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The Review Geek
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Review Geek
WWE: Unreal Review – A heavily-skewed, controlled look at WWE 'under the hood'
Season 1 Episode Guide New Era Push Worth the Wait Heel Turn Wrestlemania WWE: Unreal is one of those docu-series that could have been great had it been produced by an outside entity away from WWE. The ideas here are certainly interesting, with the promise of pulling the curtain back and showing the inner-workings of pro-wrestling like never before. Unfortunately, what we get is an overly produced, glossy and sanitized look at the business, like peeking through a keyhole rather than flinging the doors open and giving an all-access look at the business. After watching all five episodes, it's hard not to feel like this is one long, extended work rather than an authentic slice of life on the wrestling road. In fact, I'd argue that WWE Tough Enough or even Dark Side of the Ring do a far better job of looking at the business than anything in this Netflix series. That's before even mentioning the elephant in the room that's never mentioned in the docu-series outside of a few scripted reactions from fans online – YouTube. YouTube have a ton of podcasts and interesting wrestling channels that properly pull the curtain back and dive into the business. While yes, it's less glossy and produced (partly thanks to strict copyright over there), it's also way more authentic. Whether it be former superstar Maven chirping up with weekly videos, accompanied by his (now infamous) 'Hey guys, Maven here!' intro, or Kurt Angle doing extended segments on Joe Rogan, there's some fascinating content that really helps to explore . That's before mentioning play-by-play commentaries from old superstars, like The Undertaker and Mick Foley reacting to their Hell in a Cell match back in 1998. The point I'm trying to make then is that Unreal is a bit of an enigma because it doesn't seem to have a clear, intended audience. It feels like it's trying to grab the casual fans and rewrite its own narrative to hook you in, akin to the later seasons of Drive to Survive. Unfortunately, it doesn't have the chops to pull it off in quite the same way, as casual fans who don't want the magic spoiled may steer clear of this on principle. Conversely, die-hard fans that already follow the inner-workings of the business or hang around message boards discussing backstage shenanigans each week won't get much from this either, seeing the gloss from a mile off. And of course those not really into wrestling won't find much here to change their mind. To be fair, learning about key parts of the business, including storylines that never make the final cut, how the 'gorilla position' works, and all the bumps and bruises along the way does make for a pretty interesting watch. In essence, WWE: Unreal plays out as a Road to Wrestlemania puff piece. It's a docu-series designed to promote the new talent coming through the ranks, get casuals up to scratch with the latest storylines and big superstars (despite basically being 4 months out of date at the time of release) and reveal a few carefully skewed and controlled narrative titbits from a thin slice of the company's history. The five episodes each focus on two or three wrestlers before we then follow their journey through the PPVs, culminating in an hour-long finale that's basically a 'best of' for Wrestlemania's two-day showdown. Along the way we see Rhea Ripley's journey to the main event, CM Punk's desire to headline Wrestlemania, along with John Cena's retirement tour too, wanting to go out with a bang. One of the more interesting segments comes in episode 4 as a tight-knit group discuss a crazy Heel turn (good guy turning to a bad guy) for John Cena. Seeing all the machinations around this, including 'What If' scenarios playing out makes for a really fascinating watch. Likewise, a few golden moments of backstage authenticity, like when Kevin Owens asks Cody Rhodes if he's okay after a brutal ladder match, or Charlotte Flair reflecting on how daunting living up to the Flair name is, help give the docu-series some character. Unfortunately, these moments are few and far between as the show doesn't do enough to distinguish what's kayfabe (staying in character) and what's genuine – and I don't mean that in a good way. While some superstars come across as authentic on camera – like Rhea Ripley or John Cena – others make it difficult to know whether they're putting on an act or not. Bianca Belair mentions at one point, proudly, that the whip sound she makes with her hair is completely authentic with no sound effects necessary. While there are visible scars to prove her point, just to play devil's advocate here, is the ring not mounted with microphones under the ring to amplify the sound? Likewise, CM Punk mentions early on about Seth Rollins being super cocky and arrogant, although this is also his character on-screen so is he just playing himself? We never know because WWE also has a habit of only seeing one side of every rivalry and confrontation. How does Liv Morgan feel about ending her feud with Rhea Ripley? Despite winning a match (spoilers, by the way) Iyo Sky is never interviewed and only briefly showcased here. Moments like this are a great reminder that this is very much a heavily-skewed, controlled narrative rather than an eye-opening expose into the wrestling business from all angles. While some may enjoy what's here, it's hard to know exactly what WWE intended with releasing Unreal. It's certainly not a bad documentary, but it's not a particularly good one either. If you want some good wrestling exposes, do yourself a favour and load up YouTube instead. You'll get much better bang for your buck over there.
Newsweek
09-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Newsweek
Former WWE Superstar Snuck Backstage At AEW Event
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Former WWE Tough Enough winner Maven Huffman recently shared an entertaining video on his popular YouTube channel, documenting what he humorously portrayed as an attempt to "sneak" backstage at an AEW Collision event. The footage captures his journey through an All Elite Wrestling show in New Jersey. In the video, despite not being an official AEW employee or possessing credentials for the event, Maven successfully navigated past an initial security checkpoint. He convinced a guard that he was part of the talent roster, thereby gaining access to the talent parking area. Maven documented his exploration through the production and TV truck zone. He eventually entered the main backstage area of the AEW Collision taping. Once inside, he had a friendly encounter with his old friend and former WWE colleague, Billy Gunn. The two veterans were seen reminiscing about their time working together at WrestleMania 18. During his unauthorized tour, Maven also met several other AEW personalities. These included interactions with former AEW Women's World Champion Thunder Rosa and commentator Josh Mathews. LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - OCTOBER 11: A WWE logo is shown on a screen before a WWE news conference at T-Mobile Arena on October 11, 2019 in Las Vegas, Nevada. It was announced that WWE... LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - OCTOBER 11: A WWE logo is shown on a screen before a WWE news conference at T-Mobile Arena on October 11, 2019 in Las Vegas, Nevada. It was announced that WWE wrestler Braun Strowman will face heavyweight boxer Tyson Fury and WWE champion Brock Lesnar will take on former UFC heavyweight champion Cain Velasquez at the WWE's Crown Jewel event at Fahd International Stadium in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on October 31. More He also showed viewers the wrestlers' monitor viewing area and the catering spread available to talent and staff. The entire venture was presented with a lighthearted and adventurous tone for his channel's content. More news: WWE News: Steve Austin Reveals Real-Life Vince McMahon Confrontation Maven Huffman first rose to prominence in the wrestling world as the co-winner of WWE's inaugural season of the reality competition series Tough Enough in 2001. This victory secured him a coveted WWE contract. His most enduring WWE moment occurred early in his career at the 2002 Royal Rumble. As a rookie, Maven famously delivered a dropkick that sent The Undertaker over the top rope, shockingly eliminating the legend from the match. This audacious act led to The Undertaker's brutal post-elimination assault but significantly elevated Maven's profile. It even propelled him to capture the WWF Hardcore Championship on three occasions, once by pinning The Undertaker on SmackDown with assistance from The Rock and Al Snow. Throughout his WWE tenure, which lasted from 2001 to 2005, Maven was often cast as an underdog. He teamed with his former Tough Enough trainer Al Snow and had memorable interactions and matches against top-tier stars like Chris Jericho and Evolution, even challenging for the World Heavyweight Championship. Despite these notable moments, Maven was released from WWE in July 2005. He has since attributed his relatively short run to issues with immaturity at the time. In recent years, Maven has experienced a resurgence in popularity through his candid YouTube channel. More WWE News: For more on WWE, head to Newsweek Sports.
Yahoo
03-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Yet Another Major WWE Departure Confirmed for 'Friday Night SmackDown' Star
Another big WWE departure has been confirmed, and it's a superstar who had performed on the "Friday Night SmackDown" brand. Following a wave of office cuts, reports confirmed that a slew of on-air WWE talent, such as Braun Strowman and Dakota Kai, were also let go from the company. Other notable stars such as Shayna Baszler were also released. Fans were surprised to learn that prominent "WWE NXT" stars Cora Jade and Gigi Dolin were cut from the roster as well. Advertisement Fightful now reports that Shotzi is also departing. It was confirmed in the report that while Shotzi wasn't released, she was told that her expiring contract would not be renewed. She has been moved to the alumni section of WWE's website. Shotzi was first introduced to WWE fans in 2015. She missed out on being a contestant on "WWE Tough Enough" due to medical issues. In 2019, Shotzi signed a WWE contract and joined the "NXT" brand. She captured the "WWE NXT" Tag Team Championship with Ember Moon. In 2021, Shotzi was called up to the main roster. She became a regular on "WWE SmackDown." She was involved in matches and storylines with the likes of Charlotte Flair and Sasha Banks. Shotzi also had a feud with Damage CTRL. Advertisement The Santa Clara County native suffered a torn ACL during a match with Lyra Valkyria on "NXT" in 2024. Shotzi returned before the end of the year. Her last match was featured on "WWE Speed," which took place on Feb. 14, 2025. Shotzi was pinned by Zoey Stark. Related: WWE Makes Shocking Talent Releases Just Before 'Friday Night SmackDown'
