Throughout WWE’s history, the company has had some fantastic babyface stars that have allowed the wrestling world to invest in them and cheer for them. Great babyfaces are crucial to any wrestling company’s success, as they keep the fans coming back to see them succeed as often as possible.
However, every babyface is different. Each character has a unique journey, other stories, and matches that define them. Because of that, each top babyface has different levels of likability based on their actions.
Let’s look at the top babyfaces of the WWE Roster: New Era.
1Seth Rollins
One of the biggest wrestling stars of our generation, Seth Rollins, has often switched between babyface and heel. While I prefer him as a heel, fans like him as a babyface for many reasons.
As for the company, he should be one of the top babyfaces. He has been there so long that fans will invest in him and buy his merch.
It also helps that Seth is one of the best performers in the ring today. Wrestlers with great in-ring jobs are still needed in a company that prioritizes entertainment over in-ring work. It’s best to get both of those in the same package.
Seth seemed misused in the United States title picture, but for Monday nights, there aren’t any higher titles for him to contend for.
2Bianca Belair
Bianca Belair has been a top babyface in wrestling since defeating Sasha Banks at WrestleMania 37 in 2021 and added to her popularity with two PPV wins over Becky Lynch. Her star is burning as brightly as ever, unlikely to stop anytime soon.
The Raw women’s champion, embroiled in a rivalry with Bayley, Dakota Kai, and Iyo Sky, will likely be the centerpiece of the women’s division for now. That she is over, performs up to the moment, and is only getting better helps make a case for her continued success well into 2023.
She will likely take a slight step back at some point with the return of Becky Lynch (more on her in a bit), but The EST of WWE is a genuine star who has proved herself time and again. That she got her start in NXT under Triple H strengthens the argument.
Belair may not be champion or have another classic WrestleMania match lined up for 2023; but she will remain a focal point in WWE. Thus, one of those critical figures the creative team will have something of substance lined up for.
3Cody Rhoades
Cody Rhodes, the uncrowned prince of wrestling, would be one of the biggest babyfaces on any brand. He is the prototype for a top babyface in wrestling.
Everything about him screams classic babyface, from his promos to his looks to his in-ring style. I think that he will be the face of Monday Nights at the very least, and after WrestleMania, probably the whole company.
WWE deserves credit for booking him as a big deal for as long as he has been away from the company. Cody deserves credit for leaving and proving his worth away from the company.
I think Cody will end up being way more significant than he is now after he has some time to have some great feuds with some of the talent on Raw.
4Rhea Ripley
For the uncrowned leader of Judgement Day, common sense would tell us that she should be on the heel side, but fans don’t boo her for some reason.
Additionally, she is facing Charlotte Flair at WrestleMania for the Smackdown Women’s Championship. For some strange reason, fans don’t like her. There is nothing that Charlotte can do to make fans cheer her over Rhea.
Putting her on the Monday Night Raw side is cheating when we know she might be on Friday Night Smackdown in a few months.
5Shawn Michaels
WWE went a unique route with Shawn Michaels’ face turn in 1995. Michaels was doing great as a heel for a few years after breaking up with The Rockers with his betrayal. WWE, however, realized that a face turn was needed for Michaels to become a main eventer, given his size.
WrestleMania 11 featured Michaels losing as a heel against the face of WWE Champion Diesel. The following night saw Michaels and his bodyguard Sycho Sid at odds. Sid brutally attacking Michaels created that sympathy for a face turn and a reunion with Diesel on screen.
6Brock Lesnar
The Country Ass-Kicker is the babyface no one in the WWE Universe knew they needed.
For the first time in what felt like an eternity, Brock Lesnar has been allowed to express himself and be the charismatic destroyer obstructed by fans by his on-screen pairing with Paul Heyman. Since his return in August 2021, Lesnar has unabashedly played to the crowd and gleefully thrown around any heel in his path.
This babyface’s story did not end as triumphantly as he may have imagined, with a WrestleMania 38 loss to Roman Reigns in the Winner Takes All match. Still, his popularity has been undeniable since the start of the year.
He may not be on television immediately after the year’s biggest show. However, the foundation has been laid for Lesnar to bounce back and be one of the top babyfaces in the company whenever he returns.
7Big E
The New Day is among the most famous stables in professional wrestling history. Kofi Kingston, Xavier Woods, and Big E have fantastic chemistry that has enamored the fans. They have won multiple tag team titles and have two WWE Championship reigns under their name.
These attributes made him beloved and a superb company ambassador when Big E was WWE Champion.
There are so many reasons why Big E is likable. He is genuinely a good person and is the most well-liked talent in the locker room. The New Day member has been endeared to the crowd based on his journey to the promotion’s top. Big E has everything it takes to be the top babyface in the business due to how natural he is in and out of the ring.
8Drew Mcintyre
The Scottish Warrior may have a laugh or two with the audience and carry a sword to the ring in a gimmick that’s better suited to the 1980s. But make no mistake: Drew McIntyre can be one badass babyface when the time calls for it.
Ferocious, he works with an intensity typically saved for heels but does so in a way that fires up fans. He plays to the crowd and, when allowed, showcases some of his enormous personality.
Whether counting down to the Claymore or swinging said sword at Happy Corbin or Sami Zayn, McIntyre knows what makes a consistently over babyface and has utilized it to his benefit over the past two years.
A former WWE champion, it would be nice to see how he performs with that title in front of fans since his first two reigns with the gold occurred during the Thunderdome era of Raw shows at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Until then, look for McIntyre to remain one of the best babyfaces in the business as he walks the fine line between severe ass-kicker and fun-loving Scot.
9John Cena
Considering that half of the fanbase booed John Cena throughout his career makes it impossible to call him the likable babyface of all time. However, Cena certainly did have a core fanbase, and in terms of his in-ring actions, he was as pure of a babyface as you can get.
While his rapping years saw him work a little more controversial, Cena became one of WWE’s greatest babyfaces later on. His work was a little repetitive for some, but he was always a beloved babyface icon.
10Becky Lynch
When Becky Lynch returned at SummerSlam 2021, fans were happy to see their hero again. The audience rallied behind The Man, which led to her winning the first women’s main event of WrestleMania in 2019.
Her absence helped alleviate resentment over her run to the top, so everyone was ready to welcome her back.
This made the company’s decision to turn Becky’s heel baffling. Fans and pundits much-maligned the move. Becky Lynch is genuine, personable, and humorous.
She was also valiant and fought to become the top star of the women’s division.
Becky’s a modern-day Dusty Rhodes meets Daniel Bryan, so she will always be a natural babyface fans want to cheer for.
About WWE
World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc., doing business as WWE, is an American professional wrestling promotion. A global integrated media and entertainment company, WWE has also branched out into other fields, including film, American football, and various other business ventures.
WWE shows are sports entertainment, featuring story line-driven, scripted, and partially choreographed matches; though including moves that can put performers at risk of injury, even death, if not performed correctly. It was founded in 1953 as the Capitol Wrestling Corporation and is the largest wrestling promotion in the world. It is headquartered in Stamford, Connecticut.
No Comments on WWE Roster: The 10 Best Babyfaces of the New Era Ranked