The following edition of the text was used in the creation of this study guide: Hall, Katori. The Hot Wing King. Methuen Drama, 2024. Kindle AZW file.

The play is set in Memphis, Tennessee, in the home of African American partners Cordell and Dwayne over 24 hours. Cordell gives his friend Isom various flavored hot wings to try, preparing for a local hot wing contest. Another friend, Big Charles, watches basketball nearby. Dwayne enters, frustrated by his stressful hotel job. Cordell is upset when Dwayne leaves for work, prioritizing his job over the contest. Cordell feels guilty that he is unemployed and Dwayne is providing financially for both of them and Dwayne reassures him about finding work soon. Big Charles and Cordell discus his recent move to Memphis to be with Dwayne, his separation from his wife Vanessa (who is delaying their divorce), and his estranged relationship with his sons. While cooking, Cordell shows Big Charles an incredibly strong Ugandan chili pepper known as peli-peli, which he hides on a top shelf. TJ, the father of Dwayne’s nephew Everett, arrives looking for his son and leaves a bag of with Cordell money for him. Dwayne returns unexpectedly with Everett. Outside, Cordell and Dwayne argue about Everett’s presence, with Cordell raising concerns about Everett stealing from Dwayne last time he stayed with them. Dwayne helps Everett settle into an upstairs bedroom. Everett explains his father is staying with a new girlfriend, leaving him homeless, and asks to live with Dwayne and Cordell. Dwayne says he’ll discuss it with Cordell. Everett notes it’s the two-year anniversary of his mother Jelissa’s death, and Dwayne expresses guilt for calling the police, implying it led to her death. Cordell, Big Charles, and Isom prepare wings while singing and dancing. Dwayne and Everett join in, and Cordell assigns everyone tasks, including Everett. The group reminisces about past contest entries and successes. Cordell unveils this year’s recipe, confident it will win. Dwayne surprises everyone with matching chicken-themed shirts, and Everett takes a photo of the group. As they work, Everett suggests Cordell open a restaurant. Dwayne offers financial support, but Cordell declines, saying he wants a job, not a handout. This leads to an argument that makes the group uncomfortable. Dwayne laments that Cordell can’t see his own potential. While Cordell is outside, Everett, Big Charles, and Dwayne watch basketball, but Isom continues stirring the sauce. Finding it not spicy enough, Isom adds the entire jar of the hidden peli-peli chili peppers, not realizing how spicy it is. Outside, Everett joins Cordell as he soaks hickory chips, and they play basketball. Everett asks about Cordell’s past attraction to women, and Cordell admits he pretended to be straight due to his father’s homophobia. Everett reveals that his dad TJ wants him to deal drugs, but he doesn’t want to. He asks to live with Cordell and Dwayne. When Cordell hesitates, Everett accuses him of not believing him when he says he didn’t steal from Dwayne last time he stayed there. Dwayne intervenes and Everett recounts witnessing his mother’s death. Jelissa was killed by the police when they were supposed to be conducting a mental health check. Everett admits to stealing out of hunger and homelessness, but says he has little choice because no one will help him. Everett storms off. Dwayne and Cordell argue over letting Everett stay. In the kitchen the next morning, Big Charles wakes Isom, saying Cordell was out all night looking for Everett. Outside, Cordell confides to Big Charles that his fight with Everett reminded him of leaving his own sons and doubts his relationship with Dwayne. Big Charles reminds Cordell that leaving his family was his decision, not Dwayne’s. Back inside, Dwayne prepares chicken wings for breakfast. He eats a wing, reacts violently, and they realize the wings are too spicy for the contest. Isom admits to adding an entire jar of peli-peli chili to the sauce. TJ arrives looking for Everett and the money he left. Dwayne eavesdrops on TJ’s phone call, then informs the group he won’t attend the contest due to the family emergency. Cordell criticizes Dwayne for prioritizing Everett, and Dwayne tells him to go—whether to the contest or to leave is unclear. Upstairs, Dwayne accuses TJ of being a bad father, and TJ is upset to learn Everett asked to live with Dwayne. They argue about whether Everett should be treated as a child or an adult. Downstairs, TJ makes homophobic remarks, implying he doesn’t want Everett living with Dwayne and being around his friends because of their sexuality. Dwayne angrily asks if TJ thinks a life of crime is better than being gay and TJ indicates that he does. Isom challenges TJ to eat the spicy wings for $1,000. TJ tries but becomes ill, with Isom mockingly denying him milk. Everett arrives to find chaos: TJ under the faucet, Dwayne spraying him with water, and everyone else laughing. Everett refuses to say where he’s been, and TJ dismisses the need to account for his actions. Cordell and Big Charles decide to present the wings as a contest challenge and start preparations to leave. TJ tells Everett he’s hurt that Everett asked to stay with Dwayne, but Everett doubts TJ will ever change. Everett criticizes their dangerous lifestyle, and TJ makes homophobic comments. Dwayne brings TJ clothes, and Cordell confronts Everett about stealing money during his last stay. Everett admits it, and Dwayne orders him to help at the contest to repay the debt. Alone together, Cordell tells Dwayne he plans to move out, but Dwayne pleads for his help raising Everett, praising Cordell’s past commitment to his family. TJ reflects on his regrets as a father and blames himself and Dwayne for Jelissa’s death. Dwayne reminds TJ that parenting takes a village. Later, the group returns home celebrating Everett’s win at the contest, where he ate six of the peli-peli wings, causing the judges to create a new category in which he won first prize. Cordell crowns Everett the MVP of the group with a playful but touching ceremony. TJ tells Everett he should stay with Dwayne and Cordell. Everett asks for Cordell’s approval, which he gives, and hugs TJ goodbye. They all go outside to play basketball. Everett offers Cordell his contest prize money as an investment in him opening a restaurant, challenging him to make a shot. Cordell shoots, and the lights go out.