The WOW emote is used to express sarcastic amazement, mock surprise, or smug satisfaction. It conveys a sense of 'obviously' or 'what did you expect?' in response to something predictable or underwhelming. The emote can also be used genuinely to show impressed reactions, though its primary usage leans toward ironic or sarcastic expressions. It's particularly effective for reacting to streamer mistakes, obvious outcomes, or when something goes exactly as expected.
Origin
The WOW emote originated from the anime "Dumbbell Nan Kilo Moteru?" (How Heavy Are the Dumbbells You Lift?), featuring the character Hibiki Sakura with a smug, satisfied expression. This emote became popular on platforms like 7TV and BetterTTV around 2019-2020, coinciding with the anime's release in July 2019. The image captures Hibiki's characteristic reaction face that became widely recognized among anime and Twitch communities.
When to use
When a streamer makes a predictable mistake or dies in an easily avoidable way
Responding sarcastically to obvious statements or revelations
Expressing mock surprise at expected outcomes in games or conversations
Reacting to streamer bragging before an inevitable failure
Showing smug satisfaction when predictions come true
