The WWE Draft has brought something of a roster reset, bringing a new pecking order for both Raw and Smackdown and opening the door to new feuds and fresh match-ups. In the past, we've also seen the Draft prompt heel and face turns to realign the roster balance. Given how babyface-heavy the Raw men's and Smackdown women's rosters seem to be at the moment, that could be the case this year, as well.
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In fact, there have already been whispers about the character status of Drew McIntyre once he returns to WWE as a Raw superstar - provided his reported contract issues don't get in the way. With McIntyre's status unclear, WWE has other possible heel turns at their disposal that could benefit their stars, plus a few that they should probably resist the urge to pull the trigger on.
10 Would Not Benefit: Otis
The Alpha Academy tandem of Chad Gable and Otis never officially turned face, but fans are clearly supposed to root for the goofy big man to remain aligned with Gable amidst the threat of recruitment from Maxxine Dupri and her Maximum Male Models. Otis and Gable have delivered tremendous chemistry together and WWE is really just scratching the surface of what the duo can do as full-fledged babyfaces. While they likely aren't poised for a meaningful tag run right now, producing fun comedy segments and some strong in-ring work should lead to plenty of TV time on Raw.
9 Would Benefit: Odyssey Jones
The promotion of Odyssey Jones to the main roster was one of the more head-scratching moves coming out of the Draft, given the high energy big man still remains fairly raw. Nevertheless, there are ways to mask some of that inexperience, even as he continues to develop on Raw. Jones would do well to serve as the intimidating muscle behind an established veteran who can also carry the promo work. Recent examples of this long-held WWE tradition include Big E (aligned with Dolph Ziggler) and Omos (AJ Styles). Jones could fit well with a heel like The Miz, Mustafa Ali or Angel Garza.
8 Would Not Benefit: Sheamus
Sheamus hasn't been seen on WWE TV since wrapping up the Brawling Brutes' feud with Imperium on the SmackDown after WrestleMania 39. The Irishman's storyline going into his 'Mania triple threat against Gunther and Drew McIntyre saw him at odds with long-time friend/enemy McIntyre, with Sheamus showing some heel mannerisms at times. However, it was only back in September that he became firmly entrenched as a fan favorite following his stellar Clash at the Castle match with Gunther. Unless he has specifically requested otherwise, he deserves more runway as a face.
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7 Would Benefit: Ridge Holland & Butch
While a heel turn for Sheamus seems ill-advised at this point, the same can't be said for his fellow Brawling Brutes. The presence of Ridge Holland and Butch in the stable has afforded them significant TV time on SmackDown, but hasn't done much for their character development, largely restricting them to being Sheamus' lackeys and occasional tag title challengers. A heel turn and possible split could re-establish Holland as a dominant physical force and Butch as a vicious, sadistic wrestler, not to mention create a ready-made feud with Sheamus.
6 Would Not Benefit: Angelo Dawkins
Buzz surrounding a split of the Street Profits and a subsequent singles push for Montez Ford has seemingly been bubbling forever, with WWE even paying lip service to the rumors as early as last summer. Yet, Ford and Angelo Dawkins remain unified as a tag team on the SmackDown brand. While the enduring nature of the team might have delayed Ford's potential rise as a singles competitor, it has kept Dawkins in the spotlight. While he could break out on his own, most WWE fans seem to view him as the Marty Jannetty of the pair.
5 Would Benefit: The New Day
Is anyone still into the New Day's babyface act? Kofi Kingston and Big E remain sidelined with injuries, while Xavier Woods seems to be dialing up his over-the-top antics to insufferable levels. Instead of continuing to position Woods as a babyface on Raw while recycling some of the trio's tired bits, WWE could make for compelling TV should they choose to turn him heel and building storylines around the allegiances of Big E and Kingston upon their return from injury. They may still sell merchandise for the company, but that doesn't change the fact that a turn for the stale stable is past due.
4 Would Not Benefit: Bianca Belair
Since the days of WWE fans rejecting "Super Cena", the company has been quicker to react when top babyfaces seem to be falling out of favor. If that continues to be true in the aftermath of Bianca Belair being booed heavily by the Puerto Rican crowd during her Backlash match against Iyo Sky, then we could see a character change for the Raw Women's Champion. That, however, would be a mistake. A Belair heel turn would leave the babyface depth chart on the brand razor-thin and fail to establish compelling feuds. Furthermore, WWE already has its dominant heel female champion in Rhea Ripley.
3 Would Benefit: Santos Escobar
This one is admittely somewhat of a reach, seeing as how Santos Escobar's babyface run is still in its relative early stages and his LWO faction has established itself as a top merchandise seller for WWE. But while a return to the heel side of the ledger may not be imminent for Escobar, it should eventually be in the plans. At the same time as the LWO stable has gotten over as a collective unit and a foe to the Judgment Day, Escobar has gone from being the charismatic alpha leader of Legado Del Fantasma to taking a back seat to Rey Mysterio. If done right, Escobar turning on Mysterio could be a major program down the line.
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2 Would Not Benefit: Kevin Owens
Kevin Owens has never been the most trustworthy character, but even so, teasing dissent between him and Sami Zayn already, as has been done lately on WWE TV, seems way premature. The reunion of the long-time friends, including their feud with the Bloodline and their Undisputed WWE Tag Team Championship victory at WrestleMania 39, has been one of the company's best stories in recent months. To do anything to change that this early would betray the emotional investment of WWE fans.
1 Would Benefit: Matt Riddle
While Kevin Owens wouldn't benefit from another heel turn, a switch to the dark side could be a boon for one of his current allies. Matt Riddle has largely been treading water since returning on the Raw after WrestleMania, picking up on his feud with the Bloodline but without much of a storyline behind it. A heel turn would not only offer a new direction, but it would likely involve shedding the goofy, flip flop-chucking stoner gimmick that seems to be holding him back from true main event status.
