10 Biggest Traitors In WWE History

In the world of sports-entertainment, many beloved babyfaces have turned despicable heel (and vice versa) to shock audiences and make sure they tune-in next week to find out why. There have been so many heel and face-turns throughout wrestling history that some stars have made a career from years of constant, major betrayal.

5 Best WWE Storylines That Turned Heels Into Babyfaces (& 5 Worst)

Face turns can be difficult to pull off well. While WWE has done some well, there have also been a few failures.

Others have left such a scarring betrayal on those close to them, that it's arguably what they're most remembered for. These are 10 of the most notorious traitors in WWE history.

10 Dominik Mysterio Betrayed Rey Mysterio: Clash At The Castle 2022

After Joining The Judgment Day, Dominik Has Remained With Them Ever Since

Dominik Mysterio made his in-ring WWE debut at SummerSlam 2020
He and Rey became the first father/son Tag Team Champions in WWE history
Dominik ultimately betrayed his family on September 3, 2022 in Cardiff, Wales, UK

The world was in shock when Dominik Mysterio gave a low-blow to Edge and clotheslined his own father, Rey. Then Dominik added more salt to the wounds by joining Judgment Day, entering a relationship with Rhea Ripley and infamously attacking the Mysterio family on Thanksgiving.

One of the biggest heels in wrestling today, Dominik's success owes everything to the despicable act of treachery he performed against his own family. He continues to be a treacherous and cowardly villain that fans love to hate; more so since becoming NXT North American Champion.

9 Seth Rollins Betrayed Dean Ambrose And Roman Reigns: Raw, June 2, 2014

Nine Months After Betraying The Shield, Seth Won His First WWE Title

The Shield debuted at the 2012 Survivor Series
Seth Rollins was still NXT Champion when The Shield made their main-roster debut
The Shield came to an end on the June 2, 2014 edition of Raw

Seth Rollins, Dean Ambrose and Roman Reigns were a dominant faction; unified in bringing justice and order to WWE. They were so successful and infallible that it was hard to imagine The Shield being divided.

But on the June 2, 2014 episode of Raw, Rollins shockingly betrayed Reigns and Ambrose to side with The Authority. All three members of The Shield have come a long way since the faction ended, but for Seth to have been the one to betray his brothers for singles-glory still resonates deeply with fans.

8 Kevin Owens Betrayed Sami Zayn, Chris Jericho And The New Day In WWE

Owens' Motivations For Betrayal Usually Centered On A Championship

Two months after betraying Sami Zayn, Owens would defeat him by TKO for the NXT Title
Owens would also go on to defeat Chris Jericho for the US Title at WrestleMania 33
Owens would challenge Kofi for the WWE Title, but was unsuccessful

Ever since his WWE debut in 2014, Kevin Owens has been very good at stabbing people in the back. At the same event where he debuted, Owens congratulated his best friend Sami Zayn on winning the NXT Title, only to brutally assault him; much to the horror of the fans.

On February 13, 2017, Owens would brutally assault Chris Jericho after several months of beautiful friendship. He would also memorably betray The New Day in 2019 after becoming an honorary member. Every time Kevin Owens has betrayed people to achieve success, no one has ever seen it coming.

7 Paul Heyman Betrayed Brock Lesnar, Rob Van Dam & CM Punk In WWE

Heyman Led Many Clients To The Top In WWE Only To Betray Them

Betrayed Brock Lesnar at both Survior Series 2002 and Royal Rumble 2022
Turned on CM Punk at Money In The Bank 2013
Screwed Rob Van Dam out of the ECW World Title in favor of The Big Show in 2006

Paul Heyman has been known for being a great commentator, the mastermind of ECW, and one of the greatest managers of all time. But Heyman is also a renowned con-artist and manipulator; whose track record for betraying clients is legendary.

Every Job Paul Heyman Has Had In The Wrestling Business, Explained

Paul Heyman has been around the wrestling business for decades and has an extensive wealth of knowledge from working so many different jobs.

In WWE alone, Heyman has managed the likes of Brock Lesnar, Rob Van Dam and CM Punk to great success, only to betray them all to huge shock. Just as many wrestlers have benefited from being a Paul Heyman guy, too many have paid the price for it.

6 Paul Bearer Betrayed The Undertaker: SummerSlam 1996

Paul Bearer Would Manage Mankind, Vader And Kane Over The Next Two Years

After over five years together, Paul Bearer would betray The Undertaker in favor of Mankind
Paul Bearer tried to get Taker back under his control by blackmailing him
After Taker refused, Paul Bearer revealed the existence of Kane to the world in October 1997

It seemed unfathomable that the Phenom would go anywhere without his manager to guide him. But all that changed forever at SummerSlam 1996, when Paul Bearer shockingly betrayed The Undertaker to ally himself with arch-nemesis Mankind.

Paul Bearer would go on to manage his son Kane, who was ultimately betrayed as well when Paul Bearer returned to the Deadman's side in 1998 and 2004. The late, great Paul Bearer's legacy may have been intertwined with Taker and Kane's success, but it is also mired with dark secrecy and treachery.

5 Vince McMahon Screwed Bret Hart, Steve Austin, Mick Foley And Many More

Following Survivor Series 1997, Mr. McMahon Became A Corporate Dictator

Vince used Mankind as a puppet in the Deadly Game Tournament at Survivor Series 1998
Vince was in The Rock's corner for the Fatal 4-Way at WrestleMania 16; only to betray him for Triple H
Vince even staged the abduction of his daughter Stephanie in 1999

In the midst of his war with Stone Cold Steve Austin, Mr. McMahon was determined to use all his assets to make sure his power went unchallenged. And that meant using whatever pawns were available until they were no longer useful.

Bret Hart & 9 Other Wrestlers Who Got Screwed By Vince McMahon

Vince McMahon has infamously screwed some WWE wrestlers over the years.

Mick Foley, Kane, The Rock, The Undertaker, Triple H, even Vince's own family have all been shockingly manipulated and discarded for his own gain. Jim Ross regarded Vince as "Satan himself!" many times on commentary, and there's plenty of evidence to support that on the WWE Network.

4 Shawn Michaels Betrayed Marty Jannetty And D-Generation X In WWE

Shawn Turned On Many People With Sweet Chin Music Throughout His Career

The Rockers broke up on the January 11, 1992 episode of Wrestling Challenge
Shawn betrayed D-Generation X to ally with The Corporation as WWE Commissioner in 1998
On July 4, 2005, Shawn turned heel when he hit Sweet Chin Music on Hulk Hogan

When it comes to betrayals in wrestling, the Heartbreak Kid is one of those controversial figures who has hoplessly blurred the line between reality and kayfabe. Ever since he superkicked Marty Jannetty and threw through a glass window on the Barber Shop, Michaels made a career out of turning on people.

Even when Shawn was babyface, not even his friends and allies were safe from him. Sweet Chin Music caught Triple H, John Cena and Hulk Hogan completely off-guard everytime, because the devil inside Shawn always struck like lighning.

3 Triple H Betrayed DX, Shawn Michaels, Randy Orton & Ric Flair In WWE

The Game Was A Major Babyface Until First Turning Heel In 1999

Cost X-Pac the European Championship against Shane McMahon at WrestleMania 15
Drove Shawn Michaels' head through a car window to prove he was weak
Kicked Randy Orton out of Evolution the night after he won the World Heavyweight Title

The entire world was shocked when Triple H betrayed D-Generation X to join Vince McMahon's Corporation at WrestleMania 15. Since becoming the Game, Triple H's legacy has been that of one of the greatest wrestlers and traitors in WWE history.

X-Pac, Shawn Michaels, Randy Orton, Ric Flair, Vince McMahon, Daniel Bryan; family, friends, mentors & protogees all fill Triple H's catalogue of shameless betrayals. It's all about The Game and how you play it.

2 Steve Austin Allied With Vince McMahon: WrestleMania 17

The Rattlesnake Sold His Soul For The WWE Championship And Turned Heel

Austin would infamously Stun Mankind when he tried to be his tag team partner in 1997
Austin left Shawn Michaels to be assaulted by the Hart Foundation after they won the Tag Titles
Austin even Stunned the Undertaker after helping him fend off the Hart Foundation at In Your House

"Don't Trust Anyone!" is a motto that reflects Stone Cold Steve Austin. Despite being one of the biggest babyfaces of all-time, Austin would often abandon and assault his own allies if he felt like it. And the reason why Austin could get away with such heelish behaviour was because the fans loved him for it.

5 Biggest Allies Of Steve Austin's Wrestling Career (& 5 Biggest Enemies)

Although Stone Cold Steve Austin didn't trust anybody, he did form some occasional alliances throughout his epic career.

But at WrestleMania 17, Austin's most shocking act of betrayal was when he actually allied himself with mortal enemy Vince McMahon to become WWE Champion. He would even betray the WWE itself to join the WCW/ECW Alliance during the infamous Invasion angle. Everyone loves a Rattlesnake until it bites you.

1 Hulk Hogan Left For WCW, Joined The NWO, Then Came Home In 2002

One Month After Leaving The NWO, Hogan Won His Final WWE Championship

Hulk Hogan left WWE after losing to Yokozuna at the 1993 King of the Ring
After two years in WCW, Hogan would turn heel by allying with Scott Hall and Kevin Nash
Immediately after his iconic WrestleMania 18 clash with The Rock, Hogan would renounce the NWO and soon resume Hulkamania

For so long, the idea of Hulk Hogan being anything but wrestling's ultimate hero was unfathomable; as was the idea of him competing anywhere but the WWE. However when Hogan emerged in WCW in 1994, many WWE fans saw it as an act of betrayal.

But it was Hogan's shocking heel turn at WCW Bash At The Beach in 1996 that truly revealed the Hulkster's villainy, with the effects still resonating deeply with longtime fans. But much to everyone's surprise and joy, Hogan would return to the WWE in 2002 as a beloved babyface.

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