Heel wrestling can change the feel of a top star fast, and that is the basic idea behind a fresh character shift for several of the biggest names in WWE and AEW. The article points to Cody Rhodes, Darby Allin and Charlotte Flair as wrestlers who could benefit from turning heel or face after spending years in the same role.
Cody Rhodes is the clearest example. At WrestleMania 38, he returned to WWE and began working as a heroic character, becoming one of the company’s true babyfaces. The article suggests that a heel turn would be a major surprise for the WWE Universe, but also the kind of move that could shake up a familiar presentation.
That same logic applies to other stars who have settled into long-running alignments. When AEW launched, Darby Allin was one of its primary babyfaces, while Charlotte Flair returned at the Royal Rumble in 2025 and began working as a babyface. In each case, the core point is the same: when a wrestler stays in one lane for too long, a change can make the character feel sharper again.
Why a turn matters
The article frames heel and face turns as a way to refresh wrestlers who have become stale in their current roles. That does not mean every star needs a dramatic reinvention, but it does explain why this year’s conversation around top WWE and AEW names is centered on alignment changes. A new role can alter crowd reactions, reset rivalries and create a different path toward the title picture.
The article also identifies Randy Orton and Kyle Fletcher as heels, which helps show how character alignment remains a key part of wrestling presentation in both WWE and All Elite Wrestling. For stars already near the top, the question is less about talent and more about whether the current version of the character still feels fresh.
That is why heel wrestling remains such a useful tool. It can turn a familiar star into something new without changing who the wrestler is at the core. For Cody Rhodes, Darby Allin and Charlotte Flair, the appeal is simple: a turn could give each of them a cleaner next chapter.
