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In wrestling, as in film and television, the power of a great antagonist lies in their ability to provoke a negative emotional response from the viewer.
Darth Vader strikes fear into our hearts. Jabba the Hutt provokes disgust. Gaston inspires envy.
Male villains may be more typical in pop culture, but memorable female villains are hardly difficult to find. And WWE has no shortage of female heels who fit comfortably into archetypes exemplified by some of the most recognizable bad girls in movies and television.
The degree to which a wrestler successfully captures a that archetype — and taps into the negative emotions associated with it — goes a long way toward determining whether the character succeeds.
That is particularly relevant in 2026, when WWE’s men’s division has suffered from an overabundance of “cool heels” — wrestlers who occupy the villain role while simultaneously encouraging the audience to cheer them. Seth Rollins and the Usos, for example, have continued to encourage fan participation as a central part of their entrances.
Women’s wrestling has, if anything, suffered from the opposite problem. Babyfaces such as Becky Lynch have at times behaved so petty or unlikable that the audience can be left wondering whether they’re supposed to be rooting for them.
So which women in WWE successfully echo classic female villains, and which fall short of the mark?
Let’s dive in.
RISING STAR OF THE WEEK: Morgan as Kim Kelly from “Freaks and Geeks”
Liv Morgan, like Kelly before her, plays that bad girl smoking cigarettes with her delinquent friends and looking for victims to bully in the high school bathroom.
Kim Kelly, the memorable miscreant from “Freaks and Geeks,” is confrontational, sarcastic, cruel, rebellious, and frequently looking for a fight. She rules her pack of rule breakers as queen bee, projecting the image of someone who doesn’t care what anyone thinks of her while secretly measuring herself against the girls she secretly envies.
That’s the archetype Morgan is tapping into.
The character works because there’s an element of insecurity underneath the toughness. The classic schoolyard bully doesn’t necessarily possess the courage she wants everyone to believe she has. She picks targets, surrounds herself with cronies, and lashes out at anyone who threatens her spot, or just hapless passers-by.
There’s something very recognizable about that kind of villain.
Morgan’s appeal as a heel comes from that same combination of aggression, attitude, and adolescent mean-girl energy. She’s not necessarily trying to conquer the world. She just wants to make sure you know she’s tougher, cooler, and more important than you are.
And, like Kim Kelly, she seems like exactly the kind of person you’d want to avoid encountering in the girls’ restroom.
First Runner-Up: Lash Legend as Cruella de Vil from 101 Dalmatians
Cruella is iconic because of her bizarre combination of fashion, vanity, power, and cruelty.
That’s an apt template for Lash Legend.
Legend is positioned to inherit what has been the Nia Jax role — the physically imposing woman who bullies smaller opponents around. Legend fits a spot WWE’s women’s division can always use: a genuine powerhouse presence or “monster heel.” It took Jax several years to find the confidence that the rookie Legend already possess.
Her confidence and “bougie bully” persona provide a natural foundation. I’m less convinced that “bougie bully” is the right nickname, because the bougie part doesn’t really add much. The more interesting aspect of her character is simply that she is the most physically dominant presence in the locker room. Nia’s “irresistible force” was more to the point. Still, Legend’s predilection for fashion gives her another layer, like Cruella.
Lash’s physical presence also gives her an especially important role in multi-woman matches. With Money in the Bank on the horizon, she could function much like Rusev did at this year’s WrestleMania ladder match: the imposing obstacle and solid base who smaller wrestlers can launch off, adding another fun dynamic to the spectacle.
The key will be finding ways for her personality to be just as powerful as her physique.
Second Runner-Up: Jade Cargill as Cersei Lannister from “Game of Thrones”
Cersei Lannister, played by Lena Headey, is one of television’s great schemers. Her power comes not from physical dominance, but from ambition, ruthlessness, and an absolute belief in her own superiority.
That makes Cersei an interesting comparison for Jade Cargill.
Jade has a completely different type of bad-girl appeal. She’s physical perfection – stunningly beautiful as well as physically imposing and she carries herself with an almost unshakable confidence.
She doesn’t merely think she’s better than everyone else; she knows it.
And, perhaps more importantly, she doesn’t seem particularly interested in hiding that fact.
That can make her obnoxious in exactly the right way.
Cersei’s narcissism prevents her from having true friendships, and so she surrounds herself with vicious lackeys who pose no threat to her, are satisfied to be her servants, and would do anything to remain in her good grace. Jade is no different- her “baddie” associates seem so desperate to maintain their proximity to power they will sacrifice their morals and self respect.
The trick is resisting the temptation to make Cargil too “cool.” Her fragile acts of narcissism and subtle acts of cowardice go a long way. The more she seems to try to convince herself and others that everyone else is beneath her, the more effective the character becomes.
Honorable Mention: Blake Monroe as Regina George from Mean Girls
Regina George is the quintessential popular-girl bully. Unlike Cruella or Cersei, her power doesn’t come from criminal or political authority.
It comes from social status.
That’s where Blake Monroe fits.
Unfortunately, WWE creative hasn’t exactly done her any favors so far. An elaborate storyline in which she has repeatedly delayed her debut match has made the character’s arrival feel more convoluted than it needs to be.
But there’s plenty to like in this talented performer.
The look is right. The accent is right. The character work is right.
Most importantly, she understands that Regina George isn’t threatening because she’s the toughest person in the room. She’s threatening because she believes the room belongs to her.
Blake has the ingredients for a terrific narcissistic, self-obsessed beauty queen character.
Now WWE just needs to let her actually wrestle and give her a storyline she can sink her teeth into.
ARTICLE CONTINUED BELOW…
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FALLING STAR OF THE WEEK: Nikki Bella as Kim Kardashian from Keeping up With the Kardashian
This one is frustrating because Nikki Bella has the makings of a very good heel.
She’s gorgeous. She’s famous. She’s associated with celebrity culture and personal branding. And she comes across as genuinely self-centered in a way that doesn’t always feel manufactured.
Bella is the the Kim Kardashian of WWE.
The problem is that Nikki is the women’s division sole “cool heel” – putting effort into keeping her “Bella Army” fans loyal rather than going all out and embracing her role as a villain.
Instead of making a show of her faults, she often seems interested in protecting the affection of her existing fans and protecting her brand.
It’s the same fundamental problem that has affected many of WWE’s male heels.
Roman Reigns and Randy Orton have been far more successful in getting a portion of the fanbase to cheer them, to the detriment of their opponents and the fan experience.
A saving grace: Nikki isn’t nearly as good at being cool.
The irony is that she may not need to invent much of a character at all. The celebrity persona, the confidence, the emphasis on image, and the apparent belief that she is the star of her own show are already there.
Just ask Logan Paul.
First Runner-Up: Jayne as Catherine Tramell from “Basic Instinct”
Catherine Tramell is the quintessential seductive femme fatale — a character who uses sexuality, intelligence, and manipulation to gain power over the people around her.
That is seems to be the impetus for Jayne’s character.
Unfortunately, WWE hasn’t really figured out how to make it work.
The Toxic Attraction gimmick originally created for Mandy Rose’s faction in NXT (including Jayne) was that of the bad or dangerous seductress. This focus continued when the faction was rebranded as Fatal Influence and Jayne’s current presentation harkens back to that concept. But the fatal part of the femme fatale has never really been incorporated into the storytelling.
Right now, she’s mostly another mean girl.
And that’s a problem because Jayne was arguably more effective as a big fish in the small pond of NXT. On the main roster, the character can feel like a budget version of Liv Morgan rather than a distinct identity of its own.
There’s also a visual problem. If you’re going to build a character around the classic femme fatale, the presentation needs to consistently communicate that archetype. Of the Toxic Attraction group, Fallon Henley arguably looks the most naturally suited to that role.
Jayne needs another layer.
The answer doesn’t necessarily have to be complicated. If she is going to be a femme fatale, lean into it.
Have her flirt with male wrestlers to manipulate them into helping her cheat. Have her charm a general manager into giving her preferential treatment. Have her weaponize attraction rather than simply alluding to how attractive she is.
A femme fatale isn’t just a beautiful woman who knows she’s beautiful.
She’s a woman who uses her beauty to manipulate others.
And if WWE can make that distinction, she might finally have a role that feels bigger than just another mean girl.
