Last week, Dwayne Johnson made across the internet as he made his much-anticipated return to WWE. While fans were assuming how he would challenge Roman Reigns in WrestleMania, it turns out he had some plans with the current WWE Undisputed Champion, Cody Rhodes. The SmackDown segment took everyone by surprise, as Johnson stated how they have left the bad blood in the past after WrestleMania XL.
But what caught them off guard was how he proposed to Rhodes to become “his champion” for greatness. Thus, suggesting he switch sides and become his puppet. Though we’ve got to wait for his decision at the Elimination Chamber, three hotshots before him had accepted the offer when opportunity came knocking on their door.
3) “Stone Cold” Steve Austin
In the Attitude Era, Stone Cold Steve Austin has left a lasting legacy that remains unmatched for superstars to come. Being a 6-time WWE Champion and having countless iconic moments in his long and illustrious career made his inclusion in the Hall of Fame absolutely a no-brainer.
But what added to his stardom was his decision to accept his long feud with Vince McMahon, turning heel after WrestleMania 17, as he was obsessed with winning more titles. While fans believed The Brahma Bull had forsaken his principles, Austin proved them wrong as he wanted to become the face of the company by beating The Rock with any means possible.
The Texas Rattlesnake’s persona gained unmatched stardom, as his decision to go heel aided him in keeping the WWE Championship by all means, keeping it for a total of 175 days. Hence, becoming one of the major talents switching sides to have an unfair advantage over their opponents.
2) Randy Orton
The hand-picked future of WWE, Randy Orton, set the bar high for a heel as he first rose to the top of the company back in 2004. With the perfect blend of ego and talent, he made the jump from being a potential to a promising talent in WWE. However, he became a menace after becoming the company’s champion, making lives a living hell for talents like Daniel Bryan, John Cena, Mark Henry, Big Show, and many more.
From giving an RKO outta nowhere to ending careers, none can deny that Orton’s run as a heel is more enjoyable, which often led to feuds with other locker-room talents. During his heel run, he emerged as a victor against the likes of Shawn Michaels, Jeff Hardy, and even the Game, Triple H.
As a result, many wrestling enthusiasts claim that Randy Orton’s 2013-14 era was the major highlight of his career, making him one of the most hated yet so adored names in the WWE Universe.
1) Seth “Freakin’” Rollins
Ever since his WWE debut, the trio of Roman Reigns, Dean Ambrose, and Seth Rollins, collectively known as The Shield, became the hottest vigilante group on the roster. The trio were called the Hounds of Justice, as they stopped Triple H’s Authority from doing as he pleased. The WWE Universe praised how the trio had each other’s backs.
As a result, the betrayal felt all the more shocking as everyone watched the June 2, 2014, RAW segment in dead silence as Rollins turned his back on his brothers, Roman Reigns and Dean Ambrose. Thus, commencing his heel run in the company.
Under Triple H’s watchful eye and his newfound persona of The Architect, Rollins thrived to becoming an undisputed WWE heel as he cashed in his MITB briefcase at WrestleMania 31 for the heist of the century. While he is currently the Messiah of the company, his heel run in the last decade fared better, justifying his lofty paycheck and already becoming an all-time great.
With Elimination Chamber PPV around the corner, fans are impatiently waiting for Rhodes’ answer as they anticipate him to go full Homelander after he laid waste to Kevin Owens at the Royal Rumble PPV.
WWE Elimination Chamber will air live on Peacock and Netflix on March 1, 2025, at 7ET/ 4PT.
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