Four Heel Turns that WWE Needs to Make Happen Soon

A lot of time has been spent on the face turns for Damian Priest, Rhea Ripley, and possibly Roman Reigns at SummerSlam. Some people are jokingly referring to Dominik Mysterio's double-down as one of the heel turns that WWE needs right now. This was before later in the week when Wes Lee did turn heel. Something is in the air, and it is alignment switching time across Raw, Smackdown, and NXT. Although it has historically been a heel-forward promotion, WWE is at a deficit. They have a ton of interesting faces on the roster and a limited number of credible baddies for them to feud with. When you have a surplus and a deficit, the path forward is simple. You trade what you have for what you don't. There are four heel turns that WWE needs to make happen soon to balance the scales.

Kevin Owens is tired of being ignored

Trying to save WWE from The Bloodline has ruined Kevin Owens's life. He used to be a prizefighter and a former champion. Since his vendetta against Roman and Solo started, he has done nothing but get beat down. His high point was a tag team main event that seems to have locked him into the role of second fiddle forever. His recent time has been spent backing up other people and getting into hockey fight brawls with a different member of Solo Sikoa's family every week. He is now a totally replaceable sidekick. That has not ended well for his allies in the past.

Cody Rhodes and LA Knight need credible challengers. Kevin Owens has held both those titles and fought alongside both men against The Bloodline, but he has nothing to show for his hard work. With Roman and Solo pairing off, that crew is out of the picture. Likewise, Logan Paul is probably taking a break, which is perhaps for the best. On the Smackdown after SummerSlam, Kevin Owens was given a title opportunity to compete against Cody Rhodes for Bash in Berlin. Turning him now will give that program a shot in the arm and become another point of adversity for Cody as he heads for another clash with Roman Reigns, this time all alone. It also creates a ready-made challenger for LA Knight later in the year.  

Bianca Belair gets jealous of Jade Cargill

The women on Smackdown are in an exciting position. The title holder is a relatively fresh choice in Nia Jax. A returning Naomi and new signee Jade Cargill are the top faces on the rise. The biggest heel on Smackdown is a recent NXt call-up as well, Ms. MITB Tiffany Stratton. The energy is that of newness. New can also mean uncertain, though, and that can be a scary place for a booker. To anchor the division, WWE should consider bringing an established talent into the picture, but with a twist to match the fresh energy. That is where Bianca Belair comes in.

Belair is almost at that John Cena echelon. She may never be able to turn if WWE keeps pushing her as a heroic figure. Her personality is incredibly likable as well, so it makes sense they want her to be one of their faces. The gimmick has been overshadowed, particularly by her partner, Jade. There will be time enough to turn her heel and back, and WWE should. Jade has the swagger and is expected to go dark first. Bianca doing it will swerve expectations and create a fascinating dynamic for a feud. It also gives Bianca time to develop an edge in her persona, which will be necessary for her career in the future.

Randy Orton goes for his greatest student

In the aftermath of Gunther's big championship win, his King of the Ring rival Randy Orton has moved to Raw for a big rematch in Berlin. That probably won't end with Orton on top, though. His failure to capture the WWE Heavyweight championship could send him back to Smackdown with a chip on his shoulder and a clear target: his friend and protegee, Cody Rhodes. Their history is well documented. Likewise, both come from wrestling royal families. That feud writes itself, and Cody needs a credible challenger on Smackdown.

Orton vs Rhodes has been one of the dream match scenarios since Cody returned to WWE. Cody is one of the best at chasing the champion. Randy is one of the best Heel champions in WWE history. Putting the two of them into a more extended program will help the WWE Universe combat Bloodline fatigue until WrestleMania in Las Vegas. With Cody Rhodes, it is always about the story, and it is usually about the past. A story-driven look at Cody's first attempt at WWE stardom through the eyes of his mentor would be a very ambitious bit of programming and could let the creative team flex their muscles, showing that they can tell compelling narratives outside of Roman Reigns.

Xavier Woods leaves the New Day

It is hard to admit, but the New Day is done. With Big E gone, possibly for good, the group has a different energy. The addition of Odyssey Jones is interesting, but not enough. It does, though, provide the perfect context for one of the heel turns that WWE needs right now. They can finally do the corruption of Xavier Woods. Woods and Kingston fighting right away would be too rushed. It would be a massive injustice to their career together. Jones has built no such relationship, and between his debut and the ongoing Karrion Kross feud, Xavier is primed for a run as a jealous heel looking to have a moment like the one he afforded his two best friends.

Xavier Woods is a creative guy, and he could play the heel role well. The original New Day were villains, and he was their mastermind. Fighting with Odyssey Jones first and then eventually Kofi Kingston is a great way to use the three. Woods can maybe even turn on Big E, without fighting him, to build his own path, bringing New Day to an official end. There are also a few other feuds that a heel Woods could really sink his teeth into. Notably, betraying his family could wind him up on the wrong end of a meeting with Uncle Howdy. The possibilities are endless, and the tag division already has too many teams not being used. Everyone involved with New Day now will be elevated by going their separate ways for a while.

It is the right time for a few heel turns that WWE needs

It's incredibly cliche to demand a heel turn as a WWE fan. It has become an online booking crutch. Everyone will be a top star if they just break bad and start acting mean. That isn't true, of course. At this moment, though, a lack of heels is a credible complaint. Smackdown, in particular, is at a loss for how to book their World Champion Cody Rhodes unless he can feud with a second or third-generation Samoan superstar. Turning talented faces that have no direction bad to pair them up with other talented faces with no direction is the easiest solution to that problem. Choosing who that should be is tricker. However, some faces are natural heels. Others are creative minds who could really take off with a new challenge. Either fate is preferable to sitting back as the same heroes run through the same villains in the ring each week. If you can't get on TV to beat them, you should join them.