Why Bobby Lashley Had the Perfect Heel Turn

While many were expecting a monster return for former ECW Champion, Bobby Lashley it wasn’t quite what we got. With so much promise, hope, and potential there really was every reason to be excited about this epic return of a personal favourite of mine however, it didn’t take long for Lashley to fade into the background, rumored dream matches not booked, and a generally disappointing few months to take place. In a recent episode of Monday night RAW, however, things massively turned around for the Destroyer when an excellent heel turn took place switching things up and giving Lashley the direction he so desperately needs; but what has truly made this turn so well perceived? Dubbed as the perfect double turn today we are going to be looking at why and how the WWE got this turn so well.

The Double Turn

Turning Bobby Lashley heel was never going to be a difficult task. His build, his move set, and his attitude are one that fits the bill for a perfect heel character in the world of pro wrestling, however, deciding to do a double turn and do this the way they did was just fantastic and so rarely done. Kevin Owens whether it be in the role of a heel or a babyface is a fan favourite; a crowd like Chicago was always going to have his back, Owens is a massively popular and over name and so it was the perfect set up. While Bobby started out as the face in this bout the crowd reaction was split from the get-go with fans siding with Owens more and more as the match went by. Lashley attacking Owens after the contest despite picking up the win was yet another brilliant touch. A double turn involving Owens really did set up a much more exciting, entertaining and promising heel turn and has started a very interesting new chapter in Lashley’s career.

Taking Place in Chicago

The RAW that saw Bobby Lashley turn heel, of course, took place in Chicago. While we all have our own opinions on Chicago wrestling crowds one thing that cannot be denied is there infectious enthusiasm. One of the loudest, most passionate, and an engaging audience they really do prove that a good crowd can change the feel of any show or match and this was proven exactly here in this part of the show. The matchup between Lashley and Owens was a highlight bout of the night and the crowd showed their appreciation and interest in the match throughout which meant that when the turn took place the feel and reaction was fantastic. The crowd really fed into what they were being presented with and the feel in the arena was transcended through to the fans at home. It was so important that Lashley and Lio got a huge reaction from this and that’s exactly what they got. The reaction from the fans made this seem like a big deal and an even more engaging and entertaining moment.  

Lio Rush

I’ll admit that I have had mixed opinion on  Lio Rush despite massively enjoying his in-ring work. Since coming up to the main roster, however, in such a short space of time has made such an impact and done an amazing job. The cruiserweight star barely had a showing over In NXT and with being so young it's clear there could have been a lot of contributing factors that made the past month difficult, but he has flourished greatly! Pairing him with Lashley was something I wasn’t keen on at the start and couldn’t see it truly working but just form this one episode of RAW alone I’m sold. Lashley is a decent speaker (kind of) but the natural flow that Lio possesses, his charisma, mic skill, character, and natural heel persona makes for a perfect pairing. The two superstars are very different, but both bring a lot to the table and can really help the other. Lio played a vital role in the heel turn of Lashley and while many didn’t like hearing him talk throughout the match I did. I felt as though it was original, very fitting, and was such an important part in the turn itself. Lio single handily turned Lashley heel without Lashley barely doing a thing and this pairing is one to most certainly watch out for as is the very important star that is Lio Rush.

Showing It All

The match itself between Bobby Lashley and Kevin Owens was such a big part in the actual heel turn as we have touched on throughout this post. By far one of the best matches of the night the two showcased how massively underutilized they are considering their all-around talent. In what was one of his best performances since returning Lashley showcased the diversity within his arsenal; speed, strength, agility, submissions, and power, Lashley presented himself as a hybrid superstar and this kind of performance was so massively important. Fans needed to be reminded of exactly what Lashley can bring to the table when it comes to in-ring performances. Coming across like a total beast this was the performance of a man worthy of being champion and picking up such a strong victory over Kevin Owens of all people was straight up excellent booking.

Timing

In all honesty, it can be argued that Bobby Lashley should have returned to the WWE in the role of a heel if he wasn’t set to challenge Brock Lesnar which was a huge fan favourite when the news broke of him possibly making a comeback. Lashley has struggled massively since his return and the heel turn is something that has been needed for months! Another month in the role he had been in would have done him no good and he was desperately in need of a change. Doing this now ahead of a big live special and close to the Royal Rumble pay per view is very interesting but also opens plenty of doors and opportunities and overall, I’m so glad this took place before it was too late for him.

A Different Take

And to conclude, I want to touch on how original this turn was. It’s very rare we see a double turn but also rare we see a heel turn done so well on the main roster. Lashley was brutal throughout the match but the barbaric attack was intense, entertaining, and totally gripping. We also have to look at the role Lio Rush played, the gradual build, and how it was during the match Lashley went from the babyface to an ultimate dominant heel with a totally different twist.

I am of course also hoping Kevin Owens has a healthy and speedy recovery from his injury!

Bobby Lashley is genuinely such an amazing all-around talent and I have been so disappointed and frustrated with how poorly used and booked he has been since returning. With that being said, the decision to finally turn him heel, something we have all been waiting to see for so long, was brilliant and so well done to the point where I would one hundred percent agree In saying it was one of the best turns in recent memory but what did you think? Leave a comment below or tweet me over at @TezangiVictoria telling me what you thought and what you would like to see from Lashley and Lio Rush in the near future. 

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