Perhaps more than many years in recent memory, there are plenty of babyface WWE stars who look poised to potentially turn heel in 2026.
Whether due to character stagnation, or simply to open up some exciting new rivalries and storylines, the WWE roster could see an injection of newly turned heels in the new year.
Here are five WWE stars to potentially turn heel in 2026.
5. B-Fab
Mostly playing sidekick to Michin in recent months, B-Fab, much like her tag team partner, has found little success in knocking the dominant Jade Cargill off of her perch as WWE Women’s Champion.
Michin will get a chance at revenge against Jade on the January 2 episode of SmackDown, but few expect her mission to be a success.
Jade look set for a major 2026 as WWE Women’s Champion, and in a move reminiscent of her time in AEW – she could potentially lead her own group of “Baddies” in order to ensure she remains on top of SmackDown.
B-Fab looks likely to join Cargill’s side if WWE do go in that direction, with the allegiance forming at the expense of Michin during her match with the WWE Women’s Champion next Friday.
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4. Jey Uso
After months of build up, Jey Uso’s much teased heel turn seems to have either been diverted, or dropped altogether heading into 2026.
After throwing a fit following his loss to LA Knight in the Last Time is Now Tournament semifinal on the December 1 episode of Raw, Jey would return alongside his brother Jimmy Uso just one week later without any further development on the storyline.
Instead shifting his focus towards the World Tag Team Championships for now, there is always a chance that WWE will use The Usos’ reunion as a means to eventually get to the destination of his heel turn, but it’s truly hard to say at this point in time.
A great portion of WWE fans still love Jey Uso despite his vocal detractors online, but a heel turn would certainly be the most interesting direction for his character in 2026.
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3. Sami Zayn
Three years on from being arguably the most popular star on the WWE roster, Sami Zayn heads into 2026 with his character in a state of stagnation.
Not receiving the same level of adulation from the fans that he once did, Zayn could perhaps do with showing a darker side to his character next year, especially if he’s to finally win his first-ever world championship in the company.
While he was previously viewed as a favorite to win the 2026 Royal Rumble in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, his current momentum doesn’t suggest that will be the case.
However, if WWE pulls the trigger on a heel turn early in 2026, perhaps by 2027 and the Road to WrestleMania 43, Zayn may be in a position to feasibly main event the “Grandest Stage of Them All”.
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2. Jordynne Grace
Few fans would have expected Jordynne Grace to not capture a single championship during her first year as a WWE star, given her past success in TNA prior to signing with NXT.
However, 2025 has indeed closed with “The Juggernaut” lacking gold, instead watching others such as fellow 2025 signee Blake Monroe and even, most recently, Thea Hail leapfrog her to achieve success.
It seems likely that these continued losses may be building towards a change in attitude for the former Knockouts World Champion in the new year, perhaps as soon as New Year’s Evil on January 6.
Setting her up for not only success on NXT in 2026, but eventually Raw or SmackDown, a heel turn seems like the best course of action for Grace to get her WWE journey back on track.
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1. Randy Orton
Among the most fan requested storylines heading into 2026 is a full blown mentor and protégé feud between Randy Orton and Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes.
Aside from their meeting in the 2025 King of the Ring final, the pair have remained allies since Rhodes’ WWE return just under four years ago, but could that change in the new year?
While reports are suggesting that “The American Nightmare” is set to take on Roman Reigns at WrestleMania 42, a Randy Orton heel turn could present a more compelling angle for the WWE audience.
WWE would admittedly have a hard time getting fans to dislike Orton at this stage of his legendary WWE career, but that didn’t stop them trying with John Cena, so they should give it a shot.
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