Sports
10 Best Babyfaces in WWE History [Ranked]
Summary
- The WWE revolves around heels and faces.
- For every legendary bad guy, there is an equally adored good guy.
- From Cody Rhodes to John Cena, there are numerous WWE Superstars who have reached immense levels of popularity.
Professional wrestling and WWE have always been a story of good vs bad, which has given birth to both great villains and great heroes. For so long, WWE focused on the good guy overcoming all the odds every single time, which led to incredibly lengthy Championship reigns for the likes of Bruno Sammartino and Hulk Hogan. Heels and bad guys were there to put up a fight, but eventually lost.
With the dawn of the Attitude Era, fans rejected the idea of the white meat, squeaky clean babyface and wanted to cheer for more realistic wrestlers. This led to the rise of the anti-hero babyface, who exhibited many heel traits but was cheered regardless. The lines were just blurred.
For this conversation, only WWE will be considered, and, given that there is limited source material on the 1960s, Bruno Sammartino will be excluded, despite being a hero of his time. With this in mind, GiveMeSport takes you through the 10 greatest babyfaces in WWE history.
Ranking factors
- Connection with the WWE Universe – how easily the wrestler got the fans behind them.
- Longevity as a face – how long they managed to stay in the WWE Universe’s good graces.
- Quality of matches they produced – assessing the number of matches that the fans enjoyed.
10
Bret Hart
The Hitman lived his gimmick. He was hard work personified and was someone fans could believe in and trust. Throughout his lengthy WWE career, the Excellence of Execution stayed true to his values even when he became a pro-Canadian heel – he was booed in America but cheered at home.
One of the finest in-ring technical wrestlers to ever grace the squared circle, Bret Hart, paved the way for many greats of today, such as CM Punk. From his masterclasses with his brother Owen to the infamous Montreal Screwjob, the Hitman proved his worth from the Tag Team division to the main events of WrestleMania and did so with a legion of fans supporting him.
9
Becky Lynch
When the Four Horsewomen finally made their way onto WWE’s main roster, no one could have predicted the heights that Becky Lynch would reach. Spending her first year getting to grips with things, it wasn’t until the Lasskicker’s move to SmackDown Live that her career changed forever. Having broken her nose at the hands of a Nia Jax punch, Lynch found a new sense of seriousness within herself and never looked back.
Becoming the first female WWE Superstar to main event WrestleMania, a decision that was a no-brainer due to her immense popularity, the seven-time World Champion’s run as the Man and Big Time Becks proved there was no one on her level when it came to being a babyface in the women’s division.
8
Rey Mysterio
Other than his brief run as a heel with Eddie Guerrero in WCW, Rey Mysterio has been a babyface for his 30-year career and rightly so. Doing the impossible and managing to stay in the good graces of the WWE Universe for the entirety of his career, the Master of the 619 knows how to play the underdog to perfection.
Arguably one of the greatest professional wrestlers of all time, Mysterio’s size means he can embody the role of the good guy as believably as anyone else on the roster. Seen in feuds with the likes of Eddie Guerrero and Batista, his performances in the ring and outside of it have the WWE Universe forever loving the Ultimate Underdog.
7
Mick Foley
The Attitude Era was filled with countless memorable moments, and it took the best of the best to create memories that truly stood the test of time during this period. One moment that the WWE Universe will never forget was Mankind winning the WWF Championship, a babyface triumph orchestrated to perfection.
Mick Foley knew how to connect with audiences. Whether it was as Cactus Jack, Mankind or Dude Love, his believability on the mic and his dedication in the ring made him impossible to hate. His ability to garner sympathy and perform in emotionally gripping storylines is second to none. A deserved WWE Hall of Famer, when the WWE Universe thinks of good faces, they think of Foley.
6
Daniel Bryan
While Daniel Bryan is an incredible heel, he is another perfect babyface. He was never meant to be a true main eventer, even being called a “B+ player” on live TV. However, the fans saw the potential in Bryan and demanded that he be allowed the chance to shine. The “Yes Movement” was like nothing seen before or since, and the biggest example of the audience raging against the machine in favour of their favourite.
As well as his memorable work during the Yes Movement, Bryan continued to shine as a face during the later stages of his WWE career. A great guy outside the ring, who fought tooth and nail to be where he was, Bryan carved out a space for himself in WWE history as one of the greatest to ever do it, and fans will never forget his contributions to the business.
5
Cody Rhodes
When Cody Rhodes left the WWE in 2016, no one could have expected to be including him in debates like this nearly a decade later. Leaving professional wrestling’s flagship company to figure himself out, the American Nightmare returned with a well-earned fanbase in 2022.
Winning two Royal Rumbles, embarking on feuds with Seth Rollins and Roman Reigns whilst finishing his story at WrestleMania 40, his return has been one of the greatest babyface runs in WWE history. A level of popularity that has meant The Rock and John Cena have had to turn heel to do business with him, the WWE Universe continues to adore the American Nightmare.
4
John Cena
A WWE Superstar who seemed destined for a full career as a face, John Cena’s shocking heel turn in 2025 left the WWE Universe reminiscing on his previous two decades’ worth of work. Arriving as the Doctor of Thuganomics, Cena managed to slowly get over with crowds and became Mr. Hustle, Loyalty and Respect. A real-life good guy, with his work with Make-A-Wish speaking for itself, Cena became a divisive WWE Superstar over the years.
Receiving polarising reactions wherever he went, Cena had the unmatched ability to get the crowd in the palm of his hand. A two-decade run as a good guy that saw him win 16 World Championships and put on countless incredible matches, the WWE Universe will forever remember Cena as the legend he is, even if he did break up with them on his retirement tour.
3
The Rock
One of the more untraditional babyfaces on the list, The Rock didn’t have to go through hardship or trials and tribulations for the WWE Universe to adore him. An incredibly successful wrestler, the Brahma Bull’s popularity came through his ability to entertain. Now a Hollywood superstar, the People’s Champion was flexing his acting skills in the squared circle way before he was an A-Lister.
Whether it was from his singing segments where he’d run down his opponent or his bullying of Coachman, The Rock always had the WWE Universe in stitches. Just as impressive in the ring, the now-Final Boss’ short-lived time in the squared circle left a lasting impression.
2
Hulk Hogan
The Hulkster was the ultimate babyface during the 1980s wrestling boom. A brilliant heel with the NWO, it was in the red and yellow that he became a megastar. Everyone loved him, from kids to adults. The first WWE Superstar to transcend the business and reach mainstream popularity, it is hard to deny the impact he has had on professional wrestling.
Laying out the blueprint for generations to come on how to succeed as a babyface, Hogan’s slam on Andre the Giant at WrestleMania is one of the first and greatest ‘Mania moments of all time. The fact that WWE paid multiple tributes to him following his passing in July 2025 showed just how important he was to the industry.
1
Stone Cold Steve Austin
The greatest babyface to ever step inside a WWE ring is none other than ‘Stone Cold’ Steve Austin. Embarking on a career that no one saw coming following his infamous 3:16 King of the Ring speech, the Rattlesnake enjoyed countless timeless moments during his career. From WrestleMania main events to memorable segments during the Monday Night Wars, Austin reached a level of popularity that may never be matched again.
Never a babyface in the traditional sense, but the biggest anti-hero in wrestling’s history. He was the embodiment of the Attitude Era, sticking it to his boss like every fan watching wanted to. For his trash-talking, brawling, and never-say-die style, the audience could not get enough of him. He was the biggest draw in WWE history and remains arguably the most beloved wrestler to this day.
Max Verstappen went ballistic at two of his Formula 1 rivals during the Hungarian Grand Prix in a savage radio message which wasn’t broadcast on live TV.
The Dutchman had a frustrating start to the 2026 season with Red Bull well off the pace. The team has improved dramatically in recent weeks, though, and he equalled his best result of the year in Hungary.
Verstappen started the Hungarian Grand Prix in fourth, behind McLaren pair Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri, as well as Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc.
The Dutchman enjoyed a good start and was third after the opening lap of the race. Despite complaining about his car for the remainder of the race, Verstappen was able to finish second after Piastri had to retire due to a gearbox failure.
Max Verstappen Rages at Two F1 Drivers
Verstappen is never shy about conveying his feelings over team radio, regardless of whether he is happy or angry. He was particularly annoyed at two F1 drivers during the Hungarian Grand Prix.
Racing Bulls pair Liam Lawson and Arvid Lindblad enjoyed another strong weekend. The former finished eighth, earning four points, while Lindblad crossed the line in 10th.
Verstappen was not overly happily with their actions during the race, though. The 28-year-old, considered one of the greatest drivers in Formula 1 history, lost time while trying to pass the lapped duo in the latter stages of the race.
Instead of letting Verstappen through, the Racing Bulls pair continued to battle into Turn 2 as the Dutchman approached, which enraged the four-time world champion. He shouted in an untelevised radio message:
“Oh, they should get a penalty. This is f**king ridiculous, these morons! My God!”
”Of all of Max Verstappen’s radio outbursts, this one is undoubtedly among the biggest,’ one Formula 1 fan said on X.
According to Crash.tv, it emerged after the race that a system failure meant race control had to revert to marshalling for blue flags after the light panels malfunctioned. Several drivers reported that the blue flags were not showing on their steering wheel display.
Max Verstappen Surprised at Podium Finish
Verstappen admitted that Red Bull performed much better than they expected in the Grand Prix. He said after the race, per ESPN:
“Yeah, I was still struggling with the same things as yesterday, so the car was just extremely oversteery, just degging quite hard at one point as well. But I do think that, you know, at the start, moving forward was, of course, making our first stint possible.
“Then, of course, we got undercut, but then I made the move on Lewis, which I think made my second stint a little bit more straightforward.
“Then the team also put me onto the soft tyres, which initially I was like, ‘that’s going to be a long run to the end,’ but we made it work. So, yeah, overall, I still don’t really understand how we are second, but I think as a team we performed strongly.
“I see it as a bit of an overperformance compared to what we expected, so I guess that’s, of course, a good thing considering how everything felt. I also saw, when I jumped out of the car again, there was damage on the car for whatever reason. So, yeah, it was not made easy for us.”
Verstappen is currently sixth in the 2026 Drivers’ standings, having accumulated 109 points from the opening 11 races of the season. He will be looking to pick up his first victory of the campaign at the Dutch Grand Prix at the end of August.
Leeds United have been given fresh hope in their pursuit of Burnley striker Zian Flemming, as Daniel Farke looks to bolster the attacking options at his disposal.
Despite the Clarets’ relegation last term, Flemming impressed with his displays at Turf Moor. The Dutchman netted 11 goals in 29 Premier League appearances, and thus, it’s no surprise that top-flight teams are interested in prying him away from the second division.
Leeds have emerged as a potential suitor for Flemming, with Farke intent on adding another forward who can compete with the ageing, but still productive, Dominic Calvert-Lewin.
Few developments have surfaced on this front for some time now, although recent comments from new Burnley boss Nick Hayen suggest that the Yorkshire outfit should be enthused by their chances of landing the former Millwall marksman.
Leeds Given Zian Flemming Transfer Boost
Leeds were in a relegation battle for much of last season, although they ended the campaign on a high, and the Whites are now looking to go to another level in 2026/27. The next step is consolidating themselves as a Premier League side, and to do this, significant reinforcements are needed at Elland Road.
Julian Brandt is reportedly a target, while the West Yorkshire club are also plotting an ambitious move for Manchester City goalkeeper James Trafford.
Alongside these prospective additions, another centre-forward is needed in Farke’s squad. Flemming has been identified as an option, although movement on this deal has been slow in recent months.
However, new Burnley head coach Hayen told the Burnley Express that the 27-year-old will be allowed to leave Turf Moor this summer if a Premier League club forks out the fee the Clarets are looking for.
“Zian is also someone like Tino (Florentino Luis),” Hayen said.
“He’s working 100% on the pitch. Zian is not a guy who’s going to say like: ‘I want to leave Burnley’. He’s working really hard.
“Of course, he wants to take the next step in his career, but I think every player has a price. When the right price is paid by a Premier League club, for example, then he can go.”
Leeds Should Have No Problem in Flemming Pursuit
The ‘superb’ Flemming has already proven himself in the Championship on three separate occasions, and he now has a respectable Premier League campaign on his CV. He’ll no doubt be itching to ply his trade at a top-flight club again next season, and these wishes should be reflected in Burnley’s stance regarding price.
The Clarets don’t have a reputation for holding players ransom, and will sell for a reasonable fee. Leeds should have the financial muscle to pay what Burnley want, and thus, there’s no reason why they shouldn’t get a deal over the line.
That said, given how ambitious the Whites have been in this window thus far, they may attempt something more audacious, as they look to level up.
Fees correct prior to summer 2026
All 10 found — excellent!
FIFA have made a decision over Argentina after millions signed a petition demanding the South American nation are handed a permanent ban from future World Cup finals.
A staggering 23,316,108 people signed the “Leave, Argentina” petition, which reportedly called for a lifetime ban on the Argentina national team, according to Euro News, via GOAL.
Argentina’s ‘dirty’ tactics during the 2026 World Cup, followed by the unsavoury post-match altercations that marred the final against Spain at the New York New Jersey Stadium on July 19, left a bitter taste in the mouths of football fans all over the world.
Argentina’s players were criticised further after they were seen with their backs turned while Spain’s Rodri lifted the World Cup trophy.
Defender Lisandro Martinez has now provided an explanation, insisting Argentina’s players were not deliberately snubbing their Spanish counterparts.
Meanwhile, FIFA are continuing their investigation into the post-match behaviour of Argentina’s players and coaching staff to determine whether their disciplinary code was violated.
FIFA ‘Confirm’ World Cup Decision Over Argentina
While individual players are at risk of being punished by FIFA, there are no suggestions that Argentina will be blocked from competing in future tournaments.
In fact, talkSPORT say FIFA have now confirmed that all six host nations for the 2030 World Cup will automatically qualify, meaning Argentina are guaranteed a spot at the next tournament.
Argentina, along with Uruguay and Paraguay, are set to host one match each during the 2030 World Cup finals. The games will take place in the three countries’ capital cities: Buenos Aires, Montevideo and Asuncion, respectively.
Spain, Portugal and Morocco are the three main co-hosts of the next World Cup, but three matches will be played in South America to mark the 100th anniversary of the first-ever World Cup finals, hosted by Uruguay in 1930.
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Lionel Messi’s Chances of Making 2030 World Cup
It’s unlikely that Argentina’s legendary captain Lionel Messi will be part of the squad that attempts to win the World Cup trophy back in four years’ time.
The 39-year-old was sensational in North America up until the final, scoring eight goals and registering a further four assists.
Messi will turn 43 years old midway through the 2030 World Cup and may have already retired by the time the tournament begins.
One of Messi’s teammates has brought the curtain down on his international career following the World Cup final defeat to Spain. Defender Nicolas Otamendi, 38, released an emotional statement last week confirming he will no longer represent La Albiceleste after 139 appearances.
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