Would an HBK heel turn work now?

[Mighty Attack Tribble]

Sooner or later legends inevitably reach the stage where the fans just can't bring themselves to boo them. Honky Tonk Man, IRS, The Million Dollar Man and Iron Sheik, amongst others, all draw face pops whenever they turn up, despite being career heels. Hogan's WWE nWo run was aborted because the fans couldn't bring themselves boo him.

We cannot doubt HBK's status as a legend, and throughout the '90s he's probably best remembered as one of the very best heels of all time. Aside from his brief run with Hogan, he has been a face ever since his return 7 years ago.

In the build-up to his match against Undertaker earlier this year (and in the match itself, to a lesser extent), HBK was booked as the heel, or at least as the antagonist. His "tribute" promo on SmackDown, where he was decked out in all-white, and how he kept escaping 'Taker's clutches, reminded me of his heel heyday.

Most people expect HHH to turn heel at some point or another when the latest DX reunion has run it's course. But what if they went for the unexpected? Would an HBK heel turn work now? Or would he walk the same path as Hogan did in the WWE nWo reunion?

[chunkylover53]

He no longer has it in him to be a heel. And at some point, he would have to go back face to "redeem" his legacy, making the whole heel run a joke.

[Can you afford to pay me, Gah]

Not to be offensive when I say this. But it would only work in Canada. Anywhere else I think at this point he get the hard to boo reaction. But in Canada they never cheered him since 97 outside one time during the 06 D-X run.

But since the WWE keeps reminding Canada about the screwjob everytime they go there and how much Bret Hart ment to them. But then again on the same note the fans never seem to get over it and it became the "thing" to do. Booing HBK or anytime Hebner showed up to ref a match.

[Jay Carroll]

The only way HBK could turn heel at this point would be to SCM Hornswoggle or hump the American flag. And even then he could say it was an accident and be forgiven.

[triplealbert]

Anyone can be turned heel.

Anyone can be turned babyface.

[Doctor Tull-eus S. Venture]

Personally, I think that no one wants to boo Shawn any longer. He's been around for a long time, he's proven time and time again that he is one of the very best, and will go to great lengths to entertain the fans.

Heck, even when he was feuding with Hogan, he wasn't getting a lot of heat.

[Deleted]

Oct 14, 2009 8:42:17 GMT -5 Doctor Tull-eus S. Venture said:

Personally, I think that no one wants to boo Shawn any longer. He's been around for a long time, he's proven time and time again that he is one of the very best, and will go to great lengths to entertain the fans.

Heck, even when he was feuding with Hogan, he wasn't getting a lot of heat.

In all fairness, that might have something to do with the fact that he owned Hogan in just about every single promo they were in.

[Doctor Tull-eus S. Venture]

Oct 14, 2009 8:43:30 GMT -5 @mightykretzler said:

Oct 14, 2009 8:42:17 GMT -5 Doctor Tull-eus S. Venture said:

Personally, I think that no one wants to boo Shawn any longer. He's been around for a long time, he's proven time and time again that he is one of the very best, and will go to great lengths to entertain the fans.

Heck, even when he was feuding with Hogan, he wasn't getting a lot of heat.

In all fairness, that might have something to do with the fact that he owned Hogan in just about every single promo they were in.

Very true, but the way the feud was set up seemed to me that the WWE was basically hanging signs directing the fans to cheer for Hogan and boo HBK, and it backfired.

But the Larry King segment definitely made things very interesting.

[Deleted]

Oct 14, 2009 8:46:08 GMT -5 Doctor Tull-eus S. Venture said:

Oct 14, 2009 8:43:30 GMT -5 @mightykretzler said:

In all fairness, that might have something to do with the fact that he owned Hogan in just about every single promo they were in.

Very true, but the way the feud was set up seemed to me that the WWE was basically hanging signs directing the fans to cheer for Hogan and boo HBK, and it backfired.

But the Larry King segment definitely made things very interesting.

That's the thing. People like Hogan, but they also don't want to boo HBK and when he was running Hogan ragged whenever they cut a promo or had an interview or whatever, it really made Hogan look like a buffoon (and likely got people to jump ship over to Michaels' side). That's not even taking into account the match at Summerslam.

[Doctor Tull-eus S. Venture]

With the aforementioned Hogan feud, his feud with Cena, the retirement angle with Flair, and his feud with the Undertaker at WM, despite his positioning as the "heel", the fan's didn't turn on him or call for his blood.

Basically, each time he was seen as "the guy who wants to give the very best he has to show that he's better than his opponent" and not as a despicable heel who will result to some personal attacks and some dirty tactics.

I think he has to find the right opponent for the heel turn to properly work.

If he were to turn on HHH if they do break up DX, then I could see him generating heat. But there's not a whole lot of others who could help make that transition work.

[glorydays]

Unless the YouTube clips I saw were edited by the people who posted them, Michaels was booed tremendously in his feud with Hogan. I don't know what some of you were watching. He superkicked Hogan, fans booed. He tried to explain turning on Hogan on Piper's Pit, and the fans chanted Hogan's name. He superkicked Piper, and fans chanted for Hogan. He tried to "shoot" on Hogan in a promo, and fans cheered Hulk. Then Summerslam happened, and fans cheered Hogan. The next night Michaels did a crybaby shoot to justify doing the job, and fans chanted Hogan's name.

Were you guys watching from a different planet?

And yes, everyone can turn heel. Just give the fans a reason to boo.

[Mighty Mouth]

Of course it would work. People love him so much that they will boo him just for turning.

[DrizzlinShytes]

If he were to turn on HHH, renounce DX, and decry fans for supporting a juvenile and immoral act he could get heat.

If HBK were to become the legend too protective of his spot, opposing the young guys who admire him in the WWE (Morrison or Kofi for example), then HBK could keep heat.

[Prince Petty]

Michaels the puritanical crusader could work, at any other time in the WWE. But the WWE product is nowhere near 'depraved' enough for an RTC type gimmick to work at the moment.

What's he going to do, attack Cena for saying "poop"?

They could just have him wipe the floor with Mysterio. That'll turn the majority of kiddies away from him.

[MrBRulzOK]

Oct 14, 2009 8:19:48 GMT -5 triplealbert said:

Anyone can be turned heel.

Anyone can be turned babyface.

Yes, but as to whether it would work or not is a different story.

[Maniac Mitch]

Oct 14, 2009 7:22:41 GMT -5 Can you afford to pay me, Gah said:

Not to be offensive when I say this. But it would only work in Canada. Anywhere else I think at this point he get the hard to boo reaction. But in Canada they never cheered him since 97 outside one time during the 06 D-X run.

But since the WWE keeps reminding Canada about the screwjob everytime they go there and how much Bret Hart ment to them. But then again on the same note the fans never seem to get over it and it became the "thing" to do. Booing HBK or anytime Hebner showed up to ref a match.

Although I will say that I attended Raw in Calgary when they did those HHH searching for Shawn skits and when Shawn showed up on screen the reaction was pretty surprising to me. They likely decided to go the pretaped skit route in order to reduce the chance of crowd backlash(since the crowd sound was nearly muted entirely on tv) but they really shouldn't have because the reaction was huge when Shawn showed up on screen. Really took me by surprise.

As for a heel HBK I think it could be done. It would be harder than getting Triple H over as a heel(which would happen at the drop of a hat because people are used to seeing him as one).

I liken it to Mick Foley. He's known as a babyface, but knows enough about psychology(in the wrestling and human sense) to make people boo him when the situation calls for it.

[The Summer of Muskrat XVII]

I think the only way he could turn heel would be to turn on Hunter, and even that might not work. Although, I do like the idea of him playing the "Holier then Thou" preachy heel, and really playing up the born again Christian thing.

[wasimperviz]

Oct 14, 2009 7:16:51 GMT -5 chunkylover53 said:

He no longer has it in him to be a heel. And at some point, he would have to go back face to "redeem" his legacy, making the whole heel run a joke.

Many said he also did not have it in him to be a heel when he worked with Hogan yet did a outstanding job. I feel he could be heel right now and could be great. I mean all he really needs to do is turn on HHH.

[hbk4ever09]

I think he can pull off a decent heel (comparatively to some other "heels" who plan suck at drawing any traction), but if this is his last yr or two id rather him just stay face. Personal preference of course.

[Dr. T is an alien]

Oct 14, 2009 16:51:18 GMT -5 The Summer of Muskrat XVII said:

I think the only way he could turn heel would be to turn on Hunter, and even that might not work. Although, I do like the idea of him playing the "Holier then Thou" preachy heel, and really playing up the born again Christian thing.

I think that would only work if it was made obvious to the crowd that his character was full of it. Otherwise, HBK's beliefs were responsible in kayfabe for HHH to reign some of his typical face antics in a bit, so they have already been a buzzkill to little effect.