4 AEW stars who could turn heel in December 2024
AEW has witnessed several shocking heel turns in 2024. The year started off with Adam Cole's Undisputed Kingdom taking charge as the main antagonists of the Jacksonville-based promotion. The group was then succeeded by The Young Bucks, who joined forces with Kazuchika Okada and Jack Perry, to begin a new movement against All Elite Wrestling.
In recent months, the emergence of The Death Riders and The Hurt Syndicate have cast a shadow over the entire AEW roster. However, the sequence of beloved babyfaces embracing their dark side might not stop anytime soon.
Several intriguing developments could unfold in AEW in the upcoming weeks. The month of December could end up being a turning point for numerous talented stars, whose luck has not favored them of late. Frustrated with their recent shortcomings and conflicted emotions, certain top babyfaces could become villains this coming winter.
In this article, let's look at four AEW stars who could turn heel in December 2024.
#4. Ricochet could embrace his dark side soon
Since his debut at All In 2024, Ricochet has had an eventful run in All Elite Wrestling. While he has been consistently featured in important matches, The One and Only has suffered crucial losses against other top stars.
At Full Gear 2024, Ricochet unsuccessfully challenged Konosuke Takeshita for the AEW International Championship. Moreover, The Future of the Flight was defeated by Claudio Castagnoli in a Gold League encounter of the Continental Classic 2024.
The One and Only would surely be frustrated with his lack of momentum at the moment. The former United States Champion would be desperate to turn things around in his career, a desire that could lead him towards a heel turn.
Ricochet could drop his babyface persona to join forces with The Hurt Syndicate, which has already offered him the group's membership a couple of times. A heel turn could help Ricochet return to winning ways, allowing him to finally taste some singles gold in a long time.
#3. Kyle O'Reilly could turn his back on Adam Cole
Adam Cole's growing rivalry with Maxwell Jacob Friedman (MJF) has led to some serious implications for his loved ones. At Full Gear 2024, Roderick Strong fell victim to The Devil's brutality, causing Kyle O'Reilly to put the blame on The Panama City Playboy's unhealthy obsession with his former partner.
On the latest episode of Dynamite, O'Reilly announced his entry into the Dynamite Dozen Battle Royal, seconds after Cole announced his participation. If The Violent Artist manages to outlast the other 11 competitors next week, he will earn a match against The Salt of the Earth.
A bout against MJF could sow the seeds for Kyle O'Reilly to turn his back on The Panama City Playboy. The Salt of the Earth could inflict serious damage on the 37-year-old star, putting him out of action for a while.
The incident could draw the ire of The Violent Artist, as he would be unhappy about becoming another casualty of Adam Cole's war with MJF. Ultimately, O'Reilly could run out of patience with Cole and attack him when the latter faces The Salt of the Earth.
It would be a great way to kickstart an intriguing feud between Kyle O'Reilly and Adam Cole while providing a somewhat interesting conclusion to the MJF vs. Undisputed Kingdom storyline.
#2. Britt Baker could once again become the biggest heel in the AEW Women's division
After a long hiatus from in-ring competition, Britt Baker returned to All Elite Wrestling at Forbidden Door 2024. The DMD went on to wrestle the current TBS Champion, Mercedes Mone, at All In 2024, which ended up being one of the most disappointing matches on the card.
Since then, Baker has made sporadic appearances on AEW television. Two weeks ago, The Doctor was confronted by Serena Deeb, who had previously wrestled her at the 250th edition of AEW Dynamite. Interestingly, Baker was heard saying "Nobody Cares" in response to Deeb's surprise interruption.
In recent months, Baker has been on the receiving end of criticism for her lack of good performances. The babyface persona is not working for The DMD, and only a heel turn could help Baker bring her career back on track.
The upcoming month could turn out to be crucial for the former AEW Women's World Champion. After failing to get the audience on her side, The DMD could finally snap back into her old villainous self, who did not stop at anything to destroy her opponents.
Turning heel could end up being a career-defining decision for the 33-year-old star, as it would allow her to finally climb the ranks on the roster once again. If Baker wants to appear as a serious threat to the likes of Jamie Hayter, Mercedes Mone, and Mariah May, she must go back to being a ruthless heel.
#1. Max Caster could betray Anthony Bowens to join The Hurt Syndicate
The Acclaimed is one of the most successful tag teams to have stepped foot in an AEW ring. However, if recent signs are to go by, the duo of Max Caster and Anthony Bowens could be headed towards a breakup.
In recent weeks, Caster has been approached by The Hurt Syndicate backstage multiple times. While Anthony Bowens has actively rejected the group's membership offer, Platinum Max allegedly seems interested in joining forces with the Bobby Lashley-led faction.
Having accomplished almost everything as a unit, it is possible that The Acclaimed could finally disband in December 2024. Max Caster constantly calls himself "The Best Wrestler Alive," but he has yet to find any singles success to solidify that claim.
Intending to establish himself as a top solo performer, Caster could turn his back on Bowens in the near future. The 35-year-old star could betray his tag team partner to join The Hurt Syndicate, who could help him dominate the singles competition in AEW. The shocking split could turn out to be beneficial for both Caster and Bowens, who could finally explore some new and exciting routes.