WCW distanced itself from the National Wrestling Alliance in the nineties. While the promotion had heels as champions for the most of its existence, it gave fans some iconic babyface turns.
Some superstars started as babyfaces but turned heel to flesh out their gimmick. Others did the exact opposite and found great success. Here are the five best babyface turns in World Championship Wrestling history:
Lex Luger
After a failed stint that saw him almost win the WWE Championship, Lex Luger arrived in WCW with the hopes of getting a fresh start. The former Narcissist soon found himself on a collision course with The Outsiders.
After failing to get a decisive win over the nWo for months, Luger finally got his moment when he beat Hulk Hogan for the world title. The fan reception was electric because a babyface had finally toppled the villainous Hogan fair and square.
Ric Flair topples Vader for WCW world title
Ric Flair was the top heel during WCW’s formidable years. The Nature Boy left the promotion over financial disagreements. Flair would debut in rival WWE with the Big Gold Belt, forcing WCW to create another world title for themselves.
Flair would soon be back in WCW after a brief yet extremely successful that saw him capture the WWE Championship. He’d gradually build himself as a babyface. The payoff to this character change would come at Starrcade 1993.
At the PPV event, Flair would defeat world champion Vader in one of the most emotional and grueling matches in WCW history.
Kevin Nash
Kevin Nash was the first nWO original to question his loyalty to Hulk Hogan. The former Diesel would soon find success as the leader of the splinter group nWO Wolfpac. The face turn would be cemented following Scott Hall’s betrayal of his best friend.
The Wolfpack was arguably at its strongest with Nash as their leader. For the first time, WCW had a definitive answer to Hulk Hogan and his evil group. However, the storyline would quickly fizzle out without a proper payoff.
Ron Simmons
Ron Simmons gained recognition for his work as a tag team specialist alongside Butch Reed as part of the villainous Doom. The former NFL standout got over with fans to such an extent that WCW decided to turn him into a solo act.
After gradually rising to the top, Simmons solidified his babyface turn by winning the Heavyweight Championship from Vader, becoming the first wrestler of color to win a world title in either WCW or WWE.
Diamond Dallas Page (WCW Nitro 1997)
Diamond Dallas Page’s feud with Randy Savage catapulted him to main event status. The original People’s Champion had managed Scott Hall (aka Diamond Stud) during the former’s first stint with WCW.
Page’s rise to the top was organic. Fans popped big time every time he dropped his opponents with the Diamond Cutter. DDP had The Outsiders convinced he was their newest member when he dropped Hall with a Diamond Cutter out of nowhere.
Honorable Mentions
- Goldberg
- Perry Saturn
- Billy Kidman
- Larry Zbyszko
- Konnan
Also read: 5 Best Babyface Turns In TNA History
