{"id":164722,"date":"2026-07-22T10:00:07","date_gmt":"2026-07-22T14:00:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/?p=164722"},"modified":"2026-07-22T02:17:20","modified_gmt":"2026-07-22T06:17:20","slug":"5-best-wwe-summerslam-heel-turns-in-history","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/2026\/07\/22\/5-best-wwe-summerslam-heel-turns-in-history\/","title":{"rendered":"Ultimate Betrayals: Ranking the 5 Best SummerSlam Heel Turns in WWE History"},"content":{"rendered":"

With WWE SummerSlam 2026<\/a> right around the corner, there is a lot for wrestling fans to be excited about. From the massive men\u2019s title matches – like <\/span>CM Punk<\/span><\/a> defending the Undisputed WWE Championship for the first time against Cody Rhodes – to Roman Reigns putting his World Heavyweight Championship on the line against former Shield partner Seth Rollins in what feels like their final legendary showdown.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Beyond the titles, anticipation is also high for a pair of non-title matches scheduled. <\/span>Oba Femi<\/span><\/a> and <\/span>Brock Lesnar<\/span><\/a> will settle their feud inside Hell in a Cell, also known as the “Demonic Structure,” as it makes its return for the first time in nearly two years.<\/span><\/p>\n

It was also announced this past Sunday during the SummerSlam kickoff show that <\/span>Nick Aldis will get his chance at revenge against Gunther<\/span><\/a> in a one-on-one match. This will mark the first time Aldis has competed in a wrestling ring since October 7, 2023.<\/span><\/p>\n

But beyond all these exciting matchups, one burning question lingers: could we see a <\/span>Cody Rhodes heel turn<\/span><\/a>? With tensions escalating rapidly between Rhodes and Punk during the kickoff show, fans are eagerly waiting to see if SummerSlam is where WWE finally pulls the trigger.<\/span><\/p>\n

Since SummerSlam and heel turns are on everyone\u2019s radar, what better time to take a trip down memory lane? Here are the five best heel turns to ever go down at the “Biggest Party of the Summer.”<\/span><\/p>\n

5. Tatanka Joins the Million Dollar Corporation (SummerSlam 1994)<\/b><\/h2>\n

During the summer of 1994, Ted DiBiase made waves by teasing the purchase of Lex Luger’s contract and attempting to recruit one of the company’s top babyfaces into his villainous Million Dollar Corporation.<\/span><\/p>\n

Initially, Luger denied the claims, but as the weeks went on, the evidence kept stacking up against him. DiBiase began lurking at ringside during Luger\u2019s matches with a red bag full of cash, all while Luger’s close ally and fellow fan-favorite, Tatanka, watched on with suspicion.<\/span><\/p>\n

Calling out Luger for abandoning his morals in exchange for DiBiase\u2019s cash, Tatanka set out to settle the score in a match at SummerSlam from the United Center in Chicago. The contest was highly competitive, but the finish became by far the most memorable part.<\/span><\/p>\n

DiBiase made his way down the ramp carrying his iconic red bag of cash, clearly enjoying the chaos unfolding in the ring. Just as DiBiase reached ringside, Luger confronted him and kicked the bag right out of his hands, sending money flying through the air.<\/span><\/p>\n

But as soon as Luger climbed back into the ring, Tatanka capitalized, using a schoolboy roll-up to steal the victory. In the aftermath, a confused Luger confronted Tatanka, only for Tatanka to suddenly attack him – embracing DiBiase to reveal that he<\/span> was the one who sold out all along.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

4. Becky Lynch Shocks the World (SummerSlam 2018)\u00a0<\/b><\/h2>\n

The weeks leading up to SummerSlam 2018 saw Becky Lynch go on a dominant winning streak, building massive momentum and fan support. That run secured her a one-on-one match with Carmella for the SmackDown Women\u2019s Championship at \u201cThe Biggest Party of the Summer.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

While Lynch believed she finally had her best chance to win gold for the first time in over a year, Charlotte Flair made a surprise return from hiatus to throw a massive wrench in those plans. Following Flair\u2019s non-title victory over Carmella on SmackDown, the SummerSlam showdown was suddenly converted into a high-stakes triple threat match.<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/smartframe-embed><\/p>\n

Lynch immediately expressed her frustration, arguing that Flair cut in front of the line based purely on her family name and status. Despite her objections, the match moved forward as scheduled at SummerSlam inside the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York.<\/span><\/p>\n

Near the end of the match, Lynch had Carmella locked in her signature submission hold, putting herself on the absolute verge of becoming champion. However, Flair re-entered the ring and blindsided Becky with a Natural Selection, pinning her best friend to capture the championship.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"A
A photo of WWE star Becky Lynch. (Photo Credit: https:\/\/commons.wikimedia.org\/wiki\/Category:Becky_Lynch#\/media\/File:Becky_Lynch_-_2019-01-20_-_01.jpg)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Following the match, a tearful Lynch embraced Flair in the center of the ring. But as Charlotte raised her title, Becky suddenly snapped, unleashing a vicious slap across Flair\u2019s face. The crowd erupted into massive cheers as Lynch battered her former friend and threw her over the announce table.<\/span><\/p>\n

3. Paul Bearer\u2019s Stunning Betrayal (SummerSlam 1996)\u00a0<\/b><\/h2>\n

SummerSlam 1996 hosted what was arguably one of the most shocking heel turns in WWE history. The seeds of that betrayal were first planted earlier that spring when Mankind, played by Mick Foley, made his disturbing WWE debut.<\/span><\/p>\n

Unlike most wrestlers, Mankind wasn\u2019t intimidated by Undertaker\u2019s mind games. He even cost “The Deadman” a high-stakes bout against Goldust at In Your House 8: Beware of Dog<\/span>. <\/span><\/i>Driven by revenge, The Undertaker met Mankind at SummerSlam in Cleveland, Ohio, in WWE\u2019s <\/span>first-ever Boiler Room Brawl<\/span><\/a>.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The rules for the match stated that both competitors would begin inside the arena\u2019s boiler room, fighting their way through the backstage area and all the way to the ring.<\/span><\/p>\n

Once the brawl finally spilled into the ring, a battered Undertaker managed to fend off Mankind. Dropping to his knees, he reached out to Paul Bearer for the urn that fueled his power, similar to Superman drawing power from the sun.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

But Bearer shockingly refused to hand over the urn, slapping Undertaker across the face before striking him over the head with it. Mankind seized the opportunity immediately, trapping “The Deadman” in the Mandible Claw until he fell unconscious.<\/span><\/p>\n

Afterward, Bearer handed Mankind the urn before kneeling over Undertaker\u2019s body. He ordered Mankind\u2019s druids to drag “The Deadman” out of the arena, walking up the aisle arm-in-arm with Mankind to seal the ultimate betrayal.<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

2. The Prologue of the Tribal Chief (SummerSlam 2020)\u00a0<\/b><\/h2>\n

Heading into WrestleMania 36, <\/span>Roman Reigns<\/span><\/a> was scheduled for a blockbuster match against Goldberg for the Universal Championship. However, due to his health concerns during the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, Reigns opted to step away from television for five months.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\"WWE
WWE SummerSlam 2026 graphic featuring “The Fiend” Bray Wyatt and Braun Strowman. (Photo Credit: WWE)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

During his absence, the Universal Championship picture turned into a monstrous feud between Braun Strowman and \u201cThe Fiend\u201d Bray Wyatt. The two clashed at SummerSlam in a hard-hitting Falls Count Anywhere bout.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

After the chaotic contest ended with Wyatt becoming champion, Roman Reigns, wearing a black shirt labeled \u201cWreck Everyone & Leave\u201d, made a shocking return to lay out Wyatt with a devastating Spear. Reigns then turned his sights on Strowman outside the ring, leveling him with multiple steel chair shots to the back.<\/span><\/p>\n

Reigns then returned to the ring, laying out Wyatt with another Spear before holding the championship high above his head, standing dominant over both broken competitors.<\/span><\/p>\n

1. The Crowning Moment That Was Quickly Ruined (SummerSlam 2013)<\/b><\/h2>\n
\"A
Photo Credit: By Krystal Bogner from Adelaide, Australia – Daniel Bryan, CC BY 2.0, https:\/\/commons.wikimedia.org\/w\/index.php?curid=50035178<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

While many talk about \u201cThe Summer of Punk\u201d in 2011, Daniel Bryan had his own version in 2013. Driven by Bryan’s red-hot momentum and wild popularity, WWE Chairman Vince McMahon was forced to give him a WWE Championship match against John Cena.<\/span><\/p>\n

McMahon publicly criticized Bryan, calling him a \u201csmall-time wrestler\u201d who didn\u2019t fit the look or mold of a true corporate champion. To ensure a fair fight, McMahon selected Triple H to serve as the special guest referee for the matchup.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"WWE
WWE SummerSlam 2013 graphic of John Cena and Daniel Bryan, with Triple H as guest referee, for the WWE Championship. (Photo Credit: WWE)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

In the aftermath of an incredibly fast-paced contest that saw Bryan pull off a massive upset victory over Cena to become WWE Champion, a tearful Bryan celebrated as confetti fell. In a show of sportsmanship, Cena shook Bryan\u2019s hand and embraced him.<\/span><\/p>\n

Following that moment, Triple H raised Bryan\u2019s arm, seemingly validating him as a top star in the company. But just as the celebration reached its peak, the music of Randy Orton, who had recently won the Money in the Bank ladder match, echoed throughout the arena.<\/span><\/p>\n

Orton made his way down the ramp, paused at ringside to look at Bryan, and then began walking back, seemingly opting against a cash-in. But just as Bryan went back to celebrating, Triple H suddenly spun him around, kicked him in the gut, and delivered a devastating Pedigree.<\/span><\/p>\n

A smirking Orton walked back into the ring, handed the briefcase to Triple H, and covered Bryan for the pinfall as Triple H counted to three to crown Orton as the new champion. This betrayal was not only shocking, but it marked the official beginning of The Authority.<\/span><\/p>\n

The only remaining question is whether we will see a similar game-changing moment in just 10 days, amidst growing speculation that SummerSlam could be the night Cody Rhodes turns heel. A legendary heel turn requires the perfect stage, and SummerSlam has proven to be the ultimate battleground for betrayal. All eyes are on Rhodes to see if the \u201cAmerican Nightmare\u201d might just become everyone else’s.<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

With WWE SummerSlam 2026 right around the corner, there is a lot for wrestling fans to be excited about. From the massive men\u2019s title matches – like CM Punk defending the Undisputed WWE Championship for the first time against Cody Rhodes – to Roman Reigns putting his World Heavyweight Championship on the line against former […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5699,"featured_media":164733,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"no","_lmt_disable":"","sfio_featured_image":false,"sfio_embed_code":"","_ef_editorial_meta_date_first-draft-date":"","_ef_editorial_meta_paragraph_assignment":"","_ef_editorial_meta_checkbox_needs-photo":"","_ef_editorial_meta_number_word-count":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[4,7205,2192,3],"tags":[163,56,165,297,75,60],"class_list":["post-164722","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-wwe","category-history","category-wrestling","category-wwe-universe","tag-becky-lynch","tag-daniel-bryan","tag-john-cena","tag-the-undertaker","tag-triple-h","tag-wwe-summerslam"],"modified_by":"Michael Joseph Sugue, Manager","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/164722","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/5699"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=164722"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/164722\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":164734,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/164722\/revisions\/164734"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/164733"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=164722"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=164722"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=164722"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}