In professional wrestling, there are a lot of ways stories could be told. You could tell a story by great in-ring action or a series of promos. This has been the case for Chad Gable.
There’s also one more element of storytelling that WWE seems to be great at. Their vignettes have been great at showcasing wrestlers and the story unfolding around them.
That sentiment can be seen on the March 3, 2025 episode of Monday Night Raw. A few weeks ago, Chad Gable was going away to conquer lucha-libre, as he was defeated by many luchadores over the past few months.
A vignette aired where Chad Gable was looking for a mysterious person. When he found him, he handed him $500 in exchange for a box. He opened it, but the vignette ended without revealing what was inside.
WWE has made Chad Gable’s story meaningful by producing a vignette that gets people’s attention.
Chad Gable’s Vignette Establishes a Sense of Place in Quick Fashion
The one thing that WWE does well with their vignettes is establishing a sense of place. We’ve seen many over the years, like the Chase University classroom, the Wyatt Family compound, and the D’Angelo Family bridge. The locations are integrated so well into the characters’ identity that it would be hard to imagine them not there.
With Chad Gable, it’s firmly established that his new character is going to be involved with lucha libre. Having him just talk with luchadores backstage could’ve worked, but WWE had him walking in the streets of Mexico. He then meets the mysterious character in a dark alley, concealing his identity.
The story gains authenticity by actually showing Gable on this journey to conquer a new form of wrestling for him. WWE’s vignettes immediately convey the sense of place by showing the wrestlers’ connection to where they are in their characters’ current story.
The Vignette Only Reveals the Basics of His Story
WWE’s vignettes often show a lot in a little amount of time. That time is used effectively to tell the audience something.
It could be who their new persona is or why they attacked a certain wrestler, among other things. But sometimes, they unfold over weeks or months. An example would be the Wyatt Sicks vignettes.
Every week, we got a hint or a teaser, so everyone speculated for an entire week what could be coming next. The same thing is happening with Chad Gable. Not only do we not know who he spoke to, but we don’t know what’s inside the box.
WWE did that deliberately and not on accident. Since we have to wait until Monday for the continuation, the internet is buzzing with theories. WWE is building anticipation by purposely leaving us hanging, allowing for intrigued people to have a reason to tune in next week.
Gable’s Journey is Far From Over
A wrestler often debuts a new character with a match or a promo. But there are some instances where vignettes are needed to show why the character is the way they are. Often times, the audience goes on a journey with them.
In the case of Chad Gable, that’s what WWE is trying to do. As he learns more about lucha-libre, people at home get to learn as well. The Hero’s Journey is a well-known trope in literature and theatre, and that is exactly what is happening with Gable.
To achieve his goal of beating luchadores, he has to go on a quest to learn how to be successful. It won’t be easy, which is why it’ll take weeks or months to properly tell his story. Through these vignettes, Chad Gable’s new character will have legitimacy by showing him going through trials and tribulations in order to understand lucha-libre.
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