From the Podium XVI: WWE's Most Shocking Heel Turns

[Leonard]

Welcome! Glad to see you made it back. I’d like to present to you the evolution of a challenge made by our good friend and Main Page columnist SkittleZ. My original charge was only supposed to be a 1,000 word blurb about the ten most shocking heel turns in WWE history. I tweaked a few things (such as the word limit, you’ll notice) and only provided nine turns (because of my insistent and illogical fear of multiples of five), but I hope that both the Rainbow-Colored Man and you readers enjoy what I have to say about turns in general, and how I ranked my favorites.

Here we go…

The noticeable beat of a conductor’s pattern.

WWE’S MOST SHOCKING HEEL TURNS

Bob Backlund, Superstars, July 28, 1994. Weapon of choice: Crossface Chickenwing. Biggest victim: Bret Hart.

It’s hard to believe that a guy who wouldn’t turn heel in the “Golden Era” to put over Hulk Hogan would eventually have a very successful heel persona in the ‘90’s. Anyways, after Backlund’s semi-retirement in the mid-‘80’s, he returned to the World Wrestling Federation around 1992, with the same clean-cut amateur wrestling gimmick that he sported during his first run in the promotion. Unfortunately, by this time, Bob’s character wasn’t quite as well received as back in the pre-Modern Era days. Most fans likely didn’t remember Backlund at all, and in the “New Generation” period, it was all about over-the-top characters, most of which resembled the types of people you’d see at a Ringling Brothers circus show. After a stellar (yet mostly ignored) performance at the 1993 Royal Rumble, he was put in a throwaway match with Razor Ramon at that year’s WrestleMania. After this, he floated around the mid-card until the summer of 1994.

What happened here was about a month of promotional materials highlighting “old school v. new school” for a July 28 edition of Superstars. This match would be for the WWF Championship against Bret “Hitman” Hart. After losing this match, Backlund went ape-shit and choked out Hart with the Crossface Chickenwing. Backlund later declared that he was the rightful WWF Champion, since he had never submitted to the Iron Sheik’s Camel Clutch, since his then-manager Arnold Skaaland threw in the towel during that match. This led to the 1994 Survivor Series submission match between Hart and Backlund. In what was a pretty good match, Backlund seized the title from Bret with an assist from Owen Hart (and an inadvertent assist from Helen Hart—she threw in the towel for the Hitman). He managed to hold onto it for three days, until he lost it to Diesel in eight seconds (but put over Kevin Nash as a huge threat in the process). Not a lot of folks remember this (most around here are probably too young), but it (along with the Bret/Owen feud) was a shining moment in a pretty bleak time in wrestling history.

Winners: Old school wrestling fans.
Losers: Pretty much everybody else.


Vince McMahon, Survivor Series, November 9, 1997. Weapon of choice: The ring bell. Biggest victims: Bret Hart; Steve Austin.

Ah, yes, the infamous “Montreal Screwjob.” This has been covered a plethora of times, in “magenta” text and otherwise, and while this may not be able to be considered a “true” heel turn, I believe a case can be made for it. This had been building up since the day Bret Hart shoved McMahon flat on his ass during an interview segment. On the day of Survivor Series, however, McMahon protected his company by having the bell rung during the WWF Championship match, and Shawn Michaels was declared the winner, even though that was not the finish originally agreed upon (that’s as close as you’ll get to my opinion on the matter). Of course, people went from being confused to irate at McMahon for “screwing” the loyal company man. The final nail in the coffin, perhaps, was the black-eyed Vinnie Mac going on television to famously proclaim that “Bret screwed Bret.” Then once he got involved with Steve Austin, we were presented with one of wrestling’s most hated personas.

Winners: WWF television ratings, ass-kissers.
Losers: Bret Hart, WCW, Vince McMahon’s play-by-play job, kayfabe, ‘Plan.


Owen Hart, Royal Rumble, January 22, 1994. Weapon of choice: Kick to the knee. Biggest victims: Bret Hart; Stu and Helen Hart; Steve Austin.

At the 1993 Survivor Series, the Family Hart (Bret, Owen, Keith, and Bruce) joined forces to combat Shawn Michaels and his three “knights” (Jerry Lawler was originally supposed to head up the team, but a legal issues prevented this from occurring—obviously, the knights would have made more sense if this were the case). During the course of the match, the only person on the Hart side to be eliminated was Owen, due to being distracted by a slightly injured Bret. The remaining three Harts won the match, and Owen came back out, seemingly to celebrate. Instead he picked a fight with his older brother, causing a riff that would be repaired before the Royal Rumble in 1994, where Bret and Owen would compete for the WWF Tag Team Championship against The Quebecers.

During the actual match, Bret’s knee was injured and the referee stopped the match. Owen was obviously irate, and made his turn official by rubbing salt in the proverbial wound by relentlessly attacking his brother’s injury. (Shortly after, this is where Owen famously said to Bret: “…and that’s why I kicked your leg out of your leg…”) Of course, we all know that Bret went on to become a co-winner of the Royal Rumble on that same night. The feud led to a match on the opening spot of WrestleMania, in which Owen won a technical classic. Again, Bret would go on to win the WWF Championship, which made Owen even more irate. Besides a short face run in late 1997/98, the youngest Hart made quite a career out of being a fantastic heel, and it all started with this turn way back in 1994.

Winners: Owen Hart’s career, Canadians.
Losers: Stu and Helen Hart, Bret Hart’s shadow.


Steve Austin, WrestleMania X-7, April 1, 2001. Weapon of choice: Steel chair. Biggest victim: The Rock.

Many folks seem to remember this WrestleMania for being one of the greatest of the 25 we’ve seen thus far. What’s amazing about the card, in retrospect, is that it seemed like it was such a so-so conglomeration of matches. And Rock/Austin, had been done before, so why should it have been so special? Well these guys put on an entertaining 30-minute match, but enough about that. We’re here to talk about Steve Austin’s ill-fated heel turn in 2001, right? Yes. Steve Austin was loved by wrestling fans the world over for his “Don’t Trust Anybody” hell-raising beer-drinking ways. When Vince McMahon came out to “observe” the main event match, and disrupted The Rock’s championship pin, everybody knew that something was up. However, nobody could have guessed that arch-rivals McMahon and Austin would end up being in cahoots. After Austin nailed Rock with about a dozen chair shots (courtesy of a chair that Vince brought to the ring for Steve), Austin walked out of Houston with the WWF Championship.

What was to follow was one of the most poorly received heel turns in wrestling history. Unfortunately for the powers-that-be, people just didn’t want to hate Stone Cold. Even though I was a pretty big fan of the “McMahon-obsessive” Stone Cold, and the “Two-Man Power Trip” with Triple H, people never really seemed to buy into it. There’s no fighting the people, and by the end of the “Invasion” storyline, Stone Cold was back to being a face, and all was right with the world again when concerning Steve Austin. As much as people (present company included) shout for a John Cena turn, I’d be afraid that this same scenario would happen, and people really wouldn’t accept it. Cena would have to do something pretty dirty and nasty for this to be successful.

Winners: No one?
Losers: Whatever they called the “Universe” back then…oh wait, the fans.


Bret Hart, WrestleMania 13, March 23, 1997. Weapon of choice: Sharpshooter. Biggest victim: America.

I believe this is the last turn that involves Bret Hart. This is the infamous “double-turn” that also featured a face turn for “Stone Cold” Steve Austin, and also the match that many believe began the “Attitude Era.” There’s not much I need to say, but I’ll give you the quick rundown, just in case you don’t know. After Bret’s short hiatus in 1996, he was immersed into a feud with Austin. The first match (a stellar one, by the way) took place at the Survivor Series of that year, and the program culminated at WrestleMania 13 in Chicago. The crowd that night overwhelmingly was in support of Austin during the bout, even though he was portrayed as the rule-breaking, anti-establishment, swearing jerk-head heel who would have been challenged to a fight in a dark alley by dumb wrestling fans back in the ‘80’s. He became the first anti-hero in professional wrestling. On the flipside, fans had grown tired of Bret’s chase for the WWF Championship, and that he came off as being entitled to shots at the title. Of course, Steve Austin passed the ball to Hart, and he ran with it by detesting the United States and declaring Canada as the superior nation. What was to follow were some entertaining bouts between the newly reformed Hart Foundation and American wrestlers (and later Degeneration X). Even though many folks felt that Shawn Michaels backed out of the Bret/Shawn WrestleMania rematch, it’s a good thing he did (if that’s the case), or else this legendary double-turn wouldn’t have occurred.

Winners: The Attitude Era, Vince McMahon.
Losers: Nobody, really.


Andre the Giant, Piper’s Pit, February 1987. Weapon of choice: His BARE HANDS. Biggest victim: Hulk Hogan.

This is the heel turn in the annals of WWE history, as Andre the Giant was one of the most beloved wrestlers in history. Although Hulk Hogan had been champion for three years at this point, I believe a final large push was needed to solidify him as the guy in professional wrestling. By that point, Andre’s character was probably in need of a change as well, and the guy was not in great physical condition. I’m sure he felt the need to “give back” to the business, and help a rising star cement his place in sports entertainment. Hulk Hogan had received a trophy for being a three-year champion on the Pit, and Andre came out and congratulated him for this achievement. Later on, Andre received a trophy for his fifteen year “undefeated” streak, and Hulk came out to return the favor of congratulations. What he ended up doing, however, was taking the spotlight away from his friend, and eventually an angry Giant left the Pit in the middle of Hogan’s speech.

On a later edition of Piper’s Pit, Hogan was confronted by Bobby Heenan, who was revealed as Andre the Giant’s new business associate. Andre demanded a title match, to which Hulk responded by begging and pleading with the Giant. The interview ended when he ripped the crucifix pendant off of the Hulkster’s necklace and left. The challenge was accepted, and the oft-overrated (but historically significant) WrestleMania III main event was born. As far as the “timeline” of professional wrestling, this was a big thing, but there are a few more turns that were more meaningful and entertaining to me.

Winners: Roddy Piper, Bobby Heenan, Pontiac, Michigan.
Losers: Hulkamaniacs, religious folks.


Shawn Michaels, The Barber Shop, January 12, 1992. Weapon of choice: Large window. Biggest victim: Marty Jannetty.

Gotta love this picture. In what was arguably the most infamous heel turn in McMahon promotions history, The Rockers unceremoniously split up on Brutus Beefcake’s semi-popular segment “The Barber Shop.” Up to this point, even though the team had been very popular amongst the fans, they had achieved limited success in terms of championship accolades (a WWF Tag Team Championship victory was reversed because of a ring rope breaking). In “real life,” Marty Jannetty wished to jump ship to Jim Crockett Promotions, who he claimed offered a larger sum of money. He quit the WWF on behalf of his team. After Shawn told his superiors that he did not want to quit, and The Rockers did not leave the company. The two men also got into a legitimate fight, one that may have influenced the decisions that were made regarding the group. Shortly after, it was decided that the two would split, with Shawn becoming the heel player.

The kayfabe situation, however, was a little different, as the duo had been having communication issues over the months leading up to their eventual demise. The straw that seemed to break the camel’s back was in a final title match against the Legion of Doom, which the two lost. They then argued over who was to blame for the loss. When they appeared to reconcile on Beefcake’s segment, Shawn swerved us all and gave his “friend” the future Sweet Chin Music, followed by sending his fallen partner through The Barber Shop’s window (you have to check out a video of this, especially for Bobby Heenan’s remarks on commentary). He then became the cocky, brash, arrogant heel that we all eventually came to love, and won the Intercontinental Championship inside of a year after his turn. Many people cite the “Rockers syndrome” to a team split that favors only one of the two members, precisely because Shawn became so successful and Marty…well, Marty really never recovered (even though he did get an Intercontinental Championship reign in 1993). In fact, if Jannetty had his way, we may have eventually seen Marty Jannetty, WCW Champion, feuding with David Arquette and Judy Bagwell for the title.

Winners: The Heartbreak Kid, Sherri Martel, the leather industry.
Losers: Marty Jannetty’s career, Al Snow.


Matt Hardy, Royal Rumble 2009, January 25, 2009. Weapon of choice: Steel chair. Biggest victim: Jeff Hardy.

This is the most recent turn on our list, and I believe that it revitalized the elder Hardy’s career. Lots of people like Jeff, were pumped about his WWE Championship victory, and wanted to see a returning Christian insert himself into the Hardy/Edge feud at the Royal Rumble. People were even chanting for Christian during said match. So what better opportunity for Matt to take this chance to break out on his own (of course, following a largely lackluster, but better than expected, brother versus brother program)? After seemingly preparing to help Jeff with a con-chair-to (love the musical pun!), he blindsided his brother with a shot to the head. This allowed Edge to pick up the win and his seventh heavyweight championship.

Matt Hardy isn’t exactly a stranger to playing a heel (see “Version One-ah”), and even created his own stable of “followers.” Version Two of Matt Hardy, the heel, took on a much more serious connotation, as he eventually insinuated that he was responsible for attacking Jeff Hardy at several opportunities. Not that I have to remind you, but these attacks included a late-night hotel ambush, a drive-by, pyrotechnics malfunctions, and even a house fire. The fact that one’s own brother could do this only added more fuel to the proverbial fire, and made Matt as hated as he was previously loved. It may be too early to tell, but since his slight appearance makeover, his move to RAW, and his Bob Orton-esque injury, Hardy is more on top of the world than he ever has been. I believe this trend will continue.

Winners: Matt Hardy’s career, Edge’s “ultimate opportunist” gimmick.
Losers: Jeff Hardy’s championship reign and those teenage girls who scream during his entrance, cicero.


Triple H and Chyna, WrestleMania XV, March 28, 1999. Weapon of choice: Referee distraction/Pedigree. Biggest victim: D-Generation X.

From March 1998 until the end of time, Triple H has been on top of the world. As the leader of D-Generation X, Hunter often brought the comedic aspect of sports entertainment to our television screens every Monday night. In January 1999, the man began to take on a bit more of a serious tone, though. The night after the Royal Rumble, H challenged for the WWF Championship against The Rock in an “I Quit” match. As he was about to finish off Rocky, Kane threatened to chokeslam Chyna, Triple H’s closest associate, unless he quit the match. Of course, Hunter obliged, only to be blindsided by Chyna. She joined forces with Vince McMahon and the Corporation.

At WrestleMania XV, Triple H battled against Kane, who had now seemingly fallen in love with the Ninth Wonder of the World. Eventually Chyna helped Hunter win the match, and rejoined D-X. During the matchup between X-Pac and Shane McMahon, however, the two returned to ringside…only to help the Corporation with some referee distraction and a Pedigree. This was the beginning of the end of D-Generation X as we knew it, and ushered in a new era that would see Helmsley capture the WWF Championship that summer. This was also the start of the evolution of Triple H’s character from fun-loving degenerate to the “Cerebral Assassin” that we all know (and begrudgingly love) today. As for Chyna, she eventually turned face again, and became the first (and only) female to capture the Intercontinental Championship (shortly after Hunter’s first world title win, in fact). Getting away from the D-X act helped loads for both of their careers, but didn’t do much for the other three members involved.

Winners: Shane McMahon, Triple H’s career.
Losers: Fans of crotch-chopping, X-Pac and the New Age Outlaws.

The last additional note (mostly in marches) that signals the end of a piece.

And so ends the sixteenth edition of “From the Podium.” I’d love to hear what you think of the order I put these in, and if you think I undeservedly left a major turn out (please don’t say Tatanka from 1994…). Also, let me know who you think would benefit from a turn in the current product, whether that would be face or heel. Also, put in your requests for the "Championship Series," as I'll be writing another installment for FTP XVII. One last thing…I’d like to predict that Mike Adamle will once again be the General Manager of RAW. You heard it here first, ladies and gents...a guy can dream, right?

Until the next downbeat…

[Vikodin]

dude, I'm disappointed this hasn't gotten any feedback yet, as you really knocked it out of the park once again here. I'm not going to comment on your actual placement of them, mostly because I wasn't a fan when a lot of these were going on, and wasn't even alive when the Andre one happened. I thought you did a great job at explaining why each turn mattered. I'm slightly disappointed that you didn't mention the Eddie Guerrerro heel turn when he claimed to be the daddy of Rey Rey's child, but I guess that one wasn't that shocking. Nicely done there Lenord.

As for who in the current WWE can turn, I have to give the nod to MVP. I've always preferred him as a heel, he had a very very good character for a heel. I'd love a HBK turn as well, he just does the heel character so well.

[Box Car Rocco]

Glad to see your last effort wasn't a one off re-appearance Lenny. Another great column looking back at an interesting topic. The best thing about this column is that it was mostly new to me and you went into good depth of each heel turn as I've only briefly heard about most of them.

As for heel turns in todays product, it has to be Jerry Lawler. A heel commentator is pure greatness, it transformed Don West in TNA from over enthusiastic mad man to Bobby Heenan 2.0.

Read you next time.

[Andre_Almighty]

As always this column owned.

I especially liked the toy version of Shawn kicking Marty's teeth in.

One of my favorite heel turns that you didn't mention was Chris Jericho's when he did my boy HBK's face in. Although you could see it coming from a mile away, it still did wonders for Jericho's career.

I'll read you next time.

[Petre Dyche]

My all-time favourite heel turn came at Summerslam 96...Paul Bearer smashing Undertaker with the urn and aligning himself with Mankind. Excellent, unexpected and left everyone in a state of shock. OHHHH YYYYYYESS!!

You should do one for face turns man. Good stuff.

Catch ya next time.

[Stryder]

As mentioned, Paul Bearers turn during the boiler room braw match was probably the biggest one you missed but apart from that I think you covered the best/most important ones. Good stuff all round, well written, laid out etc. I almost was about to say “ how can you not put Hogan in there” until I realised it was WWE only. Oh I just remembered, dates are eluding me but when HHH smashed Shawn Michaels face through a car window that was a well done heel turn. Everyone thought DX was reforming then boom that happens. Read ya next time.

[Super Chrisss]

Great stuff once again my man. I have to say you put a prettyr espectable list together and it's hard to disagree with your picks.

You definitely do your research, and it pays off. Keep up the good work!

[Freeman]

Damn it, I was going to say Hulk Hogan's heel turn was left out, but I checked back and saw it said WWE's greatest heel turns. Oh well.

Leonard- I loved it. I just freakin loved it. Even though some of the turns you mentioned were a bit before my time, such as the Bob Backlund turn, I still enjoyed reading about them, which is down to your excellence as a writer.

Another good column matey, keep 'em coming.

[Mister E]

Really good column here again Leonard. Very good choice of topic and your picks were very suitable.

Weapon of choice: Sharpshooter. Biggest victim: America.

I liked that line, had to lol. I remember in particular the HHH turn at wrestlemania 15. Just when chyna and hhh had reunited, i thought DX were gonna rule again then bam! heel turn!

Well written, enjoyable and entertaining throughout. Good stuff.

[Cult Icon]

glad to see you still got it leonard. a very good list, and i loved your choice of chyna and h turning on dx as number 1, that turn is often overlooked. your only choice that confused me was the matt hardy heel turn, which i think is still too soon to judge if it will work. i wouldve replaced that w jerichos recent heel turn, but that is just my opinion. as always, great work man.

[Jason Boy]

Nice Job but I would like to see a more recent version, That was a nice job but there was only 1 that I would consider today. Nice Job

[Leonard]

Sorry I let the feedback pile up...took my nephew to the Pittsburgh Zoo today...he loved it (and I had fun, myself)! Now for your own medicine:

To all: Many turns were mentioned that could have easily been placed in this list: Bearer, 96; Guerrero, 05; Jericho, 08; H, 99? Good stuff brought up here.

K: Not all of these turns were "shocking," but felt merited placement on a list of great heel turns (the Owen turn comes to mind). As for MVP, I was a big advocate for him turning face until he actually did it. He is a much better heel. Not so sure about Michaels, as I think people like him too much now. Thanks for reading.

BCR: I'm glad that you liked the details, especially for the ones with which you were unfamiliar. Lawler was a much better heel, and you are right in that maybe a bit more of this in his color commentary could help the Monday night program.

Andre: Thanks for stopping by! The Jericho turn worked wonders for his stagnant return, and even led him to two World Heavyweight Championships. Perhaps I shortchanged it, but I felt like the other nine warranted more than this one. Talk to me a few months from now, and I might change my mind!

Mr. Dyche: Again, another one that I may have shortchanged in retrospect. I remember almost crying as my 10-year-old self watched Paul turn on The Undertaker. It was a great match at the time, too, except it doesn't really age well. The face turns may be in the future. Thanks for the idea!

Stryder: If this had been a "professional wrestling" heel turn column, there's no doubt that Hogan's 1996 turn would have been in the top two. Indeed the 1999(?) DX swerve was very well executed (and I believe it may have been to get Shawn off television due to his drug issues). Thanks for reading.

Chrisss: I take a lot of pride in the fact that my research shines through in these articles. Thanks for the kind words, sir.

Freeman: Thank you sir. The Backlund turn is important to me because it is the first heel I remember getting behind (as an 8-year-old, I had aspirations to become a Congressman, and therefore loved Mr. Backlund). Also, that Survivor Series 1994 match between Backlund and Hart was wrestling at its finest (and, who else but Owen Hart could make an 8-minute long Crossface Chickenwing entertaining and dramatic?).

Eoghan: Glad you liked that line! At the time, I was very upset with H and Chyna for leaving the awesomeness that was DX, but it was the best decision they ever made. Yeah, the Outlaws and Waltman didn't benefit, but thems the brakes (maybe it's a magnified version of the "Rockers Syndrome"). Thanks for reading.

Cult: Nice to see you back. I'll be dropping feedback on you soon. I took a leap of faith with the high Hardy ranking, but I'm really digging him right now (lots of bias involved, I suppose). He could be a top heel with a little more improvement (especially with the Bob Orton thing going right now). I respect your opinion though, for sure. Thanks for dropping by.

Jason: I tried to take a look at this from a "History of WWE" perspective, and weigh the most influential and shocking turns of the promotion. The business wouldn't be where it is today without those such as Andre, Shawn and H, so to leave them out simply because they weren't recent would be false advertising with my column title. I respect your opinion, though...agree to disagree, then.

--Leonard

EDIT: If there's anyone who reads this, but doesn't want to publicize feedback, I'd like to hear from you at lenjr04@gmail.com. Please put something about feedback or FTP, or I won't know who in the blue hell you are and delete it. Thanks.

[The Maz]

Leonard, man I love your columns. Total class once again. As for the ordering, Matt Hardy is really high. I would have The Barber Shop Window as number one as this really sticks in my mind more than any other (and that was a cool pic). As for ones you've missed out, there are so many. I think Rock at Survivor Series 98 is a big one. I can't remember exactly how Edge's came about but that is massive. Jerichos one last year one and Savage turning on Hogan all come to mind. I also prefer Hunter's heel turn when he returned (after being a heel) to a massive pop and went on to destroy Flair. I guess not strictly a heel turn but fun all the same. There could easily be a top 20 but all these were very good. It won't be quite as interesting but I do hope there is a face turn one to follow this up.