Every great wrestling story needs conflict. There are countless ways to tell a story, countless types of characters, and countless directions a storyline can go—but at the heart of it all, there’s something timeless about having a villain.
The person the audience hates.
The person who needs to be conquered.
The person standing in the way of the hero.
In this episode of Graps in a Cup of Coffee, we talk about the necessary need for a villain and why a truly great antagonist can make storytelling in wrestling feel almost effortless. When you establish the right villain, the audience immediately understands the stakes, the emotions, and what needs to happen next.
But we also ask: Is WWE missing that right now?
Because it feels like everyone wants to be Mr. Cool. Everyone wants to be likable, badass, charismatic, or someone the audience can cheer. But if everybody is cool… who are we supposed to want to see get their ass kicked?
A villain isn’t just a bad guy.
A villain can be the foundation of the story.
Tap in and let’s talk about why wrestling needs someone to hate.