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The real indication of a great WWE Superstar is their ability to play different roles and remain a big part of the show.
There are many exceptions to this, but the best performers are usually comfortable with whatever role is provided to them by the creative team. This has been a fear for some of WWE's biggest babyfaces, who seemed like they would never turn heel. A couple of them were unfathomable in a villainous role and even WWE was hesitant to pull the trigger on some Superstars.
The following five Superstars were adored as babyfaces, for the most part, before doing the "unthinkable" and turning heel. All of them have been hits in the role, furthering their legacies as some of the greatest WWE Superstars of this generation.
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There may have been a few hiccups for some, but all of these Superstars did find their footing and went on to become some of the most entertaining characters in WWE.
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Here are five WWE Superstars who played the role of babyfaces for a long time but did the "unthinkable" and became perfect heels.
#5 Roman Reigns - Current WWE Universal Champion
He may not have been a natural babyface like the rest of the names on this list, but Roman Reigns is still one of the most popular WWE Superstars in recent history. The company pushed him as its top face, with the move continually being met with disapproval. However, Reigns did become a very real babyface among WWE fans in 2019.
The Big Dog wasn't booed nearly as much after returning from his battle with leukemia, with fans warming up to him. Many had given up hope of Roman Reigns ever turning heel, at least as a full-time Superstar.
However, the former Shield member shocked everyone at SummerSlam 2020 by turning heel and attacking The Fiend and Braun Strowman.
Reigns has been spectacular as a villain on SmackDown, ever since his surprise return last year. He brought in Paul Heyman as his special counsel, won the Universal Championship a week later after his comeback, and has been the main attraction on the blue brand.
Every feud Reigns is in feels important in terms of storyline and all of his matches have been spectacular.
The Tribal Chief is on fire at the moment, as we are heading towards WrestleMania. He will defend his Universal Title against Edge in another angle that is rich in storytelling. Roman Reigns had previously remained a face for over six years, and fans never thought he would embrace the dark side.
#4 Sami Zayn - WWE's conspiracy theorist
Having joined WWE's main roster as the one of the biggest babyfaces in NXT history, Sami Zayn seemed like one of the guys who would never turn heel.
He was very easy to get behind, as evidenced by his NXT Championship victory in 2014. Zayn's likable personality shone through, but he couldn't replicate his success from the black and gold brand on the main roster.
Nobody believed WWE would turn Zayn heel because of his nature as an underdog and his never-ending feud with Kevin Owens. However, he ended up joining forces with KO at Hell in a Cell 2017. Zayn proceeded to become one of the best heels in recent WWE history.
It may have taken time for WWE to get it right, but the two-time Intercontinental Champion is currently one of the biggest heels on SmackDown. Zayn's annoying persona is brilliant to watch, as he comes up with different theories on why he is being "held down" by the WWE system.
He remains so detestable as a character while also being a very likable human being in real life. Nobody in 2015 would have ever predicted that Sami Zayn would become one of the top heels in WWE. With his current character being a perfect fit, it is difficult to envision The Great Liberator as a babyface again.
#3 Daniel Bryan - The eco-friendly WWE Champion
His run in WWE's main event scene may have begun as a heel, but it seemed like Daniel Bryan would remain a babyface for the entirety of his second run with the company. How could anyone boo a man who fought for his dreams and came out of retirement to wrestle again?
It happened after the novelty of Bryan's 2018 in-ring return wore off. His character was becoming a bit stale. This is why the heel turn was so perfect, despite being unthinkable. It instantly reversed Bryan's fortunes as a top star, freshening up his character in the process.
He cut scathing promos every week on SmackDown, blasting the WWE fans for not caring about the environment. Bryan was so good at being a heel that the fans were booing an eco-friendly WWE Champion. It is scary how naturally the heel persona came to him, who is considered by many as the most popular babyface of his generation.
Daniel Bryan is now a universally-beloved babyface once again, but his run as the evil eco-friendly WWE Champion was legendary. From his heel turn on AJ Styles to the entire KofiMania storyline, this remains one of the greatest WWE world title reigns in the modern era.
#2 Johnny Gargano - The most entertaining part of WWE NXT
For the longest time, especially after Tommaso Ciampa turned on him, Johnny Gargano looked to remain a babyface during his entire WWE career. He may have usurped Sami Zayn as the biggest good guy in NXT history through his immense in-ring skills and humble relatability.
WWE even flirted with the idea of Gargano turning heel when he united with Ciampa for a brief moment in early 2019, but he quickly reverted to being a face again. Johnny Wrestling won the NXT Championship in an incredible moment but lost it in his first title defense.
After a string of high-profile NXT TakeOver losses, Gargano turned heel in February 2020. This time, Candice LeRae followed him as well. It took a few months for the two of them to embed themselves as heels, but now, the Garganos are amongst the most entertaining acts in NXT.
Johnny Gargano and Candice LeRae now have their own faction, called The Way. The current NXT North American Champion is not afraid to poke fun at himself and has struck the perfect balance between in-ring ability and comedic timing.
#1 Bayley - The understated MVP of WWE's women's division
Two years ago, the idea of Bayley being WWE's top female heel was laughable. Her jovial 'Hugger' gimmick seemed perfect for her, and one many thought she would portraying throughout her WWE career.
Bayley was the ultimate babyface in WWE's women's division, especially after her war with Sasha Banks at NXT TakeOver: Brooklyn.
The former Women's Champion defeated The Boss in an incredible match that night as she cemented herself as a fan favorite. However, things went south for her shortly after debuting on RAW.
She was terribly mishandled during a 2017 feud with Alexa Bliss and never truly recovered from it. While she did have some success, Bayley desperately needed to turn heel for her character to evolve.
There was the risk of terrible failure but WWE decided to pull the trigger and turn Bayley's heel. It is safe to say that the move paid off.
She gradually grew into her new role, fully committing to her turn by cutting her hair and destroying her Bayley buddies in October 2019. However, much like fellow NXT alumni Sami Zayn and Johnny Gargano, Bayley wasn't immediately comfortable as a heel.
She found her groove around WrestleMania season last year, with WWE shows emanating from an empty Performance Center. Bayley used the quiet setting to her advantage, as she and Sasha Banks tore up both RAW and SmackDown. 'The Role Model' even enjoyed a year-long reign with the SmackDown Women's Championship.
Bayley remains a prominent part of the blue brand and has become increasingly character-driven. Her improvement on promos has been affirmed by WWE through her recently debuted talk show - Ding Dong, Hello. Hopefully, WWE finds a spot for her at WrestleMania 37.
Bayley's evolution as a character has been wonderful, as she went from being scared to use a kendo stick to the dastardly (but entertaining) heel she is currently portraying.
