WWE Extreme Rules 2016: Most Likely Heel and Face Turns at Event
In the weeks since WrestleMania 32, WWE has debuted a host of new talent on the main roster, and with these new additions now embedded, it's time to shake things up in a different way for Extreme Rules 2016.
Turning heel or face can be a major boon to a Superstar who's set to be given a major push—or who's in need of a character update.
At present, the roster has a notable lack of major heels at the main event level. By the end of Extreme Rules, we may well see at least one top-tier wrestler added to that list.
Here are the heel and face turns that are most likely to take place at Extreme Rules 2016.
John Cena
1 of 5
There's plenty of talk about the idea of another member of the faction that's currently being referred to as The Club, but there's one wrestler that would turn heads if he was revealed as the leader.
In the 1990s, The New World Order shocked the world when Hulk Hogan turned out to be the "third man." In the modern era, John Cena is the only figure that could truly shock audiences in this role.
It's true that we've already heard confirmation from the man himself that he'll be returning at the end of May. But if WWE was planning to turn its top star of the new millennium heel, you had better believe that the company would be doing everything in its power to throw fans off the scent until the night it happened.
Cena leading a dominant heel faction would turn the established WWE landscape on its head. It's a real long shot, but it's a scenario that many would welcome with open arms.
Chances of this turn at Extreme Rules 2016: Five percent
Charlotte
2 of 5
After weeks of leaning on her father, Extreme Rules will see Charlotte tasked with defending her WWE Women's Championship while Ric Flair is banned from ringside.
You might expect this stipulation to give Natalya the advantage, but it might just demonstrate that Charlotte can get the job done without anyone else's help. Once the match is over, the reigning champion could tell her father as much and send him on his way.
Flair has been a great help in establishing Charlotte on the main roster, but recently, he's been a distraction to audiences and her opponents. In storyline, it would make sense for the champion to stand on her own two feet, but it would likely help with her real-world development, too.
With Charlotte realigned as a fan favorite, WWE could build to a program featuring Sasha Banks as a villain challenger. While The Boss does have a legion of fans, she excels as a tweener—this wrinkle could help build a rivalry that stretches all the way through the summer.
Chances of this turn at Extreme Rules 2016: 20 percent
Bray Wyatt
3 of 5
This week, we heard an update on Bray Wyatt's injury thanks to comments from Vince McMahon in a conference call, per Steve Carrier of Ringside News. Current estimates put The New Face of Fear back on television within 30 days.
That means there's a real possibility that Wyatt could make his return at the Extreme Rules pay-per-view. Given the tendency for The Wyatt Family to preach its sermon by laying out other wrestlers, there are several matches on the card that could prompt an appearance.
However, we may see Bray break new ground, turning face after spending the three years since his debut as a heel.
Just before Wyatt was injured, we saw signs of this shift in character, as he and Roman Reigns cooperated to take down The League of Nations. Fans seemed engaged by the partnership, so it wouldn't be too surprising to see Bray in a different light upon his return.
The real question is where he would fit on the Extreme Rules card and who he'll be feuding with when he's back on the active roster.
Chances of this turn at Extreme Rules 2016: 30 percent
Finn Balor
4 of 5
The main event of next weekend's pay-per-view seems like the most likely bout to result in a major heel turn.
The Extreme Rules stipulation suggests that Karl Anderson and Luke Gallows are going to interfere on behalf of AJ Styles, and The Usos are going to even the odds for Roman Reigns. If that's the case, a fourth ally for either faction could easily decide the outcome.
Given Finn Balor's history with Styles, Anderson and Gallows, it would make sense for him to align himself with The Club. Doing so would be tantamount to a heel turn for the popular Superstar.
Turning Balor when he's as popular as he is might not seem like a particularly good idea, but anyone who's seen the sort of swagger he brought to a villainous role in Japan will understand this line of thinking.
Balor is likely going to have one of the biggest debuts of any NXT graduate. What could be more impactful than having him interject in a pay-per-view main event and start a major character shift in one deft move?
Chances of this turn at Extreme Rules 2016: 50 percent
Roman Reigns
5 of 5
It's becoming increasingly likely that WWE is building up its own version of The Bullet Club, with Finn Balor set to take his rightful place at the helm.
However, there's a chance that the hints we've been given towards this scenario are cover for a more surprising outcome.
Roman Reigns has struggled to find his balance as the de facto face of WWE. He's not as popular among fans as he was during the peak of The Shield, and the only time he seems truly comfortable on the mic is when he's acting a little cockier and a little more self-satisfied than you might expect from a fan favorite.
There's an expectation that Reigns is going to hold the title for as long as it takes to cement him as the top star in the company. That gives WWE a perfect opportunity to deviate from the script and deliver an angle that demonstrates how anything can happen in this New Era.
A heel turn from Reigns that aligns him with some configuration of The Club would give the likes of Sami Zayn, Cesaro and Dean Ambrose a white-hot champion to chase after. Perhaps more importantly, it would be an opportunity for The Big Dog to find an extra dimension to his character.
Reigns turning his back on the fans would be a surprising end to Extreme Rules, but it's potentially the biggest angle that WWE could run this summer.
Chances of this turn at Extreme Rules 2016: 50 percent
Do you see any face or heel turns taking place at Extreme Rules next weekend? Make your predictions in the comments section below.
