Surprising Heel Turns and Its Success and Failures!!!
 

Over the years, there were a lot of turns in pro wrestling. For this topic, I would like to discuss people who we thought at the time would be faces for life (like Ricky Steamboat), would by surprise, turn heel.

I'll start with the two heel turns that no one knew was coming...

April 20, 1988: Barry Windham, a longtime babyface at this point in time, made a surprising heel turn by betraying Lex Luger, losing the NWA World Tag Team Championship back to Arn Anderson and Tully Blanchard, joining the Four Horsemen. The heel turn worked.

August 21, 1995: Davey Boy Smith, a longtime babyface at this point in time, made a surprising heel turn by betraying Diesel, who was asked by Smith to substitute for Lex Luger, losing to Men On A Mission, and joining Jim Cornette's group, which also included his brother-in-law Owen Hart. The heel turn worked.

Hogan-1996

December 4, 1993: Shane Douglas, a longtime face at this point in time, made a surprising heel turn by attacking Tommy Dreamer after losing the NWA ECW Tag Team Championship to Kevin Sullivan and The Tazmaniac. Douglas was subbing for Johnny Gunn. The heel turn worked.

John Cena's turn on the IWC was a complete success.

Xero, if you're going to mock this thread, it's not going to work with me.

SRS BSNS

September 19, 1999: Sting, a longtime babyface, turned heel by using a baseball bat on Hulk Hogan to win the WCW World Heavyweight title, alligning with longtime friend Lex Luger. The heel turn failed.

Surprised this thread hasn't listed 500 Japan turns.

You know, because DLVH loves shoving it in peoples' faces that he watches Japanese wrestling.

Well, not only I love Japanese wrestling, I've also follow pro wrestling from Canada, Mexico, and Europe.

No, I will never turn on Japan, CSL. If you guys don't want to take this thread seriously, then just don't post anything.

I posted a joke. Not a good one, but still, a joke. You blew it WAYYYY out of proportion. You're taking this shit too seriously, dude.

Heel turn:

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I AM A HEEL

Okay, Xero, I apologize. It's just that sometimes, people get to me, mocking my expertise and knowledge.

And yet you keep posting shit like that that make people want to do so.

lol

I created Destro 3.0 btw. How's that for a heel, albeit a failed, turn?

Your expertise and knowledge? Or your copy & paste skills?

Do you wear heels? :naughty:

Surprising heel turns for me:

Hogan - 1996 : Say no more. 50/50 with the work bit because fans loved him as a heel.
Austin- 2001: Shocking, didn't expect him to join McMahon at WM X-7. Turn didn't work as he had good reaction.
Jeff Hardy - 2010: Super marked out when he is in "They". he only just turned heel give it a chance.

About Ric Flair's "Fortune".

Why are these guys showing the 4 Horsemen sign?

It makes absolutely no sense considering there are 7 of them.

I just read that on wiki as I don't watch it, but shiiiit.

Sixx just turned heel on TNA logic.

PAUL ORNDORFF TURNING ON HULK

ANDRE TURNING ON HULK

HBK TURNING ON MARTY JANNETTY

ALL FUCKING CAPS

Actually they don't use the Four Horsemen sign. They put all their fingers up except the ring finger. Looks like a retard came up with the concept.

I like how this "heel turn" failed miserable :-\

To an extent a surprise turn was the Bret Hart Vs. Stone Cold match that ended with Bret a heel and Austin a face.
http://www.wwedvdnews.com/wp-content...0/05/wm138.jpg

I can't even do that without some of my other fingers bending down.

Back to the thread, adding on to the one's already mentioned

*Ron Garvin @ Bash 88. It was Rhodes against Windham. Garvin had been feuding with the Horsemen previously with his brother Jimmy. Around this time, The Garvins were feuding with Kevin Sullivan and his group. Ron Garvin had participated in the Tower of Doom match earlier in the show. During the Rhodes/Windham US Title match, ref takes a bump, Garvin comes out and lays out Rhodes with a right. Windham takes the match, Garvin takes the money from Dillon. This was short lived however as Garvin went to WWF soon after and was pretty much jobbed out. lol


*Hayes on Von Erich in 1982: If you have the World Class DVD, you've seen this. Christmas Night. Kerry vs Flair for the Title. Hayes was the ref. Kerry collides into Hayes by accident. Gordy slams the cage door into Kerry and the Birds turn heel. The rest is history.


*Luger on Steamboat (Crockett 89): It was at one of the Clash's. I want to say VII or VIII. I believe Steamboat wrestled Funk in the main event. After the match Luger came out and pretended to help Steamboat up and closelined him into the 2nd row. I believe the turned stemmed from Steamboat being ahead of Lex in the World Title rankings. Luger would go on to dominate the US Title scene afterwards. Steamboat would leave Crockett shortly.


*Funk on Flair (Crockett 89) Love this turn. tremendous turn and then feud afterwards. Flair wrestled Steamboat for the NWA Title at Wrestlewar 89. Terry Funk was one of the guest officials or judges. whatever they called it. Flair wins the match and afterwards, Terry asks for a Title match. Flair says nope, you have to get in line. Funk was like who the fuck are you and beats the crap out of Flair. He finished him off by piledriving Flair through a table. Classic turn. The storyline fllowing this was amazing


*Tatanka turns on Luger: Summerslam 1994. Leading up to Summerslam, Tatanka had been claiming that Luger had sold out to Dibiase. And it was one of those deals where Luger had been seen as a heel numerous times in the past that you kind of had to believe Tatanka. Tatanka was that super babyface type character. At the PPV, Dibiase comes out during the Luger/Tatanka match. Luger gets distracted and Tatanka rolls him up for the pin. After the match, Dibiase gets in the ring and Luger grabs him. Tatanka attacks Dibiase from behind and it turns out he was the one who sold out. It was pretty well executed. But Tatanka didn't do much afterwards


Cornette turns on the Dynamic Dudes: You can also call this a surprising babyface turn based on the reaction. Anyway, the backstory was Cornette wanted to manage the Dynamic Dudes as well as the Midnight Express. The Midnight Express got mad and forced a match between the two teams at Clash of Champions. Well during the match, Cornette picked a side and bashed his racket over one of the dudes. This was suppossed to lead to the crowd booing him, but instead they popped like mad. You see, the crowd hated the Dymanic Dudes. They were the John Cena of 2006. So instead of getting the Dudes over as babyfaces, it actually got the Midnight Express over as babyfaces.


Bearer on Taker: Summerslam 96: You've all seen this. Bearer nails Taker in the head with the urn and joins Mankind. This leads to the awesome Kane feud.


The rest I'll list are turns most of you probably have seen and know the whole story

HHH turns on X-pac Mania 15

Rock turns on everyone: Survivor Series 98

HBK turns on DX and X-pac. He joins the Corporation: Raw 98 or maybe early 99.

Rico turns on Billy and Chuck: Smackdown 2002. Have to mention this because this whole angle was so well excecuted. DID SOMEBODY SAY...3 MINUTES?????

Radicals turn on Foley: Raw 2000 I believe.

ECW (WWF guys) turn on WWF. Raw 2001. We all remember this. One of the best moments in wrestling history. top 10 for sure.

Heyman turns on Lesnar: Survivor Series 03? I think that was the one.

2002. ;)

Benoit on family (2007)
Lex Luger on Ms Elizabeth (2003)
Invader I on Bruiser Brody (1988)

Also let us not forget when cigarette smuggling turned heel on Dino Bravo.

Forgot D'Lo Brown on Droz (Smackdown 1999)

It hurt my hand when I tried to do it.

The reason this sign was created was because of Flair's arthritis...hence why it hurt your hands to do it. I'm sure it sucks for Fortune too...

How about when Sabu turned heel on spots being hit correctly? He's actually been a heel for a long ass time now...

Those were very good. Also, Heyman turned on Lesnar at the 2002 Survivor Series.

Holy fuck.

Eugene Heel=fail I don't have the match on me, but he fought Jim Duggan and afterward screamed "I'm special! I'M SPECIAL!" at the audience...

Funny but FAIL.

LOL. How?

How about the Hacksaw Jim Duggan heel turn in 2000, where he betrayed the U.S. for Canada.

Flair is the only one who doesn't do the fortune symbol. Flair does it horseman style.

november 11th 2009 - DLVH84's parents turn heel by giving him a computer with internet access and unleashing him on the IWC. the heel turn worked.

This one was very short-lived, it only lasted like, 5 minutes, but it pissed the HELL out of me:

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fucking broke up one of the greatest tag teams in wrestling history

AMERICAN MALES! AMERICAN MALES!

Bagwell was a joke as a face but was much better as a heel.

Plus, I was there when it happened.

would Rey Rey's heel turn in WCW count as a failure? I didn't watch back then, I want some insight.

Rey's heel turn was during the New Blood storyline, which also failed.

When the harness turned heel on Owen Hart

I don't remember that, when was it and why did Triple H turn?

When: July 22, 2002

Why: Because Shawn had a bigger pop than Hunter. (in reality, Shawn wanted to get back into the ring).

Summer July 2002. Shawn had joined the NWO as a manager, but I think Nash's quad went out, Hall was sent packing, and X-Pac was suspended or released or some shit.

Backstage, Hunter handed Shawn a bag with the old DX shirts in it, and hinted at a reunion. Shawn and Hunter came out, and the video speaks for itself.

This heel turn didn't last "five minutes" it lasted for years. It started Triple H's mega heel run when he formed Evolution and became the first ever World Heavyweight Champion.

The HEEL turn didn't last for "five minutes", rather, the Triple H FACE turn is what I was referring to. I meant to say that although Triple H and HBK being together only lasted about five minutes, watching Triple H turn on him pissed me off.

I guess I was confused since it was about SUPRISING heel turns. Triple H acting like an asshole and turning on his friends is what I expect from him.

Quoting the wrong guy, man:lol:

I loved this segment. I was buying the whole DX reunion and was floored that Shawn not only took a bump, but a Pedigree no less.

But not going all fan friendly all of a sudden, like he did there. So that was surprising.

Yea I agree. I was thrown for a loop.

I dont remember, why was Triple H looking for help? Who was he feuding with?

Let me recount that Triple H/Shawn Michaels buildup to and that exact storyline for you dumbasses who don't know what you are talking about.

• RAW JANUARY 7, 2002 - Triple H returns from his quad injury to a massive ovation in MSG.

• 2002 Royal Rumble - Triple H wins the RR match and goes on to face the Undisputed Champion, Chris Jericho, at WrestleMania X8!
• WrestleMania X8 - Triple H becomes the 2nd ever Undisputed Champion after defeating Chris Jericho with the pedigree in front of the record-setting crowd of 68,237 in the Toronto SkyDome.
• Backlash 2002 - Hulk Hogan beats Triple H for the Undisputed Title. :nono:
• Fast forward to July - Triple H's SmackDown! contract is expiring and decides to announce his decision (sign with RAW or SmackDown!) at the Vengeance Pay-Per-View event on July 21,2002!
• Triple H considers signing with SmackDown! until RAW superstar Shawn Michaels convinces his best friend Triple H to come home to Monday Night RAW!
• The very next night on RAW, Triple H and Shawn Michaels are excited to be back together and decide to raise hell like the good ol' days!
• They come out to the DX music and intro to a raucous ovation, and while doing the classic DX in-ring promo "Let's get ready to suck it!", Triple H pedigrees Shawn Michaels hard into the canvas.
• The crowd looks on in shock as RAW goes off the air.
• The next couple of weeks involve a mystery angle where Shawn Michaels head was thrown through a car window.
• It would be revealed that Triple H did it to his former best friend and now worst enemy.
• At SummerSlam 2002, Shawn Michaels made his in-ring return after over a 4 year absence due to a broken back and drug addiction.
• They put on a classic, and HBK won with a roll-up only to have his moment ruined by a vicious sledgehammer shot to the spine after the match by a bloody and bitter Triple H.
• On the August 22, 2002 edition of RAW, Triple H beat the Undertaker to become #1 contender for the Undisputed Championship.
• Later that night, it is revealed that Brock Lesnar signed a SmackDown! exclusive contract so now the Undisputed title is exclusive to SmackDown!
• The next week, Eric Bischoff debuts the World Heavyweight Championship and awards it to Triple H!
• HBK sells the injuries sustained at SummerSlam, but vows to attack at any time and tells Triple H to "Don't Hunt What You Can't Kill!"
• On the October 28, 2002 edition of RAW, Triple H is facing Kane in a casket match. Triple H opens the casket only to reveal Shawn Michaels and get a superkick!
• The next week, Triple H gets superkicked by HBK when HBK runs down during his tag match.
• At the 2002 Survivor Series, HBK wins the World Heavyweight Championship in the first ever Elimination Chamber.
• Triple H and Shawn Michaels have a 3 Stages of hell match at Armageddon in December, which HHH wins.
• The feud takes a break while HBK/Y2J is set up through WrestleMania XIX.
• The feud picks back up a year later in late December 2003, which leads to a great match on the December 29, 2003 edition of RAW in San Antonio, TX. The match ends in a double pin which is a draw which means Triple H retains the World Championship!
• Royal Rumble 2004 - Triple H and Shawn Michaels compete in a Last Man Standing Match for the World Title which ends in a double count-out...Triple H retains!
• WrestleMania XX - In a triple threat match C**** B***** defeated Shawn Michaels and Triple H by making Triple H submit to win the World Title.
• Backlash 2004 - A rematch of the WrestleMania XX main event, only this time C**** B***** made Shawn Michaels tap out to retain.
• Bad Blood 2004 - Shawn Michaels and Triple H basically end this rivalry in an almost hour-long Hell in a Cell match. Triple H wins.
• They acted very cold toward each other until 2006, when Triple H turned face and both did crotch chops at WrestleMania 22 and made chants of "Suck It!" and "DX" cool again.
• WWE saw dollar signs and buyrates and D-X reunited for a 4 year run.
• Shawn Michaels retired at WrestleMania XXVI and Triple H is preparing for his epic return from injury.

Thanks for that piece of info.

This was a great thread idea. Shame it turned out this way.

Paul Bearer turning on the Undertaker to end of the Boiler Room Brawl was so gut wrenching for me.

Some other ones:

-Jake Roberts turning on the Ultimate Warrior and aligning with the Undertaker after Jake made Warrior go through a series of tests to learn the powers of the darkside so he could beat Taker. This one gets overlooked because Warrior got fired shortly after the turn and the feud never gained steam. But the turn was incredibly.

-Shawn Michaels turning on Marty Jannetty. Was a huge shock for me even though looking back it was clear it was coming.

-Matt Hardy turning on Jeff at Royal Rumble 09. We were buying into the Christian return hype so this one was a big swerve too. Ended up not doing much but the turn was good.

god, I forgot one of my favorite "surprising" turns ever. Slamboree 98. Scott Hall turned on Kevin Nash and helped Giant and Sting win the tag titles. That came out of nowhere. I love watching the crowd during the turn cause if could see the 1000+ people within camera view simutaneously go :eek: