5 Obvious Heel Turns in WWE That Worked

2. Batista Ends His Long Friendship With Rey Mysterio

Rey Mysterio and Batista were a classic pairing of unlikely friends. One was small, the other was big. One liked to entertain the wow the crowd, and the other was usually focused and intense. Their friendship spawned from Batista's real-life (and brief storyline) friendship with Eddie Guerrero. Mysterio and Guerrero were closely linked as friends and (mostly) foes for many years, but when Eddie unexpectedly passed away in mid-November 2005, Rey took on the Guerrero legacy and battled on behalf of his Mexican brother.

It was Batista and Guerrero who had become reluctant friends, which included Batista defending the World Heavyweight Championship against Eddie at No Mercy 2005. Eddie passed away one month later and their storyline, which would have seen Batista turn on Eddie before Eddie got a chance to turn on him, stopped abruptly.

Instead, WWE decided to do something similar with Batista and Rey. After saving Rey from Kane and Big Show, the men became fast friends, bonding over the passing of Eddie Guerrero. They would win the Tag Team Titles in December of 2005, but Batista was injured shortly after. Due to that, the story of Batista potentially turning on Rey (after they lost the titles and a rematch) was halted.

It wasn't until nearly 4 years later that the pot boiled over and Batista lost his mind. Rey Mysterio offered to team with Batista to take on Chris Jericho and Big Show for the Tag Titles, in a match that they lost. The following month, at the Bragging Rights PPV, Batista and Rey were involved in a 4-way match (with CM Punk and World Champion The Undertaker). Mysterio broke up a pinfall attempt near the end of the match, costing Batista the title, and when Undertaker eventually scored the victory. Batista had been becoming increasingly upset and angry after being unable to become World Champion again, and he took it out on his friend. He screamed at Rey "You're supposed to be my friend!" while continuing a brutal assault on the much smaller man.

While this turn wasn't immediately obvious, it had been hinted at after unsuccessful tag title challenges and Batista having to save Rey multiple times from being attacked by larger men. And when Rey broke up the pinfall in the 4-way match, it was the last straw. It became apparent that Batista was going to go after Mysterio, and he did it only moments after the match. Rey never got proper revenge on Big Dave, being destroyed by him in multiple matches, and Batista eventually did win the World Title again, and their friendship was over forever.