Wheeljack originated as an Autobot soldier within Hot Shot's military unit, forging a close bond with his comrade. Their friendship shattered during a fierce battle when Wheeljack became pinned under rubble under heavy fire. Hot Shot attempted to fetch help but was blocked from returning by an Autobot officer who declared the rescue too dangerous. Megatron intervened, saving Wheeljack, who then defected to the Decepticons, consumed by the conviction of Hot Shot's abandonment.

This perceived betrayal ignited deep-seated resentment within Wheeljack. Years later, he tracked Hot Shot to Earth, where Hot Shot mentored the younger Autobot Side Swipe. Wheeljack deliberately provoked Side Swipe into a reckless chase, culminating in Side Swipe being driven off a cliff. Confronting Hot Shot, Wheeljack recounted the incident that caused his defection. Despite Hot Shot's desperate pleas for forgiveness and explanations about the officer's intervention, Wheeljack shot him, rejecting any possibility of reconciliation.

Wheeljack escalated his vendetta by luring Hot Shot to an abandoned oil refinery. He took Side Swipe hostage, chaining him inside the burning complex and shooting Hot Shot in the leg to cripple his rescue attempt. Wheeljack justified this as "poetic justice," believing Hot Shot would abandon Side Swipe just as he felt abandoned. However, Hot Shot persisted in saving Side Swipe even as the Decepticon Thrust attacked. Wheeljack intercepted Thrust, shooting him down to safeguard his personal confrontation. Megatron, observing, accepted Wheeljack's pledge of loyalty despite Thrust's objections about his instability.

Wheeljack participated in crucial Decepticon missions, including the assault on the Autobot base to steal the Requiem Blaster. He later expressed unease witnessing Starscream violently turn on Thrust. When Starscream rebelled against Megatron, Wheeljack and Cyclonus attempted to intervene but were incapacitated by Starscream's attack.

His character development initiated during the conflict against Unicron. When Hot Shot sought to warn Decepticon leader Galvatron (formerly Megatron) about the threat, Wheeljack initially confronted him but ultimately relented, permitting Hot Shot to deliver his message. This act inadvertently facilitated the exposure of Thrust's betrayal, as Thrust revealed his allegiance to Unicron and stole the Requiem Blaster and Skyboom Shield. Wheeljack joined Hot Shot in pursuing Thrust, marking a tentative reconciliation. Their alliance solidified as they navigated Unicron's tunnels, rescued humans and Mini-Cons, and confronted Thrust on Cybertron's moon. Following Unicron's awakening, Wheeljack returned to the Decepticons yet fought alongside the united Autobot-Decepticon armada to defeat Unicron.

Symbolically, Wheeljack retained a scarred Autobot insignia, visibly crossed out on his chest, serving as a constant reminder of his betrayal and bitterness. In robot mode, he wielded dual energy batons; his vehicle mode manifested as a high-speed sports car capable of reaching 285 mph. His Japanese incarnation bore the name "Rampage," reflecting his aggressive reputation among Decepticons.

After Unicron's defeat, Wheeljack remained aligned with the Decepticons during Cybertron's subsequent rebuilding, though his animosity toward Hot Shot had subsided.