Thirty years ago, it would have been considered a cardinal sin, but in 2025 WWE is set to give fans an unprecedented look behind-the-scenes of the wrestling business like never before.
Yes, there have been numerous documentaries produced about professional wrestling that have provided insight as to how the business works both in front of the cameras and via backstage politics.
But, Netflix's WWE Unreal, which premieres on 29th July, pulls back the curtain like never before as fans will be told exactly how booking decisions are made, how storylines are written, and why some of your favourite stars are either given a push or left by the wayside.
Understandably, the show has polarised many within the wrestling industry before it has even aired.
Wrestling veterans from the 1980s and 1990s, in particular, believe that the illusion of legitimacy should remain even though fans know the in-ring results are pre-determined.
They don't think fans need to see how the proverbial sausage is made.
While discussing WWE Unreal on his podcast, the Snake Pit, Jake 'The Snake' Roberts said: “I think it’s foolish. I don’t think that product will ever warrant enough money being made as for the damage it’ll do.”
Paul Heyman not a fan of WWE Unreal idea
Legendary wrestling manager and promoter Paul Heyman, who still works with WWE, apparently isn't a fan of the idea as it breaks from the "old school" mentality of keeping the business appear legitimate.
“I don’t have to love it. It’s not for me to love. I’m a very old-school guy," he said on the Pat McAfee Show.
"I go back to the theory of heels settle in the heat, babyface blows the comeback. It’s that simple of an equation. The good guy is the good guy because heroism will prevail the bad guy is the bad guy because on any given day, he is unable to beat the good guy and therefore must cheat to do so. These are the fundamental and rudimentary thoughts on my mindset towards the industry, but I’m also very accepting of where the industry has gone and will go, and the culture and society that push it forward.
"Do I like walking through the curtain and there is a camera right in my face documenting how I come out of the character that you see on TV? No, I don’t like it. Am I going to fight against it? No, I’m not going to fight against it because those cameras are going to be there whether I like it or not."
The production of WWE Unreal is spearheaded by Omaha Productions, NFL Films, Skydance Sports, Chief content officer Paul 'Triple H' Levesque and WWE President Nick Khan.
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