The wrestling industry has cooled off since the spring, but it's about to heat up again for the summer, highlighted by some of the biggest names in the sport turning to the dark side and adopting a new heel character.
In WWE, the stage has been set for the long-term build to Bianca Belair eventually turning on her protégé, Jade Cargill.
Meanwhile, in All Elite Wrestling, two talented performers—Mercedes Moné and Kyle O'Reilly—are ready for a seismic shift in their attitudes and approaches.
Here are the Superstars who need to turn heel this summer.
Bianca Belair
Since jumping to the WWE main roster in 2020, Bianca Belair has become one of the most decorated female performers in the company's history.
Over those four years, though, her character has not changed much at all.
It's almost time for The EST of WWE to add a newfound edge with a heel turn on current partner, Cargill.
Belair is a two-time women's champion, one-time SmackDown women's champion, a former Royal Rumble winner and won in the main event of WrestleMania 37. Now, instead of adding more singles accolades to her resume, she is a women's tag team champion with Cargill.
The Storm is the more natural heel and should tease that the team's success is mostly thanks to her, leaving Belair angry. But instead of taking the traditional route, it should be The EST who snaps and takes down her partner, costing them the titles.
Belair and Cargill could engage in a long-term feud highlighting both women on the mic and in the ring. Eventually, the former would have to put over the latter if her time as a babyface is a success, but it would allow The EST to move back up the card as a top heel on Raw or SmackDown.
Mercedes Moné
After beating Willow Nightingale for the TBS Championship, Mercedes Moné has cemented her spot as a cornerstone of the AEW women's division.
While a match against New Japan Pro-Wrestling's Stephanie Vaquer will highlight Forbidden Door on June 30, The CEO must make an even bigger splash.
Moné was billed as a game-changer for AEW, but she has yet to make the landscape-shifting impact many expected. As a result, company president Tony Khan should pivot and turn The CEO heel, allowing her to run down the fans and the women's division.
After running through several top names, it should be Britt Baker who returns to challenge the champion.
As a heel, Moné will have the chance to build depth to her character, boasting that she is the highest-paid woman on the roster and the only one who can save the division.
With Baker's long-awaited return, Mone would have an AEW original to battle, setting the stage for an epic showdown and cementing the champion's heel turn.
Kyle O'Reilly
Kyle O'Reilly is another AEW performer who needs a shift in character.
After returning as a beloved babyface, he has been struggling to find his winning ways again, which should start to cause visible frustration.
O'Reilly is one of the best in-ring technicians in AEW, but he has yet to find his footing since returning to action. Instead of turning heel and siding with the Undisputed Kingdom, he should become an assassin for The Elite.
Just like the nWo, The Elite is taking over, but its membership numbers need to increase as more and more AEW stars begin to stand against the heel stable. The first ace up the group's sleeve when it's outnumbered should be O'Reilly.
As a heel, O'Reilly can work in more of his mixed martial arts training and become the vicious enforcer the group needs. With anger powering his turn, KOR joining The Elite would make the stable almost unstoppable.
For more wrestling talk, listen to Ring Rust Radio for all of the hot topics or catch the latest episode in the player above (some language NSFW).
