The wrestling world is still trying to wrap its head around what happened at WWE Elimination Chamber 2025: Toronto. In a move that no one thought we would ever see, John Cena turned his back and kicked Cody Rhodes right between the legs, officially turning heel for the first time in 20 years. It was a turn that no one saw coming, as we resigned ourselves to babyface Cena, especially since this was his retirement tour.
John Cena’s heel turn was so great that it ranks right up there with the greatest in company history. So, it got us wondering which other heel turns should be considered in the same breath as Cena’s. Let’s look at some of the top candidates below.
(We will only be sticking to WWE lineage, so the Hulk Hogan turn will not be on the list)
HBK Goes It Alone – 1992
The Rockers were one of the most popular tag teams during the Golden Era. Shawn Michaels and Marty Jannetty were a tremendous pair whose high-flying style made them a favorite amongst the WWE Universe. It was a popularity they rode for a while, but one that was destined to break the two men apart.
In the early 90’s, the cracks began to form when Michaels thought he would be better off by himself. It drove a wedge between the two men that no one thought would be healed until they were both brought to the Barber Shop. It was a heartfelt moment to see the Rockers reunite, but one that turned to Heartbreak in seconds.
After embracing his partner, Michaels did the unthinkable by super kicking Jannetty to the ground and then, in an act of cowardice, slammed his former partner’s head through the window of the Barbershop. It was a betrayal of epic proportions and made Shawn Michaels one of the most hated men in the company.
Steve Austin Makes His Deal With The Devil – 2001
Steve Austin and Mr. McMahon’s feud was the defining one of an era. Their issues sparked WWE into a level of popularity that the company hadn’t seen since the Golden Era.
Austin and McMahon shared a hatred like no other. Austin stood for everything that McMahon hated, and the boss spent the better part of 3 years trying to prevent Austin from becoming the icon that he did. They were on opposite ends of the spectrum, and no one in their right mind ever imagined that they would become partners.
When Austin returned in 2001, he didn’t hide the fact that he was desperate to regain the WWE Championship. It was the only thing that was driving him, and he became obsessed with making sure he would once again reach the mountaintop.
His desperation became so great that nearing the end of his WrestleMania 17 match, he accepted aid from Mr. McMahon to capture the WWE Championship. The audience went silent as they witnessed the Texas Rattlesnake align himself with the man he spent years trying to vanquish. It was a watershed moment for the Attitude Era.
Roman Reigns Gets Himself A Wiseman – 2020
Roman Reigns was the face of WWE that no one wanted. They were so dead set on pushing him at the top babyface that they never stopped to think if they should. The fans rejected Reigns as their guy, and he was booed out of every building that he walked into.
WWE continued to push him despite the hate, but then the pandemic hit, and Reigns took a sabbatical from the company.
When Reigns returned, the eye rolls turned into optimistic thoughts, and we saw a different side of Reigns. He laid waste to everyone in his path and looked like more of a heel than his previous babyface character.
These thoughts were confirmed when, on an episode of Smackdown, Reigns turned full heel aligning himself with Paul Heyman.
The move got more cheers than boos and Roman Reigns became the heel character that we all wanted him to be. He became the man we all loved to hate, and it propelled him into legendary status.
John Cena Becomes Corporate Cena – 2025
The turn that inspired this list easily has its place on the greatest heel turns in WWE history. John Cena was the babyface of all babyface’s. He was the company man who set records for make-a-wish and other charitable causes.
He sold merch by the truckload and was such a cash cow that WWE would never have the guts to turn him heel. Well, that was a thought that was turned on its head at Elimination Chamber.
After John Cena won the Elimination Chamber to punch his ticket to WrestleMania, Cody Rhodes, and The Rock filled the ring to hear Cody’s answer to The Rock’s proposal.
Cody, for lack of a better phrase, vehemently rejected The Rock’s proposal, and soon after Cena shocked the world when he low-blowed Rhodes and proceeded to bloody the WWE Champion. It was an amazing turn of events that saw the leader of Cenation become a heel for the first time in 20 years.
The turn was even more shocking because no one thought it would ever happen. This was the John Cena retirement tour, and we had all resigned ourselves to him being the same character. There will be no bigger shock this year than Cena turning heel.
Andre The Giant Wants The WWE Championship – 1987
WrestleMania 3 was the moment for WWE. It was their biggest show, with the biggest audience, and headlined by the two biggest stars of the Golden Era. However, there was no way this would have happened if one of the biggest heel turns in wrestling history hadn’t taken place.
In the ’70s and ’80s, Andre the Giant was the most over-athlete in the world. He sold out every arena he went to and was beloved by all. Andre wasn’t interested in championships and rarely got an opportunity to compete for them.
That is until Bobby “The Brain Heenan” got in his ear and convinced the 8th Wonder of the World that he needed to betray his friend, Hulk Hogan, and declare his want for the WWE Championship.
Andre’s turn on Pipers Pit was heartbreaking. The look on Hogan’s face told the entire story as tears streamed down his face and blood down his chest. The friendly giant was now a monster, and he was coming for the WWE Championship.
Bret Hart Turns His Back On America – 1997
Bret Hart carried WWE on his back during a very tumultuous time. The New Generation was low on revenue, and Hart was one of the few wrestlers to maintain a large fan base. He was the babyface leader of the company and was so beloved that no one could have imagined that he would become what he did.
Starting in 1996, fans’ attitudes changed. They began to support wrestlers who were not as clean-cut as the Hitman. It was during this time we saw a change in Hart as he became frustrated with the direction that the company was headed.
His frustrations grew to such a point that at WrestleMania 13 we saw Hart do something that no one could have predicted.
During his I Quit Match with Steve Austin, Hart showed a different side of his character. He began to cut corners, and by the end, he was getting booed by the crowd.
Even after he had won the match, he continued to apply the sharpshooter to Austin, bringing the hatred down upon himself even more. It was unlike Hart to take this unfair advantage, and it ushered in a new era of heel Bret Hart.
More From LWOS Pro Wrestling
Header photo – WWE – Stay tuned to the Last Word on Pro Wrestling for more on the SmackDown card and SmackDown preview, and other stories from around the world of wrestling, as they develop. You can always count on LWOPW to be on top of the major news in the wrestling world, as well as to provide you with analysis, previews, videos, interviews, and editorials on the wrestling world.
You can check out WWE programming on Netflix (Raw), USA Network (SmackDown), The CW (NXT), Tubi (WWE Evolve), A&E (WWE Superstar Sunday – Rivals, WWE LFG, and Greatest Moments) and Peacock (WWE Main Event as well as archives and premium live event streaming). Follow WWE on social media to relive top moments and matches on YouTube, and catch fast-paced action on X (WWE Speed).
