Why Netflix and WWE announced upcoming docuseries WWE: Unreal

Since being acquired by Endeavor Group Holdings in September 2023, WWE (World Wrestling Entertainment) has become increasingly mainstream. 

At one point, the inner workings of the wrestling industry were kept a closely guarded secret.

Over the past two years, more of wrestling’s behind-the-scenes business practices have become widely acknowledged by wrestlers, writers, producers, and everyone in between.

What is WWE: Unreal?

On April 21, 2025, WWE and Netflix released the teaser trailer for an upcoming documentary series called WWE: Unreal. Unlike their standard entertainment programming, WWE: Unreal will give audiences a look behind the curtain into what makes the industry tick.

From the writer’s room where stories are developed to in-action moments between wrestlers and producers, WWE: Unreal will give viewers a glimpse into the backstage of the world’s most prominent professional wrestling organization.

While the series will undoubtedly attract more casual fans and build general interest for the company, for some hardcore wrestling fans, WWE: Unreal is just another way in which the sanctity of wrestling is being violated.

Since the acquisition by Endeavor, which included WWE and the UFC from TKO Group Holdings Inc., and the move to Netflix in January 2025, WWE has gradually acknowledged the scripted nature of the business more openly.

What is Kayfabe? And why is it important?

The term “kayfabe” refers to the idea that wrestling is “real”. From wrestling’s early years to as late as the 1990s, the idea of wrestling being “fake” was safeguarded, and those who defied this cloak of secrecy were blackballed, ostracized, and lambasted by both those in the industry and fans.

Over the past few decades, the veil of realism in professional wrestling has been shunned, and WWE: Unreal is seen by many as just another blow to the kayfabe concept in wrestling.

While non-wrestling fans might see this outrage of WWE’s interworking being exposed as a silly thing to be upset about. For die-hard wrestling fans, it’s hardly insignificant. After all, would you watch a TV show in which the characters repeatedly acknowledge to the camera that what you are watching isn’t real?

It’s that dismantling of the illusion of wrestling’s authenticity, which to many fans is “destroying the industry.”

What Spurred WWE: Unreal's Creation?

Regardless of how hardcore WWE viewers feel about this shift, there’s no denying that this approach is going to attract more casual viewers to the product. Especially with WWE programming recently shifting to Netflix, it’s even more critical for TKO to get as many eyes on WWE’s content as possible.

So, for as much as some may groan about WWE: Unreal’s very nature, it’s clear why TKO and WWE have decided to go down this route.

Much like the NFL, MLB, and NHL, fans love to go behind the scenes of their favorite sports. We’ve seen this with players mic-ups on the field, clubhouse interviews, and so much more. While WWE might be entertainment first and sport second, there is still that essence that fans find alluring, and the concept of seeing everything that goes into creating WWE television is an inherently fascinating world.

What does WWE: Unreal represent about WWE’s future?

Whether you are a casual fan newly into wrestling or a long-time jaded viewer who finds all this kayfabe breaking content upsetting, WWE is seemingly fully intent on continuing down this road. As much as some may groan about how little effort is being done by WWE to keep kayfabe alive, there’s just as much interest from people outside the wrestling bubble to see what goes on outside of the ring.

With how much money Netflix has spent to be the home for all WWE major programming for the next several years, it’s not hard to imagine more series like WWE: Unreal being announced soon. Like WWE Chief Content Officer Paul “Triple H” Levesque said in a recent commercial, “WWE is on fire right now.”

With that surge in popularity, expect WWE to do more things that may irk the traditional fan base in favor of reaching a wider audience. Whether or not you are interested in this kind of programming, one thing is for sure: it’s just the beginning.

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