WWE’s decision to shift its primary content (such as Monday Night Raw, Friday Night SmackDown, NXT, and major PLEs like WrestleMania, SummerSlam, Royal Rumble, and more) to Netflix earlier this year still hasn’t sat well with the global WWE fanbase, including fans in India. Carrying this mixed sentiment forward, fans now aren’t sure how to feel about the promotion’s upcoming docuseries, WWE: Unreal.
WWE and Netflix have jointly produced WWE: Unreal, a documentary series that aims to pull back the curtain on the creative and production process behind professional wrestling. While the idea of exploring WWE’s behind-the-scenes content may sound interesting and appealing to some, it has also triggered substantial backlash from a large section of pro wrestling fans.
One of the biggest concerns raised about WWE: Unreal is its tearing down of “kayfabe”, a professional wrestling term referring to the illusion that storylines, rivalries, and characters are real, even though fans know it’s pre-determined.
Yes, there’s no denying that the internet and social media have brought many hidden aspects of pro wrestling into the open, something that wasn’t possible back in the ’90s and early 2000s. This shift has undoubtedly exposed the business, and there’s no turning back from it.
But a noticeable section of the fanbase still believes that maintaining kayfabe is valuable, as it honours the effort that goes into producing a compelling pro wrestling show.
However, Unreal explicitly shows writing rooms, match planning, discussions between performers and creative teams, and behind-the-scenes drama. For traditional fans, particularly those who still believe in good storytelling, this level of transparency feels like it’s actively ruining the magic of wrestling and making it harder to stay emotionally invested in the on-screen product.
Another criticism of WWE: Unreal is how deeply it exposes the secrets of pro wrestling. Revealing details like how bumps are planned or how promos are written may not sit well with fans who appreciate the athleticism and storytelling without needing to know every last trick in the book.
Many longtime fans view wrestling like a magic trick: you know it’s an illusion, but the joy comes from how well that illusion is performed. For them, Unreal is like revealing how the trick is done, and in the process, diminishing the wonder. Even legends like “Stone Cold” Steve Austin have voiced concerns, saying that wrestling should retain some mystery.
Some fans also see WWE: Unreal as just another TKO Group move to squeeze as much money as possible from WWE’s properties.
Ultimately, WWE: Unreal arrives at a crucial moment, espeically when WWE’s core programming is already unsettling its global fanbase with the Netflix shift. For many, wrestling is all about carefully crafted illusion. While some may enjoy the peek behind the curtain, a large number of passionate fans feel that exposing the “magic tricks” too openly risks ruining the special connection they’ve had with wrestling for years.
Let’s see how it actually turns out. Stay tuned for more updates.
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