Wrestlers Who Changed Look With A Babyface Turn

A babyface turn is an important change for any wrestler’s career when at the careers of many all-time greats. Names like Steve Austin, Batista and Shawn Michaels felt like they truly got to the next level when turning face and receiving a push to signify that. Quite a few wrestlers wanted to change their looks as well to fully commit to a shift.

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Many interesting performers hoped that a new look would lead to the audience accepting their change from the dark side. Not every scenario worked out, but all will be viewed in depth to see what variables helped or doomed them. Each of the following wrestlers changed their looks for a babyface turn.

10 The Undertaker Returned To WWE As The American Badass

Required Making Changes To Deliver Major Character Revamp

Wanted To Play More Natural Character Than The Dead Man Gimmick
American Badass Return From Injury Granted Undertaker's Request
Started Dressing Normally For Character More In Tune With Reality

WWE granted The Undertaker’s wish of ditching the dead man character for a few years in the Attitude Era. Undertaker left WWE to rehab an injury in late 1999 after his heel run as the leader of the Ministry of Darkness reached the end.

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The return of Undertaker saw him stunning fans with a new look and persona of the American Badass. Undertaker showed more of his natural sense, including wearing his usual outfits and growing out his hair without pretending to be a dead man walking.

9 Brock Lesnar Made Big Changes For Rare Face Turn

Farmer Brock Became Fun Chapter Of Career No One Expected

Growing Hair & Beard For First Time In WWE Was Stunning
Started Dressing To Channel His Look Of Farming Background
Became More Appreciated For Comedic Babyface Work

Brock Lesnar had the same look for most of his career in both the 2000s stint and longer 2010s return. WWE turning Brock face without Paul Heyman for a new feud against Roman Reigns led to Lesnar making some shocking changes to his look.

This was the first time fans saw Brock growing his hair out a little and having the cowboy as part of his new look. Lesnar changing up his outfits, hairstyle and growing a beard felt like a fresh new version of Brock to get over strong as a new babyface.

8 Chris Kanyon Unmasking Was Best For His Career

Leaving Masked Mortis Character In Past Was WCW Face Turn

Mortis Had Lower Ceiling Once Mortal Kombat Gimmicks Flopped
Raven Turning Down Mortis' Offer To Join Flock Started Face Turn
Kanyon Unmasked To Turn Face & End Masked Mortis Run Forever

Eric Bischoff made Chris Kanyon one of the wrestlers that played the Mortal Kombat inspired characters as Mortis. There were some fun matches for Mortis, but it was clear that Kanyon would be held back with the limitations.

WCW set up a face turn by having Mortis get turned down by Raven when trying to join The Flock. Raven devaluing Mortis’ value led to him getting revenge by unmasking and attacking him with a chair. Fans embraced Kanyon more without the mask while putting Mortis in the past.

7 Rico Added Face Paint For Full-Time Move To Ring

WWE Placed Rico In Odd Couple Team Act With Charlie Haas

Started Off As Manager With Multiple Heel Tag Teams
Wore Colorful Gear & Added Face Paint For Wrestling Career
Teamed With Charlie Haas & Jackie Gayda For Babyface Turn

The first role of Rico saw him managing the tag team of Billy and Chuck as their wedding planner before setting them up for an attack. Rico then managed 3 Minute Warning before making his move to the ring to wrestle rather than manage.

A look change saw Rico wearing colorful gear and face paint to match his presentation. WWE turned Rico face by having him team with Charlie Haas in an odd couple as Jackie Gayda became their manager/valet.

6 The Booty Man Was One Of Too Many Brutus Beefcake Changes

WCW Somehow Came Up With This Idea After Hulk Hogan Endorsed Him

Changed Gimmicks Quite Often In WCW With Most Failing
The Zodiac Ended With Him Helping Hulk Hogan As A Plant
Led To Babyface Push With The Booty Man Ditching Face Paint

Eric Bischoff fell into the trap of pushing former WWE star Brutus “The Barber” Beefcake due to Hulk Hogan’s influence. Beefcake played The Butcher as a heel character feuding with Hogan before moving into the outlandish Zodiac gimmick in the Dungeon of Doom faction.

WCW realized the story and feud was not working at all, so they came up with a story of Beefcake being a plant in the Dungeon for Hogan. Beefcake changed his look and gimmick again as The Booty Man trying to play a handsome babyface extremely proud of his backside.

5 Hulk Hogan Went Back To Red & Yellow When NWO Ended

Hollywood Hogan Character Ending Forced Him Back To Hulkamania Years

NWO Elite Ending In 1999 Required Hogan Changing NWO Look
Went Back To Red & Yellow Hulkamania Look For Babyface Turn
Changed Look Back To Hollywood Style As Face In 2000 When Stale Again

WCW made a big change in 1999 when the New World Order ended, and Hulk Hogan’s future character was up in the air. There was a story that saw Hogan slowly embracing his old roots as the ultimate babyface hero.

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Hogan lost the darker beard to go back to the traditional blonde hair with Fu Manchu facial hair. The red and yellow color scheme made it clear Hulkamania was back after ditching the darker NWO look for another drastic career change.

4 Brian Christopher Finally Got Over In Too Cool

Grand Master Sexay Character Change Somehow Worked

Played Lower Card Heel Struggling For Consistent TV Time Before Gimmick Change
Too Cool Caused Christopher To Change Name & Persona To Grand Master Sexay
Wearing New Outfits & Committing To Dancing Gimmick Worked Perfectly

WWE introduced the trio of Too Cool and saw them becoming the most beloved new act of the time. Rikishi was the main star pushed after his previous gimmicks flopped and he returned with the dancing babyface act.

Scotty 2 Hotty and Grand Master Sexay joined Rikishi as the tag team behind him and the trio act when altogether. Brian Christopher was a lower card heel his entire run until changing his look and embracing the hip hop fashion and dancing gimmick for his greatest success.

3 The Hurricane Saw Shane Helms Becoming A Superhero

Green Hair & New Heroic Look Made Him A Major Star

Unexpected Steve Austin Promo Exchange Inspired Drastic Gimmick Change
Hurricane Character Required Helms Committing To Outlandish Gimmick
New Mask & Green Hair Made Fans Warm Up To Babyface Character Shift

No one would have predicted Shane Helms to be one of the most successful WCW talents joining WWE in the Invasion since he was barely known. However, Helms had the right timing to break out when given small chances at expanding his character.

Steve Austin mocking Helms for having a Green Lantern tattoo led to him transitioning to The Hurricane character. Green hair and fun new gear made Hurricane a surprise breakout star. Helms even revealed he made great money with fans buying his mask as part of the face turn.

2 CM Punk Channeled His Wolverine Look For Face Turn

Returned From Break As Babyface With New Facial Hair Look

Fans Viewed His New Facial Hair As Channeling Marvel's Wolverine
Returned From 2013 Break Ending Previous Sadistic Heel Character
Was Final Run Before Punk Grew Unhappy To Walk Out In 2014

CM Punk is back in WWE, but his previous run ended so badly that people never expected a return. Frustration was already being felt when Punk requested time off after his WrestleMania 29 loss to The Undertaker as a hated heel.

WWE clearly wanted Punk face when he returned a few months later in his hometown to score a win over Chris Jericho at Payback 2013. Punk changing his look to have a beard akin to the superhero character Wolverine led to his face turn no longer wanting to associate with Paul Heyman.

1 Mick Foley Had To Lose Dark Presentation For Face Turn

Three Faces Of Foley Changes Made Mick True Top Superstar

Fans Loving Foley's Character Work Required Changes To Mankind
Dude Love Backstory From Backyard Days Showed New Side Of Mick
Face Turn For All Three "Faces Of Foley" Made Him Top Main Eventer

WWE realized fans were starting to enjoy Mick Foley’s portrayal of Mankind beyond always playing a dark sinister heel. Foley’s home videos of backyard wrestling were used on TV to show his previous gimmick of Dude Love.

Mankind was still the primary gimmick, but WWE made sure Foley unmasked to show his face for runs as Dude Love and Cactus Jack. WWE turning Foley face led to that becoming his peak run with fans loving all three sides showing him without a mask and in new contexts.

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