Top 5 Heel turns in WWE and WCW History

These heel turns have been the best in history. They are ranked by how shocking it is and by what impact it had on the company.

#5 Steve Austin Shakes Vince McMahons Hand

Steve Austin had one of the greatest rivalries against Vince McMahon. They fought for most of the 1990s in an intense rivalry. They fought for YEARS! But at WrestleMania 17 that all changed. After a great match against the Rock, Austin shook hands with Vince himself, turned heel, and ENDED THE ATTITUDE ERA!

#4 Shawn Michaels Sends Marty Jeannette through a Window

The rockers were one of the greatest tag teams of all time. They were joyful, colorful, and fun. That all changed in 1991. At Brutus Beefcakes Barber Shop in December of 1991. Shawn threw Marty through a glass window and then super kicked him. This changed Shawn’s career for the good. He became one of the greatest heels of all time.

#3 Bret Hart Got Booed Out Of The Ring

Bret Hart was beloved by fans across the world. He was the industries biggest babyface at the time. Bret won the biggest match of his career in an I quit match by making Austin Pass out! The fans wanted an I quit match not a first one to pass out match. What made it even worse was he attacked the unconscious Austin after the match. This was bad, REAL BAD. This moment made Hart was a heel for the rest of his career in WWE.

#2 John Cena Ruthlessly Assaults Cody Rhodes In Front Of The Final Boss

John Cena lived on hustle, loyalty, and respect. He was the top babyface of the 2000s. In 2025 John Cena was going to retire. We expected this year to be a regular Cena year. That all changed on March 1st 2025 after the Elimination Chamber match. Cody Rhodes was forced to answer the Rock's challenge. Would he sell his soul to the Rock or not. He said said he no longer had his soul. He gave it to these people and not to the Rock. Cena dabbed Cody up, but the Rock gave a signal to Cena. Cena did a LOW BLOW TO CODY RHODES! Then he ruthlessly attacked Cody Rhodes and left him a bloody mess. Cena had formed an alliance with the Rock and had turned heel for the first time in 23 years. He was now living a life of laziness, betrayal, and disrespect.

#1 Hulk Hogan Turns His Back On His Fans

The outsiders were going to have a third member to come out during a match in 1996. He WAS the greatest babyface of all time. The fans went wild whenever he came out. He was the face of WCW. Randy Savage and Sting were facing the outsiders. Then, Hulk Hogan came running in the ring. The fans thought that he was going to help his buddy, Savage. Instead he dropped a big leg drop on him!!!!! Hogan had become the third member! He was celebrating the win the outsiders had. The fans threw disgusting soda bottles at him. They were booing him just as loud as they had cheered him long ago. He formed the greatest heel group of all time called the NWO.