As a lifelong wrestling fan, I was pretty excited when I first heard about “WWE Unreal” on Netflix. The idea of getting a behind the scenes look at the creative process of WWE, seeing how storylines are developed and watching superstars like John Cena and Rhea Ripley in their element, sounded amazing. And honestly, from a fan perspective, it does have its perks. It’s almost like a dream come true for anyone who enjoys creating their own wrestling storylines in video games because it gives you a real look at how the pros do it.
But, here’s where my mixed feelings come in. Wrestling has always had this element of mystery, this magical line between what’s real and what’s not. That line is called “kayfabe,” and it’s what keeps the illusion alive. Sure, most people know that wrestling is scripted, but there’s still that fun in suspending disbelief. “WWE Unreal” kind of takes that away by putting everything out in the open.
While I get that we live in a time where secrets are harder to keep, I can’t help but feel like the show takes away some of the specialness of these larger than life characters. Seeing wrestlers hanging out together or discussing who’s going to get a “push” might be interesting, but it also breaks the magic. I think there could have been other ways to give us a peek behind the curtain without completely pulling it back. Stuff like a show called “TNA Reaction” where talent could go further into their storyline but in a backstage reality style setting making everything feel even more realistic.
In the end, I’m on the fence. I enjoyed watching “WWE Unreal” for the insight, but I also worry that it might do more harm than good for the industry. Sometimes, a little mystery is a good thing.
