occurs when a wrestler suddenly switches sides and begins playing the villain.
This can be as sudden as hitting a friend over the back with a steel chair, or as subtle as gradually adopting sneaky tactics until the crowd turns against them.
Conversely, a face turn occurs when a wrestler who was once booed changes their behavior and becomes a fan favorite.
Key Differences Between Heel and Face Superstars
WWE depends on the clear difference between heroes and villains to attract viewers. Here’s a breakdown of what makes them different:
| Aspect | Heel (Bad Guy) | Babyface (Good Guy) |
| Attitude | Cocky, sneaky, and mean | Honest, humble, and confident |
| Tactics | Cheats to win, uses distractions or weapons | Wins fair and square, never breaks the rules |
| How They Treat Fans | Insults or mocks fans and other wrestlers | Thanks fans, shows respect and kindness |
| Motivation | Only cares about winning and power | Fights for what’s right, never gives up |
| Look & Style | Wears dark clothes, serious entrance music | Wears colorful gear, upbeat entrance music |
Heels and faces aren’t fixed roles. A wrestler can walk the line or switch sides entirely, keeping WWE’s stories unpredictable and fresh.
Sometimes, a character blurs the lines, these “tweeners” might be loved for their rebellious attitude (think of Stone Cold Steve Austin), even while breaking the rules.
Famous WWE Heel Turns in WWE
Some of the most electrifying moments in WWE history involve heel turns. Here are some legendary examples:
Hulk Hogan Joined the nWo in 1996
In a historic moment, at WCW Bash at the Beach 1996, Hulk Hogan, who had spent over a decade as the ultimate all-American hero, shocked the world by turning heel for the first time in his nearly fifteen-year career.
During the main event, Hogan entered the squared circle seemingly to help WCW loyalists, only to deliver a leg drop to Randy Savage and join Scott Hall and Kevin Nash. This shocking betrayal marked the formation of the New World Order (nWo).
The fans were so outraged that they threw trash into the ring, booing the man they once idolized.
Reflecting on his shocking heel turn at Bash at the Beach 1996, Hulk Hogan opened up about the moment in an A&E interview.
“It was just crazy when I came out. I wanted that natural reaction from the fans. How could our hero stab us in the heart?” (Timestamp: 1:45-1:54)
Hogan further added,
“When I was in the ring, they were cutting the promo with Scott and Kevin, me and Jean, and they started throwing the stuff. I felt the building rumbling. I said, Oh, man, we might have a riot in here.” (Timestamp: 4:21-4:34)
Hogan’s heel turn not only reinvented his career as “Hollywood Hogan” but also became one of the most iconic and game-changing moments in wrestling history.
Stone Cold Steve Austin Sided with Vince McMahon at WrestleMania 17, 2001
At WrestleMania 17’s main event, in front of a packed Houston crowd, Stone Cold Steve Austin surprised the WWE Universe by shaking hands with Vince McMahon, the boss he had feuded with for years.
During a brutal No Disqualification match against The Rock for the WWF Championship, Austin accepted McMahon’s help, using a steel chair multiple times to beat down The Great One and win the title.
Fans watched in disbelief as the rebellious anti-hero aligned himself with the man he had spent years feuding with.
Seth Rollins Betrayed The Shield in 2014
On June 2, 2014, episode of Monday Night RAW, fans were left stunned when Seth Rollins betrayed The Shield, the dominant faction that consisted of The Visionary, Roman Reigns, and Dean Ambrose (aka Jon Moxley).
Just one night after the trio defeated Evolution in a No Holds Barred six-man tag team elimination match at Payback, Rollins shocked the WWE Universe by turning on Ambrose and Reigns and attacking them with a chair. He then rejoined The Authority, turning heel once again.
It marked the end of The Hounds of Justice’s first run and launched Rollins into a major singles push.
Supported by The Authority, he quickly rose to main-event status and eventually became WWE Champion.
John Cena’s 2025 Heel Turn at Elimination Chamber
In a shocking moment for fans, John Cena turned heel at the 2025 Elimination Chamber, ending his nearly 20-year run as WWE’s ultimate good guy.
After The Cenation Leader won the Elimination Chamber match, he attacked Cody Rhodes and sold his ‘soul’ to The Rock. Cena then aligned himself with The Final Boss and vowed to “ruin” wrestling for fans and retire as champion.
Known for his “Never Give Up” attitude, The Franchise Player defeated Rhodes at WrestleMania 41 with help from Travis Scott to win the Undisputed WWE Championship, becoming a record 17-time world champion.
