Top five best heel turns in 2024: WWE
(Courtesy : WWE)
These WWE stars transformed into heels and caused havoc
Just like movies and life need both heroes and villains, pro wrestling thrives on the same dynamic. I mean who doesn’t love being surprised by a sudden heel turn that alters the storyline and turns them against a star.
While face turns play on the audience’s love for redemption stories, heel turns appeal to the thrill of betrayal, shock, and the darker side of character transformation.
As 2024 comes to an end, we take a look back at five of the best heel turns in the WWE that captured the audience’s attention and in many cases changed the trajectory of the star’s career.
5. Pete Dunne
Pete Dunne’s year started with his main roster debut when he got promoted to SmackDown on 5 January 2024. This promotion helped Pete reunite with Tyler Bate, but the reunion didn’t last long as Bate was sidelined due to an injury.
This injury paved the way for a brief reunion with Sheamus, which ended when Dunne, who had previously pushed Sheamus away, ambushed him and turned heel for the first time since 2022. Dunne had despised Sheamus for giving him the ‘Butch’ nickname.
Dunne had a trilogy of grudge matches against Sheamus which the Celtic Warrior won (2-1). The promotion is hoping to repeat Dunne’s success in NXT with his heel turn.
4. Raquel Rodriguez
Raquel Rodriguez returned after a seven-month hiatus at Bad Blood PLE to save Liv Morgan as she attacked Rhea Ripley. Raquel turned heel for the first time on the main roster and joined the infamous Judgment Day faction.
This was Raquel‘s revival in the promotion following a complete dud of run in the WWE prior to her hiatus. Returning as Morgan’s enforcer the promotion can utilize her more as a brutal powerhouse that decimates anyone in her path.
3. The Rock
Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson made his electrifying return earlier this year amid much fanfare. Prior to this, Johnson was mostly seen in part-time appearances. However, the fans quickly turned on him when it was revealed that he was replacing Cody Rhodes for the WrestleMania 40 encounter with Roman Reigns.
The WWE creative team which initially thought the concept would work quickly realized and obliged with fans and reinserted Rhodes back into the storyline. The Rock turned heel subsequently and joined forces with the OG Bloodline and clashed with Rhodes ahead of the WrestleMania event.
Johnson is known for changing with the times and redefining his characters once again to channel the heel persona from the early 2000s when ‘The Final Boss’ was created. This entry might be higher up the list only if Johnson had more appearances and involvement in storylines.
2. Kevin Owens
‘The Prizefighter’ Kevin Owens has had a decent run as a face in the promotion. However, his distinct star power shined when he turned heel and attacked Cody Rhodes in the parking lot after Bad Blood PLE. Owens channeled his inner demons delivering thunderous promo and showcased utter ruthlessness.
Owens has shined in his heel phase whether he was feuding with Randy Orton or with his feud with Rhodes. KO’s story behind his heel turn is also being liked by many fans who believe his heel turn is justified. Owens’ feud with Orton and now with Rhodes has been the highlight of the year.
KO’s SNME attack and his segment and promo with the WInged Eagle title also have been well received by the audience. Rhodes and Owens are now scheduled to collide again in the 2025 Royal Rumble in a ladder match.
1. The New Day
This entry isn’t surprising for fans as none of us saw it coming and everyone hated it so much that Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods weren’t allowed to speak and were booed out of the arena in Wichita, Kansas. The hatred isn’t just limited to fans as the two stars were banned from the WWE locker room.
However, it’s unclear what WWE Creative has planned for The New Day after Woods and Kingston turned on Big E. One thing’s certain, for an uber-popular faction known for spreading positivity, their heel turn hasn’t been well received by fans. This was pretty evident when Kofi’s own mother refused to hug him on last week’s episode of Raw due to their actions against Big E.
Woods and Kingston are veterans of the game and despite turning heel for the first time since 2016, they can make the storyline work. It would be interesting to see how the storyline would progress in the next year.
What are your favorite heel turns of the year? Do you think The New Day will course-correct after the backlash from fans and the locker room? Share your thoughts and opinions in the comments section.
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