5 Babyfaces that were heels in real life

Despite being one of the most beloved babyfaces in WWE history, Hulk Hogan’s conduct outside of the ring left much to be desiredQuite an ironic scenario presents itself to us when John Cena is juxtaposed with the preceding top babyfaces that were pushed by the company, when the polarizing reaction that he receives from the audience is compared to the roof-raising 'pops' that they used to customarily enjoy.Especially considering the notion that John Cena also mostly stays true to his billing of a clean-cut babyface outside of the ring, while the likes of Hulk Hogan and Stone Cold Steve Austin, despite their enduring popularity, were no saints by any measure of imagination.One could argue that a pro-wrestler of the mould of John Cena is more belonging to the exception than the norm, but that still does not do justice to the sheer volume of screw-ups that many other babyfaces have received a free pass for, with their popularity even intact with the fans in some cases.On the other hand though, there also have been instances of top babyfaces that toed the line one too many times and found out the hard way that their transgressions do indeed add up and spill over one day.Keeping that in mind, this slideshow runs through 5 babyfaces that were not quite such ideal inspirations in real life, as the WWE think-tank may have once had us believe.

#1 Matt Hardy

Although considered the less notorious of the Hardy brothers, Matt Hardy’s run-ins with the law leave much to be desire

Despite being known as the more level-headed Hardy brother if you will, multiple arrests for DUI charges and possession of drugs with intent to distribute only serve to highlight how much more of a train-wreck his brother Jeff actually was.

If watching his brother waste away his wrestling career and life between visits to the court and rehabilitation facilities wasn’t enough, Matt Hardy proceeded to do one better in the month of January of 2014 when he was arrested from a motel in Virginia for assaulting his wife, Reby Sky.

While the fact that Reby Sky was also arrested having caused significant damage to Matt in self defence may have mitigated the social implications of Hardy’s actions, the couple were only spared jail time after both pleading “no contest” to assault and battery charges and agreeing to complete a course in anger management.

Although since then, the couple seems to have reconciled and Matt Hardy has kept his nose relatively clean of trouble; a refreshingly welcome break for the troves of Hardy Boyz fans that have kept them relevant even after their departure from the WWE.

#2 Jimmy Snuka

Jimmy ‘Superfly’ Snuka was finally convicted for the murder of Nancy Argentino in 2015 after 32 years of inconclusiveness

For 32 years, the Jimmy Snuka-Nancy Argentino murder saga lay dormant for most WWE fans, and perhaps even for the company; indeed a whole generation had passed, with Jimmy ‘Superfly’ Snuka’s daughter, Tamina Snuka, now being featured on WWE programming.

But for Nancy Argentino’s family and a select group of investigative journalists, who were relentless in their pursuit of justice, the wait was worth it as September this year, Jimmy Snuka was finally indicted on charges of third-degree murder and involuntary manslaughter.

Even though the autopsy report at the time of Nancy’s death in 1983 pointed towards possible “mate abuse”, with the coroner going as far as advising the police to treat it as a case of “homicide unless proven otherwise”, it remains one of pro wrestling's greatest mysteries how Snuka was never convicted for the crime until recently.

Although a big draw in the WWE during the 1980’s, Superfly did have a disturbing penchant for domestic violence that dogged him throughout his career.

Now 72 years old, and victim to both stomach cancer and dementia, Snuka’s legacy has been erased from the WWE’s history books in light of his conviction; finally bringing some measure of greatly belated, yet needful justice to the Argetino family.

#3 Stone Cold Steve Austin

Despite his continued popularity with the WWE Universe today, there was a time when domestic abuse charges threatened to derail Stone Cold’s career

He may have been the WWE’s biggest draw in its most popular era, but Stone Cold Steve Austin’s beer guzzling, trigger-happy persona manifested itself in his behaviour outside of the ring as well, leading to disturbing allegations of domestic abuse from his ex-wife and former WWE Diva Debra, who insinuated that his physical outbursts were due to a combination of ‘roid rage’ and alcohol abuse.

It was opportune timing, from the WWE’s standpoint at least, that he was arrested by the cops during the time he (in)famously “took his ball and went home” in 2002, as the company were quick to place a year long gag order on Debra to prevent any further details about their biggest star’s misdemeanours from leaking out.

Soon Austin and Debra legally seperated even as Stone Cold returned to WWE programming to see out the final leg of his illustrious career, but domestic abuse allegations reared its ugly head again in 2004, this time when then-girlfriend Tess Broussard reported to cops that Austin had assaulted her, resulting in injuries on her hands and knees.

Regardless, given the forgiving nature of pro-wrestling audiences and the fact that Austin has maintained a clean slate ever since then, he still enjoys a legend’s contract with the WWE today and a legendary status par none, with its fans.

#4 Hulk Hogan

The leaked racist slur that he was responsible proved to be one strike too many, even for a legend of Hulk Hogan’s popularity

Right from the reported secret love affair with Miss Elizabeth that antagonized Randy Savage, to the racist diatribe that was leaked off a sex tape that was secretly filmed when he was flinging with his best friend’s wife, Hulk Hogan has never been far removed from controversy or a highly questionable line of morality.

Having also been known as one of the most politicking Superstars backstage, it presented little wonder that eventually Hulk Hogan’s actions caught up with him in one way or another.

Despite arguably being the biggest babyface that the WWE has ever known, a notion further confirmed when The Rock had to turn heel to accommodate his return in 2002, Hulk Hogan ironically proved to be far from the inspirational figure that his “Say your prayers, take your vitamins, and you will never go wrong!” character portrayed him as.

Now after having had his entire legacy annulled from WWE lore after his racial slur, Hulk Hogan has been cutting an apologetic figure to try and undo the damage that he has wrought upon himself; perhaps still not too cognizant of the fact that the adulation of the audience, much like Father Time, may have finally passed him by.

#5 Chris Benoit

Sadly, despite all his in-ring exploits, Chris Benoit may only be remembered as the WWE’s greatest disaster outside of it

Perhaps the most ghastly controversy to ever affect the company, the Chris Benoit incident rocked the wrestling faternity so hard that the WWE set a precedent by distancing themselves from him and eradicating all mention of him from their records, something that would later be repeated in the cases of Hulk Hogan and Jimmy Snuka.

From June 22nd to 25th of 2007, Chris Benoit set about first murdering his wife Nancy, and then his seven-year-old son Daniel, before finally taking his own life.

Conspiracy theories galore, ranging from addiction issues to significant brain damage sustained by repeatedly taking chair shots to the head, but the verified reason behind the double-murder suicide has never been confirmed till date.

With the WWE seemingly content to have moved on from the horrific incident by never broaching the topic of Chris Benoit ever since, perhaps the tide of time may indeed one day wash away his memories and in-ring exploits; but not before registering as a glaring exclamation point for the very real health hazards that pro-wrestlers have to contend with as the price they pay for entertaining us.