WWE’s Most Shocking Betrayals (Ranked 25 to 1)
25. Eddie Guerrero Betrays Rey Mysterio
Eddie Guerrero betrayed Rey Mysterio in 2005, ending their tag team and launching a feud over jealousy and family drama. Eddie targeted Rey with mind games and attacks, culminating in a heated custody battle storyline and memorable matches that deepened both legends’ histories.
24. The Judgment Day Betrays Edge
Edge formed The Judgment Day in 2022 and seemingly led its members to success, but the group turned on him and ousted him, claiming he was holding them back. The betrayal allowed Priest, Ripley, and Bálor to take control and become one of WWE’s dominant factions.
23. Triple H Betrays Seth Rollins
Triple H betrayed Seth Rollins in 2016 during a fatal four-way Universal Championship match, costing Rollins the title and showing that even chosen protégés are expendable. The split turned Rollins into a fan favorite and launched a long-term rivalry filled with top matches.
22. Paul Bearer Betrays The Undertaker
Paul Bearer turned on The Undertaker at SummerSlam 1996, clubbing him with the urn and siding with Mankind. Bearer cited long-standing mistreatment as his motive, transforming his character and fueling a memorable feud between Taker and Mankind.
21. Batista Betrays Rey Mysterio
Batista and Rey Mysterio’s friendship ended at Bragging Rights 2009, when Batista assaulted Rey after a loss, telling him “I’m gonna rip your head off.” Batista’s heel turn marked his move to main-event status, while Rey struggled with the loss of a trusted ally. Their battles added personal depth to their matches.
20. Paul Heyman Betrays CM Punk and Roman Reigns
Paul Heyman twice betrayed his closest clients, CM Punk and Roman Reigns, justifying his actions as business decisions in search of the next top star. Heyman’s double crosses led to defining rivalries, explosive promos, and showcased his reputation as the most cunning manager in WWE history.
19. Solo Sikoa Betrays Roman Reigns
Solo Sikoa later attacked Roman Reigns, ending The Bloodline’s dominance and signaling Solo’s quest for independence. Tensions from Reigns’ micromanagement and Solo’s desire for greater power fueled the conflict, marking the collapse of the Samoan dynasty.
18. Nikki Bella Betrays Brie Bella
Nikki Bella shocked viewers at SummerSlam 2014 by betraying her twin sister Brie, siding with Stephanie McMahon and delivering a now-famous “I wish you died in the womb” promo. The betrayal ended their partnership and drove a contentious feud between the sisters.
17. Kevin Owens Betrays Randy Orton
Kevin Owens betrayed Randy Orton during a Survivor Series qualifying match, attacking Orton to push his own ambitions. Owens claimed Orton blocked his success, leading to a bitter and personal feud. Their rivalry featured harsh words and dramatic matches that kept fans engaged.
16. Shawn Michaels Betrays Hulk Hogan
Shawn Michaels betrayed Hulk Hogan in 2005 after the pair teamed to defeat Muhammad Hassan and Daivari. Michaels struck Hogan with a superkick, launching a feud marked by biting promos and exaggerated gestures. The betrayal refreshed Michaels’ heel character and set up a memorable SummerSlam showdown.
15. Lita Betrays Kane
Lita turned on Kane during their complicated marriage storyline in 2005, helping Edge humiliate Kane. Their drama included street fights and emotional betrayal, with Lita citing Edge’s affection and Kane’s mistreatment as reasons for switching sides. The break-up added fuel to one of WWE’s wildest love triangles.
14. Solo Sikoa Betrays Jimmy Uso
Solo Sikoa stunned The Bloodline by attacking his brother Jimmy Uso, defying family loyalty for the sake of personal ambition. The betrayal came after Jimmy’s efforts to maintain peace, with Solo asserting that allegiance to Roman Reigns mattered more than family. This act sowed chaos in the group and highlighted the dangers of power struggles within families.
13. Kane Betrays Rob Van Dam
Kane teamed with Rob Van Dam in 2003 to win tag gold but snapped after a critical loss, attacking RVD and removing his mask for the first time. The split ended their partnership and unleashed Kane’s unmasked monster persona, reigniting his singles career and sparking a heated personal rivalry.
12. Kane Betrays The Undertaker
Kane betrayed The Undertaker in 1998 during their buried alive match, aligning with Vince McMahon and showing that even family ties could crumble in dramatic fashion. Citing childhood trauma and rejection by his brother, Kane repeatedly switched sides in their legendary feud, defining the brothers as wrestling’s most unpredictable duo.
11. Becky Lynch Betrays Charlotte Flair
Becky Lynch shocked fans at SummerSlam 2018 by attacking Charlotte Flair following Flair’s SmackDown Women’s Championship win. Lynch turned heel with this act, morphing into “The Man” and altering the division’s landscape. The betrayal fueled a rivalry that produced compelling storylines and established both as top stars able to shift from friends to enemies in an instant.
10. Triple H Betrays Shawn Michaels
Triple H betrayed Shawn Michaels in 2002 after a DX reunion seemed possible. Triple H attacked his former friend with a Pedigree and accused Michaels of holding him back. They battled in a brutal SummerSlam match, igniting one of WWE’s fiercest personal feuds and confirming that Triple H would prioritize success above long-term alliances.
9. The New Day Betrays Big E
The New Day fractured unexpectedly in 2022 when Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods turned on Big E, upset with his focus on singles glory. They attacked him during a pivotal match and announced their frustration, leading to a split where all three sought individual success. The unexpected breakup showcased that even close bonds in wrestling can break under pressure.
8. Kevin Owens Betrays Sami Zayn
Kevin Owens began his main roster career by attacking longtime friend Sami Zayn moments after Zayn’s NXT Championship win. Owens said he was driven by the need to support his family, prioritizing ambition over friendship. The betrayal fueled a storied rivalry packed with matches full of personal history. Real-life friendship intensified the animosity, making each confrontation must-watch wrestling.
7. Evolution Betrays Randy Orton
Evolution famously betrayed Randy Orton in August 2004. Right after Orton won the World Heavyweight Championship, Triple H, Ric Flair, and Batista turned on him, symbolized by Triple H’s thumbs-down gesture. Orton’s defiance of Evolution’s hierarchy sparked the attack, sending him on a solo journey as champion. This infamous split ignited a bitter rivalry with Triple H and solidified Evolution’s ruthless reputation.
6. John Cena Betrays Cody Rhodes
John Cena betrayed Cody Rhodes in the run-up to WrestleMania 41 by attacking him during a championship contract signing. Cena argued that the turn was needed to preserve his own legacy, shocking fans who had viewed him as Rhodes’ loyal mentor. The move launched a high-profile feud, with Rhodes vowing revenge and Cena showcasing a darker side rarely seen before.
5. Dominik Mysterio Betrays Rey Mysterio
Dominik Mysterio betrayed his father Rey at Clash at the Castle in 2022, attacking Rey and Edge after a tag team win and joining The Judgment Day. Built-up resentment fueled the split, turning Dominik into a prominent heel and kicking off an emotional father-son feud. Dominik claimed neglect and frustration spurred his actions, bringing a real emotional edge to their conflict and giving new layers to both characters.
4. Andre The Giant Betrays Hulk Hogan
Andre the Giant turned on Hulk Hogan during a Piper’s Pit segment in 1987, ripping off Hogan’s shirt and crucifix to show his alliance with Bobby Heenan. This betrayal led to a legendary match at WrestleMania III before over 93,000 fans. Andre’s turn to villainy ended their friendship and ignited one of WWE’s greatest rivalries, boosting the prestige of the championship and propelling the company’s popularity.
3. Shawn Michaels Betrays Marty Jannetty
Shawn Michaels delivered one of wrestling’s classic betrayals on a 1992 episode of the Barber Shop. Pretending to reconcile with his Rockers partner Marty Jannetty, Michaels instead superkicked him and threw him through a glass window. The moment shocked fans and ended The Rockers, launching Michaels as the Heartbreak Kid. Jannetty was written out with injuries before returning later to feud with Michaels. The infamous Bobby Heenan commentary, claiming Jannetty tried to escape, added to the spectacle. The incident stands as the blueprint for tag team breakups in wrestling history.
2. Hulk Hogan Betrays WCW
Hulk Hogan turned the wrestling world upside down at Bash at the Beach 1996 when he betrayed WCW and joined Scott Hall and Kevin Nash to create the nWo. The heel turn was the first for Hogan in more than a decade, shocking fans who had always seen him as the All-American hero. His attack on Randy Savage symbolized the birth of an era-defining faction and led to a barrage of trash thrown into the ring by outraged spectators. Hogan’s alliance with Hall and Nash brought a major shift to WCW and the Monday Night Wars, making nWo wrestling’s most notorious stable.
1. Seth Rollins Betrays The Shield
Seth Rollins sent shockwaves through WWE on June 2, 2014, by betraying Roman Reigns and Dean Ambrose, ending The Shield’s iconic run. Rollins attacked his teammates with a steel chair under Triple H’s guidance, calling it a necessary business move to further his own career. Ambrose described the betrayal as unforgivable, while Reigns was devastated but determined to forge his own path. Rollins joined The Authority and emerged as one of WWE’s top singles stars. The Shield’s breakup marked the start of new rivalries and sporadic reunions that shaped WWE’s landscape for years.
