WWE: Unreal

[_MJ_]

 

Quote

For the first time ever, step beyond the ring and into the WWE writer's room, where the drama is just as intense offstage as it is under the spotlight. Coming Summer 2025.

Behind the scenes.  Propaganda.  Kayfabe vs. Unreal.  Meltzer's job security.  Netflix's Formula 1 formula.

Edited July 30, 2025 by _MJ_
Video embedding

[Dolfan in NYC]

This should probably go under the WWE folder, but eh.  It's fine for now. 

 

 

[_MJ_]

Thought about putting it there, but I had some board control issues so didn't want to double post by mistake.  Feel free to delete it here and/or move it there, Dolfan.

[RazorbladeKiss87]

So WWE's version of the AEW "reality" show? 

[just drew]

Boy, I guess I don't have a leg to stand on when it comes to thinking Adam Cole & the Bucks expose the business...

[_MJ_]

Unreal full trailer dropped yesterday.

 

 

Embedding on this forum has changed. Ha.

[Dolfan in NYC]

This starts next week, so let's move it to where it should have been in the first place. 

[hammerva]

On 4/23/2025 at 10:41 AM, just drew said:

Boy, I guess I don't have a leg to stand on when it comes to thinking Adam Cole & the Bucks expose the business...

I mean if I remember that show from about 2 years ago, did it really expose the business.  I just remember the extreme gymnastics they performed to try to explain why they were off TV for a couple weeks and why the Chicago crowd hated the Bucks and Omega at the time.   Plus how apparently Tay Conti had such "heat" for "stiffing unprofessionally" Ruby Soho in a match

Edited July 27, 2025 by hammerva

[Dolfan in NYC]

 

[Craig H]

Going to watch this now. So far I LOVE Drive to Survive and I probably dig Full Swing and then short lived tennis one more than that. I'm curious to see if this is more in line with those or if it's more in line with the more boring Nascar one.

[hammerva]

So I assume that when Punk says he started in 1997 that was all his backyard stuff right?  I mean has anyone seen any 1998-1999 indies CM Punk?

So we can blame Billy Kidman for shows involving the Rock being a mess in terms of timing shows and organizing shit.  That makes sense.   Also had no idea how important that Chris Parks was in the minute details of the show.  thought he was a guy setting up the matches for the wrestlers.   Him worrying about going too long on Punk vs Rollins to point he thought they were going to fire him seemed a bit over done 

Interesting that the Hogan segment was completely ignored about the Netflix show.   Now was it ignored out of respect or more "just fuck him" who knows.   If they really want to "pull the curtain",  showing Gorilla position during that would have been amazing

Edited July 29, 2025 by hammerva

[Bustronaut]

Punk started backyarding in '93, and then a friend of his got a promotor's license in '97, so he counts that as his official start

[Craig H]

This……..is oddly good and addicting. It feels a little too WWE produced and I would prefer if it tilted more like Drive to Survive or Full Swing, but that’s just me.

[Craig H]

Also, the reaction everyone in Gorilla has for Seth's initial stomp on Roman is such a, oh shit, I hope he's not fucked up look. 

Sorta similar to I Show Speed where everyone is immediately either, "is he alive?" to "Jesus Christ, someone make sure he's ok."

[Casey]

3 hours ago, hammerva said:

So I assume that when Punk says he started in 1997 that was all his backyard stuff right?  I mean has anyone seen any 1998-1999 indies CM Punk?

matches against Ace Steel and Adam Pearce from 1999 are on YouTube. There’s also a battle royale from 1998, which is from what I believe is the backyard turned legit promotion he’s talked about before.

[hammerva]

Finished up on episode 3 and if this show does have any major traction outside the smart marks, Chelsea Green is going to be the person people want to see at the next level.   She comes extremely likeable and someone that you really want to cheer for.   Which she already gets even though she is supposed to be hated.   The setup for her winning the US title is strange because they are trying to make it seem like her finish was going to be a 2nd rope leg drop which is incredibly stupid since he never did that before.    Especially given how awesome her actual finish is.   

I do wonder what the crowd reaction would be if the "horrible option" was a reality.   You obviously have to do it with a completely despised heel.

Edited July 30, 2025 by hammerva

[Casey]

The best thing in this entire show is the 5 minute section of the last episode where Punk, Pearce, Ivar, Charlotte and Tyson Kidd have a conversation about pooping and/or peeing yourself in the ring. It's happened to Ivar, but he held it in his cheeks for the entire match. We all know Punk's Z-Pak incident. Charlotte mentions a story that Ric told her about Triple H supposedly putting a Snickers bar in his trunks while wrestling Chris Jericho.

As a Punk mark, I did get a laugh out of some moments in this show.

Quote

 

"Who should win the Rumble?"

EVERYONE: CM Punk

"Who should win at WrestleMania?"

EVERYONE BUT ED KOSKEY: CM Punk

 

I know Jey Uso is/was pretty goddamn over, but the end result was pretty much the same eventually. He wins the title, drops it, and now the planned Gunther/Punk WrestleMania match for the title is happening at SummerSlam instead. But we did get a pretty killer triple threat out of all this, so I guess it's okay.

Edited July 30, 2025 by Casey

[Niners Fan in CT]

Bunch of white dudes sitting around in the creative room making a joke out of the women's Rumble sounds about right.  Everyone trying to get their jokes off and in the end Triple H is like "we'll come up with something."   Thanks Hunter. 

CM Punk being wild emotional about his main event is cool but I was a little surprised how much Triple H's approval means to him. Why?  This is the guy you claim was out to get you and ruined your first go round in the company,  now you're concerned about his approval?  Alright, I guess. 

Michael Hayes and Bruce Prichard along with Ed being the three headed monster of creative makes sense because much of the booking is either boring or just shock value for the sake of "working the fans"  and there's no plan beyond that. 

This was especially telling with the entire John Cena heel turn.  They had zero plan.  "I have to see if Travis Scott is cool with it."  What?  How does that look now? 

The Heel turn at 'Elimination Chamber' was very well done but that's it.  It was a moment.  They book for moments.  I am now a firm believer that the only reason why The Bloodline story was so brilliantly done is because of Paul Heyman's heavy involvement. 

I love seeing the producers geek the fuck out when their matches kick ass.  TJ and Jason Jordan were my favorites. 

[Casey]

I mean, I hate to say it, but... the Bloodline thing probably worked so well because of Vince too, right? Maybe the highest of highs didn't happen under him (the Sami babyface turn, Roman losing, etc) but the beginning and middle parts were probably mostly him. And the fact that for a good long while, they didn't have live crowds so they could basically do what THEY wanted to do and not have to listen to live-on-the-spot fan reactions to what they're doing. Heyman was in a few of the shots of the writer's room - it mainly focused on Koskey, Prichard & Triple H with some of the other writers that didn't get named, but they did show Heyman (and Road Dogg) at times - Hayes was on Zoom at one point, so based off all this I'm going to say Heyman is involved in the writer's room as well. Just maybe wasn't captured in footage as much.

They booked Cena's turn purely because they needed The Rock there to boost ticket sales, and he wanted a big angle to justify him being there. To be fair, Rock's idea of Kevin Owens immediately winning the title was also trash. Something big like Cena's heel turn definitely deserved more thought and care put into it, but I'm also of the belief that there were at least discussions about it before this. You can't tell me Cena at the Rumble scrum declaring for the Elimination Chamber wasn't a slight wink and nudge towards future plans. 

And yes, I too was a little weirded out by Punk's need of validation from Hunter, but I think it's less about the actual person giving it to him and more about the company itself giving it to him. I think the same reaction happens if Road Dogg was the Chief Content Officer or whatever and saying those things (and would be even more funny). I think Punk is just a deeply traumatized and broken guy that needs approval from his peers and to feel like he's wanted and that he matters. Which explains a lot when you look at it that way, IMO.

14 hours ago, Niners Fan in CT said:

I love seeing the producers geek the fuck out when their matches kick ass.  TJ and Jason Jordan were my favorites. 

Alternatively, seeing Abyss almost get emotional because Punk/Rollins went over on time and Prichard was getting angry, in turn, made me angry. You're on fucking Netflix, Bruce. Don't give me that "we can't go over our time" bullshit. Maybe be mad at Dwayne for cutting a 15 minute rambling promo that ate into match times and needlessly focusing on celebrities in the crowd. Fuck off, Bruce. God I hate that man.

[Eivion]

22 hours ago, Niners Fan in CT said:

CM Punk being wild emotional about his main event is cool but I was a little surprised how much Triple H's approval means to him. Why?  This is the guy you claim was out to get you and ruined your first go round in the company,  now you're concerned about his approval?  Alright, I guess. 

Guessing he eventually realized HHH wasn't necessarily the monster holding him back back then. The timeframe he was pissed at HHH for back then was actually when HHH was busy trying to prove himself on the managerial side with NXT and arguing with Vince for Bryan to get the top spot.

22 hours ago, Niners Fan in CT said:

The Heel turn at 'Elimination Chamber' was very well done but that's it.  It was a moment.  They book for moments.  I am now a firm believer that the only reason why The Bloodline story was so brilliantly done is because of Paul Heyman's heavy involvement. 

 

 

7 hours ago, Casey said:

I mean, I hate to say it, but... the Bloodline thing probably worked so well because of Vince too, right? Maybe the highest of highs didn't happen under him (the Sami babyface turn, Roman losing, etc) but the beginning and middle parts were probably mostly him. And the fact that for a good long while, they didn't have live crowds so they could basically do what THEY wanted to do and not have to listen to live-on-the-spot fan reactions to what they're doing. Heyman was in a few of the shots of the writer's room - it mainly focused on Koskey, Prichard & Triple H with some of the other writers that didn't get named, but they did show Heyman (and Road Dogg) at times - Hayes was on Zoom at one point, so based off all this I'm going to say Heyman is involved in the writer's room as well. Just maybe wasn't captured in footage as much.

 

The Bloodline was good mostly because Vince and HHH were smart enough to mostly stay out of participants' way. Heyman straight up said the people directly involved (Sami, Usos, Roman, Owens, etc.) would have zoom meetings and the like to discuss where to go and that people would have to really defend their ideas to get them pushed through. If it was left up to Vince we would have seen shit like Damien Priest getting involved as Owens's best friend despite the two not really knowing each other.

Edited July 30, 2025 by Eivion

[stuntmanc]

My biggest takeaway from this is just how likeable and grounded Chelsea Green is.  I was already a fan, but she came across so awesome in this.

[The Natural]

7 hours ago, stuntmanc said:

My biggest takeaway from this is just how likeable and grounded Chelsea Green is.  I was already a fan, but she came across so awesome in this.

Chelsea Green is a big favourite of mine. Haven't watched the show, glad she comes across well. Cheers for confirming what I thought about her.

[The Natural]

On 7/30/2025 at 1:01 AM, hammerva said:

Finished up on episode 3 and if this show does have any major traction outside the smart marks, Chelsea Green is going to be the person people want to see at the next level.   She comes extremely likeable and someone that you really want to cheer for.   Which she already gets even though she is supposed to be hated.   The setup for her winning the US title is strange because they are trying to make it seem like her finish was going to be a 2nd rope leg drop which is incredibly stupid since he never did that before.    Especially given how awesome her actual finish is.   

I do wonder what the crowd reaction would be if the "horrible option" was a reality.   You obviously have to do it with a completely despised heel.

Chelsea Green is a big favourite of mine. Haven't watched the show, glad she comes across well. Cheers for confirming what I thought about her.

[stuntmanc]

Further thoughts.   This show is great when it focuses on the women.  I like seeing Rhea/Chelsea/Bianca speak about their experiences, etc.  It loses it for me whenever HHH is on screen.  He comes off like such a fan of himself that it's really off putting.  My opinion on Punk is well known, but like someone else stated, it was cool seeing him get his mania moment.  I am glad he got to achieve that.  That being said, i REALLY don't get or understand how someone can do such a 180 from how he was to how much of a kiss ass he is now.  Even HHH putting everything on Punk was odd "We had talks, but he was the same guy, it wasn't going to work" as if Punk didn't have legitimate gripes when he left (Christ, im defending Punk, the world is ending haha).  I guess long story short, the women on the show come across as very, very authentic and most of the men....don't.

[Niners Fan in CT]

Punk is a carny.  Cody is a carny.  Triple H is a carny.  Bruce is a carny.  The Rock is a carny.  Most of the women come across well because they don't come across as carnies.  They come across as professionals there to do a job.