10 Most SHOCKING WWE Heel Turns

From CM Punk's turn on The Rock at Raw 1000 to Kevin Owens' betrayal of Chris Jericho during the Festival of Friendship, these are the 10 Most SHOCKING WWE Heel Turns.
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[@azrael_ao1]

Can we appreciate the brilliance that is Kevin Owens heel turning on Chris Jericho while already being a heel? 😂😂😂😂

[@theyankeepower4527]

SUPER HEEL

[@RuanAntunes7]

I can't count this as a Heel turn because Kevin Owens was already a Heel.

[@jakehowell3069]

So it was a Jericho FACE TURN 🤦🤦

[@RuanAntunes7]

@@Boozer13 believe it or not but that's how Face turns work sometimes..... especially when a heel team breaks up in similar fashion.

[@theaftermath7587]

That was an awesome turn!

[@talonthehand]

Owens on Jericho still hurts. “How come my name’s on it?” Fucking crying

[@JungleBunkRootsMusic2022]

One of the few times when a heel has ANOTHER heel turn. One of the best raw segments all time imo.

[@JaimeD.]

I really was shocked they broke up but it was a brilliant moment in modern WWE.

[@StraightEdgeFury]

Man my eyes are sweating

[@austinwilliams7919]

Top 10 anime betrayals

[@SethPlummer]

One could say it was a double turn. Owens turned into a mega heel, and Jericho turned face

[@Jake_Owens]

Seth Rollins turning on The Shield felt like a slow motion moment. I just remember shouting NOOOOO when he took a step back to swing chair

[@philipbolin6776]

There's a guy in the audience that said the same

[@Jake_Owens]

@@philipbolin6776I promise you that wasn’t me lol. But watching that moment from home, I had the same reaction

[@OnMyLunchBreak07]

Bruh i remember early that episode talking to my brother about how big a fan I had become of them. "I'm really starting to love the Shield. It's gonna be a sad day when they break up :(" Fast forward 2 hours later...

[@saintnick7252]

As someone who hated the Shield, especially Ambrose, my reaction was the opposite; while everyone else around me gasped and was silent, I jumped up and shouted a euphoric "YEEEESSSSS!!!!" as that chair collided into the back of Mumbles McMicrophone

[@everxvi]

I remember my eyes were wide open as Rollins was about to swing the chair and as the moment it hit Reigns' back my heart drop

[@liamhemstock2286]

I’d say the Ambrouse heel turn on Rollins was shocking. We all knew at some point it was going to happen but NO ONE thought it would be not only when they won the tag titles but when their best friend Roman announces he has been told he had leukaemia. Michael Cole shouting “NOT TONIGHT. NOT ON THIS NIGHT” was actually pretty good as well and Ambrouse and Rollins sold the angle expertly. It’s a shame the feud was crap because the heel turn was perfect

[@Tbro2303]

Sucks to admit it as well considering the after results.

[@jjthecat9692]

That was probably the last time I was legitimately shocked at something on WWE television. I seem to recall we were all expecting Ambrose to turn on Seth at some point but DEFINITELY NOT on that night. That was really ballsy.

[@thefrankster875]

I guess Adam’s censoring Ambrose’s name too, lol jk, I agree, I think it should’ve made the list

[@wowbronah2581]

Hey just wanted to tell you that Jesus loves you and died on the cross for your sins and rose from the dead 3 days later. Get a relationship with God and Jesus and repent for your sins and Live for Christ and not the world and allow God and Jesus into your hearts. God and Jesus are trying to save you from going to hell. Hell is NOT a joke✝️✝️✝️✝️✝️✝️✝️✝️

[@adambennett2737]

Rollins did it first

[@TheThird1977]

Surprised Shawn turning on Jannetty was so low on the list. On a different note, I love the generational symmetry and karma with the KO / Y2J turn. Shawn throws Jannetty through glass in the 90's, Jericho throws Shawn through glass in the 00's, and Owens throws Jericho through glass in the 10's. Kevin needs to avoid windows, big TVs, and mirrors for the rest of his career.

[@bunyan4.20]

I mean we all kind of seen it coming really if you paid close attention

[@novairahmed7411]

Kevin should also pies as well.

[@liammcnamara5400]

Matt on Jeff at the 2009 royal rumble should be on the list, truly didn’t see that coming

[@JerzeyJimmy]

probably because it was supposed to be Christian!

[@topguntk870]

yes underrated heel turn

[@tamzidmohsinkhan3333]

Wish Chris Jericho vs Kevin Owens match for Universal title should've main evented at WM 33

[@simbarocksone]

Facts

[@al-rayyanomar7474]

To prevent that terrible 2 year reign by lesnar

[@ericosb4503]

Adam trying to turn heel whilst already a heel is brilliant.

[@Absinthexx7]

I’m at #3 right now and I feel like that’s gonna be #1

[@TheTshiamoMogg1]

You'll Never See It Coming is obviously the greatest heel turn ever. Even had a freaking ppv tag line named after it.

[@veryananduren8513]

I completely forgot who turn on who...

[@TheTshiamoMogg1]

@@veryananduren8513 A shocking heel turn and a shocking betrayal are two different things.

[@veryananduren8513]

@@TheTshiamoMogg1 ... yes, but i still dont remember what happened with whom xD

[@TheTshiamoMogg1]

@@veryananduren8513 You never saw it coming was the tagline for last year's SummerSlam where Roman Reigns made his return by attacking The Fiend & Braun Strowman.

[@veryananduren8513]

@@TheTshiamoMogg1 Oooooh, yes ! That feels like ages ago !

[@newageoutlaw]

I thought for sure the Rock at the 98 Survivor Series would be on this list. I didn't see it coming at all yet when you re-watched the pay-per-view all the hints were right there in front of your face.

[@sammyshake]

when Rikishi did it for the Rock, didn't see that coming

[@GinkgoPete]

Not seeing something bc it doesn't make sense is different tho :(

[@joshhale9355]

I give Kevin Dunn a lot of shit, like a lot, but that shot of Jericho lifting up the list during the festival of friendship to reveal “List of KO” is absolutely perfect. That whole segment is honestly one of the best WWE’s ever done in my opinion.

[@jayr.3720]

That double turn between Austin and Hitman maybe belongs in a category of its own, but it can't be overlooked.

[@jamieholmes4751]

When CM Punk turned heel on The Rock at RAW 1000, he said in later interviews he didn’t want to turn heel at the time Upon rewatching the segment after learning this, you could tell in his face he really didn’t want to do it 🙁🙁

[@thelonewolf7443]

CM Punk had so much momentum going for him, but turning heel at that specific point wasn’t the best move. Don’t get me wrong CM Punk plays the bad guy exceptionally well BUT after how he got to that point as champion being a hero/face had a lot of fans asking… “Why?”

[@roostermcscratch9060]

Then he should have dropped the belt to Bryan. He was given a choice, according to him. He wanted to work with The Rock.

[@simbarocksone]

Roderick Strong joining the UE was a shocking moment

[@James-vy5jg]

Was obvious it would happen though

[@AceTrainerLiam]

I would’ve put Flair turning on Sting in all 10 slots.

[@SupraViperhead]

The title is "10 Most SHOCKING WWE Heel Turns" That turn wasn't in WWE.

[@AceTrainerLiam]

@@SupraViperhead I love that you took my obviously obnoxiously sarcastic suggestion of putting the same turn in all 10 slots this seriously. 😂

[@SupraViperhead]

@@AceTrainerLiam I just saw Sting and Flair and didn't really read the rest, haha

[@AceTrainerLiam]

@@SupraViperhead it happens lol 😂

[@briangordon2955]

@@AceTrainerLiam Well you did write an absolute essay of a comment originally. Who would have the time to read the whole of it?

[@Jerry_Freestyle]

Hey remember when Drew McIntyre was heel with Dolph and Big Show months before he won the WWE title??? 😂

[@Kobra6510]

Macho Man and CM Punk were the most justified heel turns.

[@jjthecat9692]

I always feel like the correct answer to "what is the best WWE heel turn of all time?" is HBK turning on Jannetty during the barbershop segment, purely based on what came afterwards and Shawn's success off the back of it. I also really rate Seth turning on the Shield. I certainly did not see that coming right after they destroyed Evolution and were in the peak of their awesome face run.

[@KingsNerdCave]

I'd like to see 10 most random Heel Turns: Neville turning on Swann, Undertaker turning on JR, etc. Some good some bad but all had little starting impact as it came out of the blue.

[@SharkVshore]

“Vince drop your pants” 😂

[@WestieFromtheEast]

Paul Heyman turning on CM Punk deserves at least an Honorable Mention. I thought they were gonna be a team for a long while until that night. “I martyred myself for you! I loved you!” plays on loop in my head whenever either one of them is brought up.

[@dynad00d15]

Adam Pacitti : Well you did turned heel on us in WCPW... :)

[@ReidZer0]

The festival of friendship is always sad Y2J and KO were fantastic together

[@mohamedsaffee1891]

KO's double heel turn was amazing

[@thanksgivingmcdaniels3335]

Savage over Hogan wasn't shocking at all actually, even in elementary school, my friends and I all knew he'd be turning heel before the show started. It was blatantly obvious. Just a matter of how. Fun list though.

[@MrLuka-ys4wy]

Wow you're that old?

[@thanksgivingmcdaniels3335]

@@MrLuka-ys4wy These things happen. Quickly. You'll be 42 before you know what hit you, I don't care how old you are.

[@Principaledpragmatist]

@@thanksgivingmcdaniels3335 facts, I'm 42 as well and you go from seeing 30 as old to seeing it as young. As my dad always said getting old beats the alternative.

[@ferox965]

Andre over Hogan was far more shocking. I remember when it happened.

[@thanksgivingmcdaniels3335]

@@ferox965 Yeah, easily

[@ShockerTopper]

I was at the Raw where Rikishi "did it for the Rock" lol. It was at the Anaheim Pond (where the Ducks play). I remember being so let down..me and my friend looked at each other and said "seriously? That's the guy that did it?"...ah man".

[@KekeDalton]

Adam and Simon from WhatCulture have to be the best hosts on KZbin. Both are so hilarious 😂😂😂

[@SolidSnake8295]

How is Stephanie McMahon at Armageddon 1999 not on here? That whole storyline with her, Triple H, and Vince was brilliant.

[@scottinglis6456]

Always remember Tugboat turning on the Bushwhackers and joining with Earthquake. It was done brilliantly.

[@markusalcudia]

I never saw that one coming. Totally out of the blue

[@Aidan_ODonnell]

Whoever wrote “CM Punk on The Rock” as the title of CM Punks heel turn deserves a firm handshake, good writing that

[@kushagrasharma5402]

CM punk doing heel work was gem but if Cena had turned heel and played same role like Kenny omega is doing now, it would mean so much and make so much sense to cheer for punk and boo heel cena

[@alexchapman8927]

Made more sense for Punk to clothesline Rock. He had a valid reason, unlike Cena who got saved by Rock

[@kushagrasharma5402]

@@alexchapman8927 I see and I agree

[@tamzidmohsinkhan3333]

Randy Savage turning on Hulk Hogan was legendary

[@tamzidmohsinkhan3333]

Rikishi was underrated with his heel run

[@andrewdatoush8925]

I would have put the Mark Henry retirement speech / turn on Cena on here. I don’t know a single person who saw that coming.

[@youngdolo8]

I have, but it's all nonsense. "I saw it coming." Oh piss off, did you arse.

[@tamzidmohsinkhan3333]

Paul Bearer was still one of the legendary managers of pro wrestling

[@hhtptai]

So we're just gonna ignore the fact that HBK turned on Hulk Hogan on Independence Day? Legend shit.

[@chrissayeranderson5710]

Birth of a superstar . HBK barber shop.

[@Helmer54]

That Michael's promo in Montreal is still my favourite promo of all time.

[@sirekumasutra7022]

OH CANADA!!

[@scrapetv3826]

Andre on Hogan? I still have PTSD from that event 35 years later

[@altafraza2665]

Given the circumstance and randomness, Ambrose turning on Shield was better than Rollins turning.

[@emanueltwr]

Very good video gang

[@JaimeD.]

Seth Rollins turning heel and destroying The Shield was a shock and gave all fans the dreaded time of still seeing The Authority until his unfortunate injury in late 2015. Still, wonderful heel run.

[@prasannabalaji1886]

"It was me Austin, it was me all along" 🤣🤣

[@4fortune1984]

Rikishi wasn’t lying though how many top championships of color have there been in wwe history? Count them on both hands maybe 🤔

[@benespinosa6725]

Shawn michaels turning Heel in 2005 was great only if it last a little longer it would have been great.

[@superrobz]

Yeah I think a lot of it was due to the fact that shawn was hesitant about doing some stuff because of his faith

[@benespinosa6725]

@@superrobz good Point and Shawn Michaels Vs Hulk Hogan match was awesome at Summerslam 2005 was great because of Shawn's selling.

[@azrael_ao1]

@@benespinosa6725 *Shawn's overselling 😂

[@youngdolo8]

This thing was great, but if it had been slightly different, it would have been great. ... Wait, what?

[@Ivantheterrible81280]

The best thing about the timing of Michaels heel turn was WWE was in Montreal in 2005. Arguably the greatest heel promo ever. Michaels owned that crowd and pushed them to damn near rioting.

[@alifrogster81]

Shinsuke Nakamura heel turn on AJ Styles at Wrestlemania was a little shocking to me.

[@davidhughes3527]

I was like 12 years old at the Hara Arena in Dayton Ohio when Sgt Slaughter turned on Hogan! I also was blessed to see live Crush join demolition and when HBK threw Marty thru the glass on the Barber shop. Memories!

[@sallygoldner2302]

gotta go old school and mention Zbyszko on Sammartino as a great heel turn

[@TheThird1977]

About to start the video and hold hope that Undertaker's transformation into "Big Evil" when he turned on JR makes the list. EDIT - It did not.

[@SharkVshore]

“Vince drop your pants” 🤣

[@fredcheckam]

I've always thought HHH should've been Stone Cold's assailant all along. Rikishi made no sense and Trips was a heat magnet. They could've gotten a true fued out of that instead of a one match payoff

[@xfactor3000]

I think it's appropriate to say here that I highly recommend the show HEELS. Just watched the first episode and it was brilliant. Seriously check it out.

[@antoniodearry7707]

Everyone knows that Marty was trying to escape through the window.

[@tamzidmohsinkhan3333]

Sgt. Slaughter becoming the enemy of America was controversial

[@lxxredxxl9587]

"Join us....pricks" lmao

[@tommyjd12345]

I think Larry Zbyszko turning on Bruno Sammartino in 1980 is also worth a mention. Crush turning on Randy Savage in 1993 was pretty good as well.

[@dante_farmito]

Mark Henry's fake retirement should've been 1

[@MilkmanC]

1. Loved GI Joe as a kid. 2. Was devastated to see Sarg turn on us like that lol

[@ericalbert9317]

The fact that a salmon color coated Mark Henry isn't even on this list is an absolute atrocity. That retirement to hall of pain transition was quite possibly the greatest turn we've seen in the modern era.

[@HHSBassDrummer]

This one doesn't stack up to the ones on this list but, when Trish turned heel at WM20, that hurt bad, mainly because i had a huge crush on her

[@swapnilthorat4648]

In modern wrestling I love 3 turns after KO Jericho Rollins turns on his brothers and sells out, Roman Reigns finally returns and change business And on the day of Roman's sad announcement Ambrose turns on Rollins ( probably only time I shed a tear even though I knew it was scripted, both Rollins and Ambrose played their part) And I am not big fan of Shield but all 3 have great heel turns.

[@ShoaibKhan-wv8zc]

What ABout Roman Reigns Heel Turn in 2020 that was Shocking

[@kinggold5378]

HBK 2005 heel turn very UNDERATED ...He would've been a perfect Heel ..on Smackdown around that time ...!!

[@superrobz]

I’m still trying to figure out who’s brain fart idea it was to turn one of the hottest and biggest stars (Steve Austin) into a Whiny cowardly heel during 2001 after one of the biggest feuds maybe 3-6 months perviously when he dropped Triple H from a crane

[@alicod7160]

Well Austin and Rock were the two top faces but their is need for only one. Austin just had to turn heel to make it the top bad guy vs the top good guy except for the top good guy vs the top good guy

[@DBoy38]

@@alicod7160 Except he didn't need to turn, as Rock was already starting to shift from WWF/E to Hollywood. Matter of fact right after that Mania Rock left until the summer to shoot "The Scorpion King".

[@logankerr8090]

imo the KO Heel turn should've happened after the Goldberg match. Owens really could've took advantage and used Jericho's help for that match.

[@brandeno919]

Seth heel turn was my generations leg drop to mucho man and Punk heel turn and persona was amazing especially with Heyman it should have Been Cena vs The Rock vs Punk

[@fazala955]

Hogan turning on WCW to form the NWO should have been on the list. That moment really shook the world of professional wrestling.

[@lilpoetat]

thanks!

[@kingsurgaleo1]

Hulk Hogan turning heel in bash at the beach will always be number 1.

[@Riptide9998]

i'm probably alone on this but i loved Austin as a heel. Playing guitar with Vince, Small hats with Angle, The 2 man power trip. I thought it was all great. I thought it made Austin feel fresher than he felt in years. I'd be curious to see where it would have went had WCW not folded and Vince rushing the Invasion angle.

[@dynad00d15]

You forgot (or omitted) the most famous double turn in WWE history : Bret hart vs Stone Cold Steve Austin . The shocking part is how fluid and natural it went during the match.

[@subhoroy5087]

My top 3- 1. Rock - Austin 2. Punk heel turn 3. Owens, Jericho, the festival of Friendship

[@DashieNegan41]

Best heel turn Stone Cold All time Hulk Hogan at WCW Bash At The Beach 1996

[@jerransperarman9411]

good video

[@michaelroskellpl]

Feel the Rocks turn at SS98 doesn’t get enough love

[@monstermikeheinrichs]

The Rock's turn at Survivor Series was bloody brilliant. It was totally shocking in the moment, but when you look back at the events of the evening, it all makes sense. What had initially looked like The Rock overcoming ridiculous odds, now becomes obvious, the scheming to guarantee that he gets to the end, with Mankind getting a much easier path to the finals. All so he can be screwed over in the end, with The Rock becoming champion.

[@TheIrishSicilian]

Wow. Good list. But how in the world do you not have the great Andre the Giant turning on Hogan not on here? Or Paul Mr Wonderful Orondorff turning on Hogan?

[@SharkVshore]

best Heel turn ever is by Undertaker in 2001, so funny 🤣

[@sierrachavarria]

I was there when Shawn turned on hogan I can’t forget that moment I was so shocked so did everyone around me that night

[@obadiahvondeath8048]

"You've got lust in your black heart and your eyes for Elizabeth !" Macho was right there ! Hogan was totally after his Lady ! As Adam just said though turning on Hulk is always justified! The Orange Prick! No Andre though ?

[@bengoodier9161]

Love a Adam P list, better than other Adam lists 👀

[@Nbflowers1989]

Finger Poke of Doom wrecked me as a kid.

[@palpatinerocks3260]

I honestly was shocked roman turned heel in 2020. After being booked as cena 2.0, didn't expect him to turn heel after he left because of life threatening diseases.

[@tamzidmohsinkhan3333]

Rockers broke up are iconic moments

[@M-7412]

I believe Jannetty threw himself through the window because Bobby Hennan said he did. And the Brain was there in person to see it.

[@wolvie667]

I never knew why the Whole Muhammed Hassan Undertaker bit got lots of heat (and understandilaby) but WWE got almost non heat in the Sgt Slaughter sympathising with Iraq

[@therealmessiah4913]

my fav heel turn was ambrose on rollins🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥

[@Jimmer572TD]

I could listen to Pacitti all day

[@ExecQtiveDecision]

Pacitti berating us at the beginning leads me to think that Adam thinks... he's the face??? Sorry bud, Jack & Ross could kidnap my pets in tandem and still have less "real life heat" than you...

[@harrystafford455]

2 adams ross and jack turned heel in 2017 😯

[@ArcienPlaysGames]

Ambrose' heel turn on the night of Reign's announcement, as well as after Ambrose and Rollins winning the titles, was one that absolutely no one saw coming, and imo, it blew Rollins' heel turn out of the water. The fact that it's not on the list is kind of a missed opportunity, but idk if the heel run itself factors into it (because the run was admittedly pretty shit lmao)

[@theannilators7479]

Ambrose on the shield? Arguably the single best actual turn (not counting aftermath) in WWE history?

[@kalebaschenbrenner1621]

dean turning heel on rollins the same night reigns announced his leukemia was back and he had to leave to go fight it should be on this list and i’m very disappointed it’s not

[@PradeepPurple]

I was certain that Hogan as the third man/NWO would be number one, then i remembered this was a WWE only list, not a general Wrestlin' list

[@rev.joelrichter1290]

Still the best ever! No one saw it coming, yet as he came down and they had 3 members on the WCW side. Your mind said oh no, please no because it was there but you didn’t want to believe it

[@kevinsmith5607]

British Bulldog shocked the hell out of me.

[@martinrubio6357]

Shawn Michaels turning on hogan out of nowhere

[@nickmontoya3001]

Ahhh ahhh, Jannetty was trying to ESCAPE through the window

[@theghostreckon69420]

The most shocking heel turn in my opinion is the shield one, Seth just betrayed them so easily and unexpectedly

[@superrobz]

Really? I saw it coming a mile off😂

[@TyMarshall007]

But you can hear one fan shouted NO before Seth hit Roman with the chair

[@camiblack1]

Whoa there I think you got it all wrong on the Rockers, ot was when Janetty assaulted Shawn's foot with his face, and then the coward tried to escape out the Barber Shop window.

[@johnitiswhatitistaylor2711]

Decked the hulkster with sweet chin music fa la la la la la la la la

[@maltraetierer]

The Rollins betrayal was great. For me best heel turn on this list.