Best WWE Babyface & Heel Turns Since Triple H Took Charge (2024)

In 2022, Triple H took over creative control of WWE from the grasp of Vince McMahon, marking a huge and unimaginable change to the content of WWE programming. Across the board it has been clear and evident that the product is far better and hotter than it has been for some time, and this has come thanks to Triple H.

Over the last two years, members of the roster have gone in a new direction with a heel or a babyface turn, though some of these have been far better than others. When looking at the very best, every aspect will be considered such as the build to the turn, the execution of the turn itself, and the aftermath too in terms of how much it worked out and benefited the wrestler.

Roman Reigns Turned Babyface Without Even Being On TV

Reigns Is WWE’s Most Over Babyface Since His Return

• Solo Sikoa took over The Bloodline
• Fans were desperate for Roman Reigns’ return
• He has slotted into the role of babyface perfectly

As of this writing, it is too soon to properly judge the long term successes of Roman Reigns’ babyface turn, but in the short term it has certainly been a success. He turned face due to the fact that fans missed his presence and hated Solo Sikoa’s “New Bloodline”.

Paul Heyman’s work in his absence certainly helped too, and when Reigns finally returned, he was greeted with a hero’s welcome. He has brought huge reactions from the crowd and is once again a good guy, though it remains to be seen if this will still be one of WWE’s best turns in a year’s time.

Liv Morgan’s Heel Turn Brought About Her Rise To The Top

Morgan’s Best Spell In WWE Has Been Due To Becoming Bad

• Her 2024 return brought about a heel turn
• Her feud with Rhea Ripley firmly established her as a heel
• Morgan & Dominik Mysterio are one of the most despised acts in WWE

After years of failing to fully establish herself, Liv Morgan’s heel turn in 2024 finally brought her to the level of a top star. Her character work during her “revenge tour”, feud with Rhea Ripley, and partnership with Dominik Mysterio has been the best work of her career.

Her heel turn has led her to the Women’s World Championship and she receives some of the biggest heat each and every week.

AJ Styles’ Heel Turn Took Everyone By Surprise

AJ Styles Turned Heel… And Then Turned Double Heel

• Styles returned and instantly turned heel
• His character work has felt refreshing
• He briefly turned “face” but pulled a fake retirement to cement himself as a bad guy

After years of stagnation, a sudden heel turn in 2024 led to AJ Styles becoming interesting again. The turn was a shocking one when he attacked LA Knight, sparking a fun feud. Styles went on to challenge for the WWE Championship, but then seemingly came back over to the babyface side.

However, this was short lived, as he “turned heel” again by teasing retirement but using this to get another shot at the WWE Championship by attacking Cody Rhodes.

Chad Gable’s Best WWE Work Has Come Thanks To His Heel Turn

Gable Channeled His Inner Angle When Becoming Heel

• Fans were behind Gable as a face in 2023
• He grew frustrated after not winning the IC Title
• His heel turn and character work has been top notch

Despite gaining a lot of traction as a babyface, WWE took the risk of making Chad Gable heel as he ambushed Sami Zayn after being frustrated for not winning the Intercontinental Championship. The risk paid off and Gable’s heel turn has ultimately been a success.

From the brilliant first attack on Zayn to his weasel-like heel work to forming his own faction after his previous allies left him, he has become a strong act on RAW and has produced some of the best work of his whole WWE run.

The Uso’s Breaking Free From The Bloodline Was Fantastic

Jimmy & Jey Uso Turned Babyface After A Long Build

See Also

The 6 Best Babyfaces in WWE and AEW | Wrestling Wrap Up

• The Usos had a slow burn turn in 2023
• Jey Uso became the bigger star out of the two
• Jimmy Uso’s babyface run was abandoned

The babyface turn of The Usos is a mixed bag overall, but with more positives. Their turn on Roman Reigns around the time of Night Of Champions 2023 was one of the hottest angles in WWE at the time, leading to “The Bloodline Civil War”. Whilst Jimmy Uso would turn heel again not long later, Jey Uso has become one of the most popular stars in WWE.

Despite losing several big feuds, and sometimes not even being involved in any storyline at all, Jey Uso is super hot and a top babyface.

LA Knight’s Babyface Turn Was Well Worth The Wait

He Was Elevated To A Mega Star Thanks To Turning Face

• Knight was a heel for too long
• WWE took their time making him a good guy
• When the turn happened, it was a roaring success

Fans were desperate to cheer for LA Knight, but for a while WWE kept him as a heel. In mid-2023, a steady babyface turn began, which became fully-fledged in the summer as he was finally giving crowd-pleasing wins and appeasing the audience in his promos.

The moment of the “turn” itself wasn’t all that special, but the run as a babyface which has come after it has ticked all the boxes. He has remained consistently popular, spent some time in the main event, and then went on to win the United States Championship at SummerSlam 2024.

Drew McIntyre’s Steady Heel Turn Made Him A Star Again

McIntyre Went From Irrelevant To A Star When Turning Heel

• McIntyre was bland as a face
• His star power had dropped significantly
• His heel turn has brought him back to the top

Under Vince McMahon, Drew McIntyre had gone from mega over to one of the cheesiest and hard-to-watch babyfaces on the roster. In 2023, McIntyre’s frustrations over loss after loss led him down a dark path - one which he felt justified in going down. He finally snapped on former Bloodline members Jey Uso & Sami Zayn as he sought revenge against those who had wronged him.

In the months since, McIntyre has been one of the best characters on WWE TV, feeling righteous in his position which makes him even more fascinating to watch. His storylines have been top tier and his mic work has been nearly untouchable thanks to his heel turn.

The Rock's Heel Turn Saved WrestleMania 40

He Became "The Final Boss" In A Stunning Swerve

• The Rock returned to take Cody Rhodes' WrestleMania spot
• Fans did not like it, so WWE's plans pivoted
• The Rock turned heel for first time in two decades

The Rock has been a babyface for the last 20 years, with it seeming unfathomable that he would ever turn heel again. However, the course of events leading to WrestleMania 40 led to it being the logical option. The Rock turned heel at the WrestleMania 40 press conference in what was one of the most shocking and stunning angles since Triple H took creative control.

The Rock aligned with Roman Reigns and the pair feuded with Cody Rhodes & Seth Rollins in a star-studded main event scene. This iteration of The Rock is one of his best ever, with incredible character work, world class promos, and pushing the boat when it comes to making WWE less PG.

Dominik Mysterio Has Become One Of The Best Heels In Wrestling

He Went From Bland Face To An Incredible Bad Guy

• Dominik turned on his father
• He joined The Judgment Day
• No one gets more heat on the roster

Fans were hesitant when Dominik Mysterio turned heel, but it wasn’t long before it was clear that he was a natural in the role. His initial turn on his father Rey Mysterio was a fantastic moment, and it led to an entertaining feud and strong match at WrestleMania 39.

Mysterio went on to develop a fantastic character as “Dirty Dom”, with great partnerships alongside Rhea Ripley and Liv Morgan. This has been by far one of the most successful heel turns ever.

Sami Zayn’s Official Babyface Turn Had One Of WWE’s Greatest Pops

The Build To This Turn Was Stunning

• Zayn was a tweener in The Bloodline
• He turned babyface in a magical moment
• His face turn led to a WrestleMania main event

The best turn of the Triple H era of WWE came when Sami Zayn buried a chair in the back of Roman Reigns at the 2023 Royal Rumble to what is quite possibly one of the biggest pops in the entire history of WWE. Despite fans being on his side for some time, Zayn walked the line between heel and babyface during his time in The Bloodline in one of the most enthralling storylines in modern day WWE.

Finally, he could no longer go through with being a bad guy and he turned babyface in a magical moment, setting up PPV main events, title victories, and more over the next two years as one of the most popular and wholesome stars in the company.