It’s fair to say that the stereotypical fanbases of pro wrestling and Dungeons & Dragons could not be more different. Yet over time, fans of one universe have discovered the other and found something else they could enjoy. And for good reason.
You see, the creative writers behind professional wrestling – yes, it’s scripted, and we wrestling fans know it – mold characters that clearly reflect the alignment system that is so integral to D&D and nerd culture in general. They may not sit in a boardroom at WWE headquarters and decide whether The Undertaker needs to be more lawful good or chaotic evil – he’s been both, I think – but elements of this system appear multiple times a week on WWE programming.
Want proof? Here are some examples from each alignment that have appeared in the squared circle in the last couple decades.
WWE continues to add to and stretch the boundaries of what good guys and bad guys look like each week. When using this lens, viewers can see that there’s more to pro wrestling than sweaty dudes rolling around in their underwear.
It’s sweaty dudes rolling around in their underwear with a story!